Chapel Hill, N.C. — North Carolina earned its first home victory of the Bill Belichick era in emphatic fashion on Saturday, rolling past Richmond 41–6 behind a balanced offensive attack and a relentless defensive effort.
Quarterback Gio Lopez threw for two touchdowns and ran in another, while freshman running back Demon Juju June stole the show with 148 rushing yards and a score, helping the Tar Heels (2–1) cruise to their second consecutive win.
“We just want to be smart, tough, and dependable,” said Lopez, who finished 10-of-18 for 119 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. “When we execute our plays the way we should, we score.”
Early Domination Sets the Tone
North Carolina came out firing, scoring on each of its first four possessions and building a 20–3 lead by halftime. Wide receiver Jordan Shipp caught both of Lopez’s touchdown passes, finishing with four receptions for 52 yards in a breakout performance.
The Tar Heels outgained Richmond 193–58 in the first half, showing full command on both sides of the ball.
Defensive Clampdown Continues
North Carolina’s defense continued its impressive resurgence, holding Richmond (1–2) to just 199 total yards and forcing three turnovers, including a 62-yard fumble return touchdown by linebacker Makai Gbayor.
The Spiders didn’t register a first down until early in the second quarter and were shut down in the red zone after recovering a surprise onside kick to open the second half. Quarterback Kyle Wickersham was stopped short on a 4th-and-goal from the 1-yard line, ending Richmond’s best chance at a comeback.
“It’s been an improvement every week,” said Belichick. “We’ve tackled better, which is obviously a big help. But there’s still a lot we can improve.”
Since giving up 48 points to TCU in Week 1, the Tar Heels have allowed just nine total points over their last two games.
Richmond’s Mistakes Prove Costly
The Spiders struggled to gain any traction against a disciplined UNC squad, committing critical turnovers and miscues at key moments.
“When you play a Power 4 school and turn the ball over, that’s how you get a 41–6 game,” said Richmond head coach Russ Huesman. “That’s what happens when you make those kinds of mistakes.”
Loss to TCU Still Fuels UNC
Despite two dominant wins since their lopsided season-opening loss, the Tar Heels say they’re still using the TCU game as motivation.
“These are two good wins back-to-back, but let’s not forget what happens when we let our guard down,” said Shipp. “It’s good that it happened early—you’d rather get the brakes beat off of you early than late in the season.”
Takeaways:
North Carolina: The Tar Heels delivered their most complete performance under Belichick so far. With a growing identity on both sides of the ball and clear momentum, UNC looks like a team beginning to find its stride.
Richmond: A tough outing for the Spiders, who were overmatched and outplayed in all three phases. Missed opportunities and turnovers left them with little chance to keep pace.
What’s Next:
Richmond: Returns home to host VMI on Sept. 20.
North Carolina: Heads on the road to face UCF on Sept. 20.
