CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Sophomore quarterback Gio Lopez delivered two second-half touchdown passes and North Carolina’s defense overwhelmed Stanford’s protection all night, as the Tar Heels earned a hard-fought 20–15 win on Saturday for their second consecutive ACC victory.
Lopez showed poise beyond his years, completing 18 of 25 passes for 203 yards and two scores. His 55-yard strike to Jordan Shipp early in the fourth quarter gave North Carolina a comfortable 20–3 lead, capping an efficient outing that leaned heavily on the team’s defensive dominance. Shipp finished with five receptions for 83 yards.
“Good win,” said head coach Bill Belichick, who’s steadily guiding the Tar Heels through a rebuilding year. “Always good to win at home. Proud of our team.”
Relentless Pressure Defines the Night
The story of the game was North Carolina’s pass rush. The Tar Heels sacked Stanford quarterback Elijah Brown nine times, consistently collapsing the pocket and forcing hurried throws. Melkart Abou Jaoude led the charge with three sacks, giving him 10 on the season, while Tyler Thompson added three more and Andrew Simpson chipped in with two.
“When our defense plays like that, we’ve got to feed off their energy,” Lopez said. “It’s complementary football, and that’s how we win.”
Stanford’s Late Push Falls Short
Stanford (3–7, 2–5 ACC) struggled to find rhythm for most of the night but nearly mounted a late comeback. After trailing by 17 in the fourth, Brown connected on a pair of late touchdowns, including a 24-yard scoring pass to CJ Williams with 1:48 left to cut the deficit to 20–15.
Brown, making just his second career start, finished 21 of 34 for 268 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also absorbed constant pressure behind a shaky offensive line.
“I’m proud of how Elijah kept fighting,” said Stanford head coach Frank Reich. “He took a lot of hits but never backed down.”
Caden High led the Cardinal receivers with 10 catches for 102 yards, while Williams added six grabs for 61 yards and a score.
Defensive Tone-Setter Early
In a first half dominated by punts and field position, it was North Carolina’s defense that created the game’s first big moment. Simpson stripped Brown in the first quarter, and Smith Vilbert recovered the fumble at the Stanford 7-yard line. That turnover set up Rece Verhoff’s 27-yard field goal, giving the Tar Heels a 3–0 lead — their first first-quarter advantage since mid-September.
Ethan Kenney later added a 38-yard field goal on the final play of the half to send UNC into the break up 6–3.
Tar Heels Finding Their Footing
North Carolina (4–5, 2–3 ACC) has now won consecutive conference games after a rocky start to the season. With Lopez settling into his role and the defense peaking, the Tar Heels have revived hopes of bowl eligibility.
“Things are starting to come together,” Belichick said. “We’ve still got a lot to improve, but the effort and toughness are where they need to be.”
Up Next:
Stanford enters its bye week before hosting California on Nov. 22 in the annual Big Game.
North Carolina will look to continue its momentum on the road against Wake Forest next Saturday.
The Tar Heels’ late-season surge, powered by a swarming defense and an emerging young quarterback, might just be turning this rebuilding year into something worth remembering.
