Tar Heels Triumph Over Charlotte in Belichick’s First College Win
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Gio Lopez connected with Chris Culliver for a 51-yard touchdown on his first drive, while Davion Gause added a 12-yard score, leading North Carolina to a 20-3 victory over Charlotte on a rainy Saturday afternoon. This marked Bill Belichick’s debut win as a college head coach.
Lopez completed 17 of 25 passes, racking up 155 yards for the Tar Heels (1-1).
North Carolina’s defense was solid, limiting Charlotte (0-2) to 271 yards and forcing two turnovers.
Belichick, who has won six Super Bowls as the New England Patriots’ second-winningest coach, downplayed the significance of his first college victory. “Winning is tough,” he remarked. “You need to do a lot right and be better than the opponent. We were fortunate today, honestly.” He emphasized that he couldn’t take credit for the players’ execution, saying, “I didn’t make the blocks or catches.”
North Carolina had brought Belichick in with a five-year, $50 million deal, and this game saw the most points the Tar Heels have allowed in a season opener.
Initially, there were questions about whether the 73-year-old could succeed at this level, but his team’s performance in this game provided some answers.
The Tar Heels struck first, firing a deep ball down the left sideline after Lopez completed a couple of short passes, eventually securing an easy touchdown for a 7-0 lead.
However, the initial excitement quickly waned, and the Tar Heels faced an offensive lull after their strong start. Gause made a significant dash for a 12-yard touchdown just before halftime, extending the lead to 17-3.
Charlotte’s coach, Tim Alvin, said, “The drive before halftime was a big blow. But really, we’re focused on improvement, and I think we saw some of that.”
In the early third quarter, Charlotte nearly turned the tides, but wide receiver E. Gymason couldn’t capitalize on catchable passes in the end zone after quarterback Connor Harrell showcased his athleticism by escaping the pocket.
Following those missed opportunities, Harrell expressed frustration, putting his hands on his helmet in disbelief.
“We just didn’t play well, and it was tough,” Alvin noted.
Harrell finished with 17 completions on 29 attempts for 140 yards.
Lopez mentioned he had aggravated a back injury during the previous game against TCU but was able to practice with some assistance. “We didn’t play our best against TCU, but I’m glad I could contribute today,” he said.
Belichick praised Lopez for his ability to improvise and extend plays during the game.
