Appalling, But Mercifully Over.

Opt-outs and injuries conspired with the competent UConn Huskies (9-4, independent) to doom the North Carolina Tar Heels (6-7, 3-5 ACC) to a losing record on the 2024 season with a 27-14 defeat in the Fenway Bowl.

Quarter-by-Quarter

UConn – Field Goal (8 plays, 61 yards, 4:14)

UNC – Punt (3 p, 7 y, 2:21)

UConn – Punt (5 p, 20 y, 2:17)

UNC – Punt (3 p, 1 y, 1:52)

UConn – Touchdown (2 p, 51 y, 0:31)

UNC – Touchdown (Chris Culliver 95-yard kickoff return)

Q1: UNC 7, UConn 10

UConn – Touchdown (11 p, 79 y, 4:14)

UNC – Punt (3 p, -18 y, 2:54)

UConn – Punt (3 p, 1 y, 1:39)

UNC – Punt (3 p, 4 y, 2:49)

UConn – Touchdown (14 p, 56 y, 5:54)

UNC – Interception (3 p, 26 y, 0:45)

UConn – End Half (1 p, -2 y, 0:09)

Q2: UNC 0, UConn 14 (UConn leads 24-7)

UNC – Downs (5 p, 21 y, 2:24)

UConn – Field Goal (11 p, 40 y, 4:56)

UNC – Punt (3 p, -1 y, 2:19)

UConn – Missed Field Goal (7 p, 29 y, 4:02)

Q3: UNC 0, UConn 3 (UConn leads 27-7)

UNC – Punt (3 p, 0 y, 2:14)

UConn – Punt (5 p, 11 y, 3:10)

UNC – Touchdown (8 p, 96 y, 4:09)

UConn – Punt (3 p, -1 y, 2:30)

UNC – Downs (8 p, 40 y, 3:02)

UConn – End Game (3 p, 16 y, 1:14)

Q4: UNC 7, UConn 0 (UConn wins 27-14)

The Bottom Line

It was a rough Saturday for interim head coach Freddie Kitchens, who will be retained in an as-yet-unspecified offensive assistant coaching role under incoming head coach Bill Belichick. Star RB Omarion Hampton, as sure an NFL backfield prospect as they come, sat out the game to avoid the risk of injury as he prepares for the coming draft. Also absent was injured DE Kaimon Rucker, sure to be taken in this upcoming draft himself. The trenches for UNC were full of players who had played reserve, if any, snaps this year. About half of Carolina’s starting linemen – on both offense and defense – did not play in the Fenway Bowl. When QB Jacolby Criswell went down with an upper body injury, the game plan went out the window and the Tar Heels had to experiment with a mix of fourth string Michael Merdinger and RB Caleb Hood in the wildcat. All in all, it’s not fair to blame Coach Kitchens – as some have – for what became a doomed venture.

Among the day’s bright spots was a fourth quarter drive spearheaded by Hood, who rushed most of the length of the field (with a few snaps taken by RB Darwin Barlow) until he threw his only pass of the day, a 17-yard touchdown strike to TE John Copenhaver. Additionally, reserve LB Caleb Lavallee put a memorable performance on tape before entering the transfer portal after the game.

On the whole, it was a day to forget. The Tar Heels concluded a winnable game in the same manner that they faced a very navigable 2024 schedule: with disappointment. Only now, there is hope for a course correction. UNC has, for the first time in recent history, committed to big time football.

We’re on to Bill Belichick.