CHAPEL HILL, N.C. _ After three consecutive nail-biting wins, this was supposed to be the game where the Miami Hurricanes put together a consistent effort and imposed their will on an opponent as UM coach Mark Richt has so often stated.
The Hurricanes were three-touchdown favorites against a struggling North Carolina team that has been beset by injuries and had just one win entering Saturday's game.
Turns out the Tar Heels would give the Hurricanes all they could handle _ and then some.
Miami's offense struggled to move the ball consistently, couldn't capitalize on the turnovers its defense gave it and ultimately, the eighth-ranked Hurricanes found themselves fighting to hang on in what was an ugly 24-19 win over the Tar Heels on Saturday afternoon.
But North Carolina had its chances late, even pulling within a score in the game's final minutes. It was a late Tar Heels fumble that ended the final threat and eventually, sealed Miami's win _ though none of the Hurricanes celebrated on their way to the locker room.
Miami has now won 12 consecutive games and remains unbeaten, but there is no doubt with Virginia Tech and Notre Dame looming in the next two weeks, the Hurricanes know there is work to be done.
Entering Saturday's game, the Hurricanes had said all the right things about facing the struggling Tar Heels.
They noted North Carolina's defense had put together some solid performances even while its offense struggled. They mentioned, repeatedly, teams can't be measured by their records. And they pointed out that without a win in Chapel Hill, their stated goal of winning the Coastal Division crown in the Atlantic Coast Conference would be that much tougher.
But for most of Saturday afternoon, the Hurricanes looked sloppy and offensively inept.
From the start, the Hurricanes (7-0, 5-0) struggled to move the ball, managing just 43 yards in the first quarter. North Carolina (1-8, 0-6), which entered the game with more than a dozen players lost to season-ending injuries and starting running back Michael Carter out for this game, managed 153 yards in the first quarter and a 3-0 lead on a 24-yard Freeman Jones field goal.
The second quarter was more of the same, with North Carolina's defense _ ranked No. 110 in the nation in total defense and 114th against the run _ stymieing the Hurricanes and forcing them into four punts before halftime.
It wasn't until late in the second that the Hurricanes found offensive life when quarterback Malik Rosier, who finished with a career-high 356 yards but struggled for long stretches, connected with tight end Chris Herndon on a 51-yard touchdown that capped a six-play, 75-yard drive.
That gave the Hurricanes their first lead and while Miami wouldn't relinquish it again, the Hurricanes never got the comfortable margin of victory many expected they'd have against the Tar Heels.
Early in the third quarter it looked as if the Hurricanes would get the momentum when, on the first play from scrimmage Rosier connected with wide receiver Jeff Thomas on a 78-yard touchdown, but North Carolina answered.
More than once, the Tar Heels used trick plays to fool the Hurricanes and midway through the third, they went to another when third-string quarterback Nathan Elliott handed the ball to receiver Anthony Ratliff-Williams who then threw it downfield for an 18-yard touchdown to fellow receiver Beau Corrales.
Corrales, who'd cut the Miami lead to 17-13, then taunted the Hurricanes in the same way former UNC quarterback Marquise Williams did here in 2015 _ by making Miami's traditional "U" hand gesture and inverting it.
After that, the Hurricanes' defense forced turnovers on North Carolina's ensuing drives _ first with cornerback Michael Jackson picking off Elliott, then linebacker Charles Perry snagging another wayward Elliott pass.
But neither turnover led to Miami points and the Hurricanes didn't get much breathing room until receiver Braxton Berrios scored on a 5-yard touchdown catch from Rosier that made it 24-13.
Berrios finished with seven catches for 78 yards, Thomas had three catches for 101 yards and now, the Hurricanes turn their focus to next weekend's game against Virginia Tech.
