In a heated rivalry showdown for the Victory Bell, the North Carolina Tar Heels overwhelmed the Duke Blue Devils with a commanding 45–21 win, fueled by a potent offensive attack and flawless execution.
The Tar Heels set the tone early, jumping out to a 14–7 lead in the first quarter and doubling it by halftime with another 14 unanswered points in the second. By the time the fourth quarter began, North Carolina had built an insurmountable 35–7 lead. Though Duke mounted a late rally with two touchdowns in the final frame, it was far too little, too late.
North Carolina’s offense was balanced and efficient, racking up 458 total yards—289 through the air and 169 on the ground. The Tar Heels converted both fourth-down attempts and went 3-for-6 on third downs, maximizing nearly every possession. Their red zone performance was key, capitalizing with three touchdowns and a field goal on four trips.
Duke’s offense showed flashes, particularly in the passing game with 285 yards through the air, but the run game was stifled, managing only 71 yards. The Blue Devils moved the chains 18 times and went an impressive 7-for-10 on third down, yet turnovers proved costly. Two interceptions ended drives and handed extra opportunities to their rivals.
Defensively, North Carolina clamped down in the middle quarters, shutting Duke out in both the second and third. The Tar Heels also recorded 465 total yards including return yardage, and outgained the Blue Devils by over 100 yards overall.
Both teams played a clean game with no penalties, but the Tar Heels simply executed better in every phase. Their control of the rivalry game was evident from the opening drive to the final whistle, and they leave with both the Victory Bell and momentum heading into the latter part of the season.
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