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UNC steamrolls Virginia in Week 9 ACC football action – what did fans think?

aidan jensen
·3 min read
Oct 26, 2024; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels players leave the field after their game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Oct 26, 2024; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels players leave the field after their game against the Virginia Cavaliers at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The North Carolina Tar Heels delivered their most complete performance of their college football season on Saturday afternoon in Charlottesville, dominating in all aspects of the game and steamrolling the host Virginia Cavaliers, 41-14, in a much-needed victory that turned their season around.

UNC (4-4, 1-3 ACC) only trailed for just over three minutes at Virginia, after playing from behind most of its losses to Pitt and Georgia Tech. North Carolina took the lead for good with just over five minutes left in the opening quarter, when J.J Jones caught his first of two touchdowns from Jacolby Criswell. Jones ended his day with a career-high 129 receiving yards.

Omarion Hampton hit 1,000 rushing yards for the second-consecutive season, tallying 106 yards on 26 carries against the Cavaliers. Hampton added two touchdowns on an afternoon which was also his sixth-straight 100-yard outing – and seventh in 2024.

The Tar Heels' offense played up to its standard, but it was their defense making the difference in a much-needed victory. In the first half alone, UNC's defense generated six sacks and held the Cavaliers to under 100 yards.

North Carolina's defensive unit improved upon those numbers when the final seconds ticked off the Scott Stadium scoreboard, sacking Colandrea four more times for 10 on the day. The Tar Heels held Virginia to under 300 yards, a massive improvement from allowing over 1,000 combined yards to the Panthers and Yellow Jackets.

The play of the day also came from UNC's defense, when sack leader Jahvaree Ritzie picked off a Colandrea pass and took it 84 yards to the end zone.

After everything UNC had been through this season, Saturday's victory was exactly the type of game it needed. Let's see the sports world's take on North Carolina's domination.

Best win of the season

Former UNC QB Marquise Williams celebrating the win

A needed victory

Unexpected victory...but impressive one

Did it for Tylee

Could this win spur a strong finish?

This FSU fan is hoping for a UNC loss next week.

UNC defense star Jahvaree Ritzie thankful for the win!

This fan was also excited UNC won for Tylee

This win could be season-changing

This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire : UNC steamrolls Virginia in Week 9 ACC football action – what did fans think?