Cardiac 'Cuse Top Carolina in Overtime - Syracuse University Athletics

Saturday, October 24

Chapel Hill, NC

7:30 PM

Syracuse University

3-4 , 1-4

North Carolina

4-3 , 2-2

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	OT	Final F
Syracuse	0	10	0	13	8	31
North Carolina	10	3	7	3	7	30

Postgame Notes

10/24/2026 11:15:00 PM | Football

Box Score Highlights Fran Brown Press Conference Players Press Conference Tickets Postgame Notes

Down by 10 midway through the third quarter, it all came down to a 2-point conversion as Syracuse football outlasted North Carolina 31-30 in overtime Saturday night at Kenan Stadium.

Steve Angeli went to Calvin Russell III on back-to-back plays, once for the overtime touchdown and again for the 2-point conversion to snap an 11-game skid in ACC play for the Orange (3-4, 1-4 ACC). Fran Brown remains perfect in overtime games (5-0) and moves to 10-5 in one-score matchups.

Angeli completed 20 of his 34 passing attempts for 256 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner. Umari Hatcher caught four passes for 103 yards with a 76-yard touchdown catch-and-run.

On the ground, Ahmad Miller ran for 125 yards on 30 carries and a pair of touchdowns while Ju'Juan Johnson and Tylik Hill each ran for 38 yards.

Defensively, Zyian Moultrie-Goddard and Chris D'Appolonia finished with eight tackles apiece. Moultrie-Goddard had one of four pass breakups for the Orange on the night while D'Appolonia had one tackle for a loss, dropping the Tar Heels with a 14-yard sack. Nissi Ogbebor logged a team-high four quarterback hurries.

Billy Edwards Jr. finished with 271 yards through the air for North Carolina, connecting on 27 of his 44 attempts. Jordan Shipp caught eight balls for 102 yards and a touchdown with Jelani Thurman going for 77 yards on seven catches.

Syracuse's defense limited the Tar Heels' ground game, capping Jaylen McGill at just 62 yards. Demon June accounted for 53 rushing yards and the long running touchdown for North Carolina on the night.

Syracuse returns to the JMA Wireless Dome for a Halloween game against No. 23 SMU on Saturday, Oct. 31. Kickoff is set for noon on ESPN2. Tickets are available at Cuse.com/tickets.

North Carolina took the opening kickoff and needed just seven plays to score. Jaylen McGill broke an 18-yard run, Billy Edwards Jr. hit Jelani Thurman for 28 yards and McGill converted a third-and-1 with a 16-yard run to the Syracuse 5. Edwards found Jordan Shipp for a five-yard touchdown on the next snap, and Rece Verhoff's kick made it 7-0 with 11:40 left in the first quarter. The Tar Heels covered 83 yards in 3:13.

Ahmad Miller carried four straight times for 15 yards and a first down to open Syracuse's first possession, but the drive stalled at the Orange 36 after Ade Willie broke up a third-down pass. Jimmy Gregg punted 44 yards to the UNC 20.

North Carolina answered with a 13-play, 60-yard drive that took 6:42. Edwards converted a pair of third-and-3s and connected with Shipp for 16 yards to the Syracuse 37, but the Orange defense held at the 9. Verhoff hit a 27-yard field goal with 2:00 left in the quarter for a 10-0 lead.

Syracuse went 88 yards on 16 plays in 7:15 for its first score. Miller opened with runs of 13 and 10 yards, and Ju'Juan Johnson converted a fourth-and-1 on the last play of the first quarter. Penalties wiped out a 37-yard catch by Umari Hatcher and left the Orange facing second-and-21, but Steve Angeli found Calvin Russell III for 20 yards on third down and Tyshawn Russell for two on fourth-and-1 to keep the drive alive. Miller added a 19-yard run, Angeli hit Daunte Bacheyie for 24 yards to the UNC 5 and Miller punched it in from two yards out with 9:40 left in the half. Shay Barker's PAT made it 10-7.

The Syracuse defense forced a three-and-out on the next series, as Rashard Perry broke up a third-and-6 pass. Davien Kerr returned the punt 27 yards into UNC territory, but an illegal block in the back moved the ball back to the Syracuse 20.

North Carolina added a field goal on its next possession. Chris Peal appeared to intercept Edwards on third-and-6, but offsetting penalties erased the play, and Edwards hit Trech Kekahuna for 12 yards on the replayed down. A 12-yard completion to Shamar Easter reached the Syracuse 23, but the Orange held there, and Verhoff made a 39-yarder with 2:40 left for a 13-7 lead.

Syracuse answered with a 10-play, 58-yard drive in 2:40. Angeli hit Hatcher for 15 yards to midfield, and Johnson broke a 25-yard run on fourth-and-1 to the UNC 16, the longest run of the half. Barker connected from 30 yards as time expired to send the Orange into halftime trailing 13-10.
Syracuse opened the second half with the ball, but a holding penalty wiped out an Ahmad Miller run and the drive stalled at the Orange 27. Jimmy Gregg boomed a 54-yard punt, his longest of the night, to the UNC 19.

North Carolina went 70 yards on 10 plays to stretch its lead. Demon June converted a pair of short-yardage downs to move the Tar Heels into Syracuse territory, and Billy Edwards Jr. found Jelani Thurman for 14 yards to the Syracuse 34. Facing fourth-and-1 at the 25, June broke loose for a 25-yard touchdown run with 8:26 left in the third quarter. Rece Verhoff's kick made it 20-10.

Davion Kerr's 24-yard kickoff return set up Syracuse's next possession, and Steve Angeli scrambled for nine yards on third-and-9 to keep it alive. Miller converted a third-and-3 and moved the Orange into UNC territory, but Donovan Hoilette and Xavier Lewis stopped him for no gain on fourth-and-1 at the UNC 45 with 4:24 left in the quarter.

The Syracuse defense answered with a three-and-out, as Chris D'Appolonia sacked Edwards for a 14-yard loss on third-and-5. Demetres Samuel Jr. returned the ensuing punt to the Syracuse 20.

Syracuse's next drive carried into the fourth quarter. Angeli hit Umari Hatcher for eight yards on third-and-4 to open the period, and a UNC holding penalty erased a sack and gave the Orange a first down at the UNC 45. The drive ended at the 38 when Angeli's fourth-and-3 pass to Tyshawn Russell fell incomplete.

North Carolina went three-and-out, and Aeron Burrell's 35-yard punt was fair caught by Davien Kerr at the Syracuse 24.

Syracuse needed one play to get back in it. Angeli found Hatcher deep down the left side for a 76-yard touchdown with 11:01 remaining, and Shay Barker's PAT cut the deficit to 20-17.

The Tar Heels responded with a 71-yard drive. Edwards connected with Jordan Shipp for 27 yards, Thurman for 14 and Trech Kekahuna for 17 to set up first-and-goal at the Syracuse 6, but the Orange defense allowed just two yards over the next three plays. Verhoff kicked a 22-yard field goal with 7:12 left for a 23-17 lead.

Syracuse answered with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that took 5:18. Miller and Tylik Hill each converted a third-and-2, and Angeli found Calvin Russell III three times for 46 yards, including a 28-yard strike to the UNC 8 yard line. Hill scored from three yards out two plays later with 1:54 to play, but Barker's PAT attempt failed, leaving the game tied 23-23.

North Carolina moved into Syracuse territory on its final drive of regulation, aided by a roughing the passer penalty that added 15 yards to a third-down conversion. Facing fourth-and-3 at the Syracuse 39, Edwards was sacked by Tunmise Adeleye for a two-yard loss and a turnover on downs with 51 seconds left.

Syracuse reached the UNC 42 on back-to-back completions to Daunte Bacheyie, but Peyton Seelmann sacked Angeli for an eight-yard loss, and Gregory Smith III broke up Angeli's fourth-and-18 pass to Russell III to send the game to overtime.

North Carolina had the ball first in overtime and scored in six plays. Edwards hit Shipp for 20 yards on third-and-10 to set up first-and-goal at the 5, and he found June for a three-yard touchdown on third down. Verhoff's kick made it 30-23.

Syracuse responded in kind. Facing third-and-11 at the UNC 26 after a false start and a botched exchange, Angeli hit Russell III for 16 yards to the 10. Three plays later, on fourth-and-4 from the 4, Angeli found Russell III again for a touchdown. The Orange went for two and the win with Angeli hitting Russell III right at the goal line. After a review, the call of successful 2-point conversion was good and Syracuse walked off with a 31-30 win.