CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina has written some fine moments with its reconfigured lineup, but couldn't write a new narrative Wednesday.
The Tar Heels were shut out in the second half and lost 30-10 to West Virginia in the Duke's Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. They ended the 2023 football season with five losses in the last seven games.
UNC suffered its fourth straight loss in a bowl game and went just 1-7 in its last eight postseason appearances. The Tar Heels (8-5) were without seven starters on the day, including stars like quarterback Drake Maye and linebacker Cedric Gray, as their 6-0 start to the season fell further into the distance.
Jaheim White scored an 11-yard touchdown run to start the game early in the fourth quarter, and West Virginia was in command, leading 27-10 with 12:48 left. The Mountaineers (9-4) finished the season 5-1 after a 4-3 start, giving coach Neal Brown a celebratory Mayo bath after he began the season on the hot seat.
Three turnovers didn't help Carolina's cause here on Wednesday, nor did a series of special teams errors. Conner Harrell showed plenty of playmaking ability in his first college start as quarterback, but also threw two interceptions that put an end to scoring opportunities. He completed 18 of 27 passes for 199 yards and ran for 46 yards on 16 carries.
West Virginia never trailed and led for all but the first 11 seconds of the game. On the first play of the game, quarterback Garrett Greene hit Traylon Ray for a 75-yard touchdown as the Mountaineers jumped headfirst right out of the gate. West Virginia's fan turnout dwarfed the UNC fans who showed up here at the home of the NFL's Carolina Panthers, and the Tar Heels were booed as they took the field just before kickoff.
UNC slipped to 15-23 in bowls throughout its football history. The Tar Heels have lost four straight bowl games since beating Temple 55-13 in the 2019 Military Bowl. Carolina lost to Texas A&M 41-27 in the 2020 Orange Bowl, was soundly beaten by South Carolina 38-21 in the 2021 Duke's Mayo Bowl, and lost 28-27 when Oregon pulled out a last-second win in the 2022 Holiday Bowl.
UNC quarterback Conner Harrell will be stopped in the Mayo Bowl on Wednesday. (Photo: Jim Hawkins / Inside Carolina)
Upon further review, it's a Carolina highlight
UNC got JJ Jones to single in man-to-man coverage late in the first half, and Conner Harrell took advantage of the opportunity for his first touchdown pass of the game. That's when Jones beat West Virginia Stud cornerback Beanie Bishop Jr., landing two feet in the corner of the end zone while hauling in the 16-yard catch with just his right hand 27 seconds before halftime.
This was a much-needed delivery. Trailing 14-3, the Tar Heels began the drive at their own 24-yard line with 1:25 left in the first half. Harrell took Carolina 76 yards in five plays, with Gavin Blackwell (23 yards), Christian Hamilton (13 yards) and Nate McCollum (6 yards) setting the table for the Jones touchdown.
Jones' touchdown catch was initially ruled incomplete, prompting UNC coach Mack Brown and receivers coach Lonnie Galloway to immediately protest. Then replay reports showed Jones controlling the ball on the one-handed catch, while also outscoring the All-American Bishop in this one-on-one matchup. UNC got to 14-10 and the Tar Heels showed some fighting spirit.
Big touchdowns hurt Tar Heels
Bishop's 78-yard punt return touchdown with 1:39 remaining in the first half marked a second monster play by the Mountaineers that fell victim to UNC and also another special teams error.
Bishop raced away virtually unscathed after Carolina's Tom Maginness's 42-yard punt – two Tar Heels might have caught him – and scored West Virginia's first touchdown on a punt return since 2012, the days of Tavon Austin.
At halftime, UNC had a clear advantage in time of possession (19:31 of game time to West Virginia's 10:29). And the Tar Heels limited the Mountaineers, the No. 1 Power Five team nationally, to 52 yards on 11 carries. But West Virginia had scored key touchdowns with the 75-yard pass on the first play and Bishop's long punt return as halftime approached.