NCAAF

Wake Forest Demon Deacons at North Carolina Tar Heels

· NCAA - Football
Final
24 - 31

Hampton's huge day helps North Carolina hold off Wake Forest 31-24 to reach bowl eligibility

Michael Kern connects for 16-yard TD pass

It was the latest huge performance for the Tar Heels' workhorse back, who cracked the 100-yard rushing mark for the eighth straight game. He found the end zone when he hurdled defenders near the goal line and powering through contact with 2:26 left for a 31-17 lead.

Hampton's scoring run set his career highs for both carries and rushing yards, along with ultimately sending the Tar Heels (6-4, 3-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) to a third consecutive win. He also moved into fifth on UNC's all-time rushing list with 3,327 yards, passing both Don McCauley and Kelvin Bryant.

“He’s tough, he takes care of the ball, he protects in the passing game,” UNC coach Mack Brown said. “He’s very humble. He never asks for the ball. I guess you don’t have to when you get it 35 times. But he usually makes the plays when he has to to help us win the game.”

Jacolby Criswell ran and threw for touchdowns for UNC, while linebacker Power Echols had a leaping snag for an interception and returned it 42 yards for third-quarter touchdown.

Demond Claiborne ran for 95 yards and two touchdowns for the Demon Deacons (4-6, 2-4), who arrived for the latest meeting in this long-running instate matchup with a 3-0 road record. But Wake Forest lost three turnovers, the last being a fumble by Michael Kern on a strip-sack by Joshua Harris deep in its own end with 5:08 left to set up Hampton's score.

“At times I don't think we've grasped the details of what it takes to win a game like that,” Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. “It's all said and done, and the yardage is equal, the third downs are equal and the red-zone deals are equal. And it all comes down to those three turnovers we had that were absolute killers.”

Kern threw for 172 yards with one TD and two interceptions after taking over for starter Hank Bachmeier, who was knocked from the game with an apparent upper-body injury early in the third.

Kern hit Taylor Morin for a 40-yard shot down the seam late then found him again from 16 yards in the back of the end zone with 75 seconds left to keep hope alive, but the Tar Heels recovered the ensuing kick to kill the remaining time.

The takeaway Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons arrived needing two wins to reach bowl eligibility and aiming to stay perfect on the road after wins at N.C. State, Connecticut and Stanford. They were within reach on this one, twice closing 14-point deficits to one-possession games, only to come up short.

UNC: The Tar Heels have turned things around from a four-game skid that included giving up 70 points in a loss to James Madison on Sept. 21, as well as the emotional blow from the death of teammate Tylee Craft due to cancer. It's why Brown said his team had been in “such a hole" before emerging from an open week with lopsided road wins against Virginia and Florida State while racking up 17 sacks, and now pushing through this one.

Bachmeier's injury Clawson said that Bachmeier injured his left shoulder after being taken down on a running play, but he was well enough to return to the game. But the team had put in numerous QB running plays and decided to stick with Kern.

Up next Wake Forest: The Demon Deacons hit the road one last time when they visit No. 12 Miami next Saturday before returning home to close the regular season against instate foe Duke.

UNC: The Tar Heels play their final road game when they visit Boston College next Saturday, then return home to close against rival N.C. State.

How To Watch

How can I watch Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. North Carolina Tar Heels?
  • TV Channel: Demon Deacons at Tar Heels 2021 College Football, week 12, is broadcasted on ACC Network.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.

Matchup Prediction

Tar Heels: 81.0%
Demon Deacons: 19.0%
*According to ESPN's Basketball Power Index

Scoring Summary

WAKE FG 1st Period 3:21 Matthew Dennis 33 Yd Field Goal
UNC TD 2nd Period 12:26 Jacolby Criswell 4 Yd Run (Noah Burnette Kick)
UNC FG 2nd Period 0:01 Noah Burnette 24 Yd Field Goal
WAKE TD 3rd Period 12:20 Demond Claiborne 2 Yd Run (Matthew Dennis Kick)
UNC TD 3rd Period 9:26 J.J. Jones 15 Yd pass from Jacolby Criswell (Noah Burnette Kick)
UNC TD 3rd Period 8:05 Power Echols 42 Yd Interception Return (Noah Burnette Kick)
WAKE TD 3rd Period 5:14 Demond Claiborne 7 Yd Run (Matthew Dennis Kick)
UNC TD 4th Period 2:26 Omarion Hampton 6 Yd Run (Noah Burnette Kick)
WAKE TD 4th Period 1:15 Taylor Morin 16 Yd pass from Michael Kern (Matthew Dennis Kick)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/154.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originWAKE https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/ncaa/500/153.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originUNC
19 1st Downs 21
6-14 3rd down efficiency 6-15
0-1 4th down efficiency 2-2
354 Total Yards 362
240 Passing 132
24/37 Comp/Att 14/22
6.5 Yards per pass 6.0
114 Rushing 230
32 Rushing Attempts 53
3.6 Yards per rush 4.3
9-90 Penalties 10-83
3 Turnovers 1
1 Fumbles lost 1
2 Interceptions thrown 0
24:59 Possession 35:01

Game Information

Kenan Stadium

Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Attendance: 48,364 · Capacity:
Full Standings

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