By Dalton Ray–
Behind junior Lamar Jackson’s 525 total yards and six touchdowns, No. 17 football downs North Carolina 47-35. The Cardinals put up 705 yards of offense while holding UNC to 17 rushing yards.
A pair of Cardinals in junior Jaylen Smith and senior Malik Williams had career days in the ACC win. Smith’s nine receptions totaled 183 yards and a touchdown. Williams added 149 yards on 13 carries.
Redshirt freshman Blanton Creque knocked in a pair of field goals, making him 5-for-5 on the season.
In the Louisville’s opening drive, the Cardinals drove to UNC’s 20-yard line. On fourth-and-one, a snap infraction on center Robbie Bell forced the Cards settle for a field goal.
North Carolina opened their first series with a 54-yard play, putting the ball on the Louisville seven. The Tar Heels took the 7-3 lead three plays later.
Louisville capped their next drive, 11 plays and 75 yards, with a touchdown from Jackson to redshirt freshman Dez Fitzpatrick. Their next drive, 85 yards, ended with a field goal.
North Carolina regained the lead on Chazz Surratt’s second hook up with tight end Brandon Fritts.
The Cardinals answered on their next drive.
After a play action, Jackson evaded the sack from a blitzing defender and calmly delivered a 75-yard touchdown strike to Smith.
The Cards held a 20-14 lead at the half. Of Louisville’s six drives, four lasted at least three minutes and 50 seconds. The Tar Heels only out together one drive over three minutes.
In the third quarter, Jackson expanded the Louisville lead to 13 with a 43-yard touchdown run.
The Tar Heels showed no no back down, returning the following kick off for six. Brandon Harris, who replaced Surratt before the half, lasered a touchdown pass to regain the UNC lead.
Trailing 28-27, Louisville scored 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to put away the Tar Heels.
You can follow Dalton Ray on Twitter @dray5477.
Photo by Nancy Hanner / The Louisville Cardinal
