North Carolina (2-2) scored a pair of touchdowns in the first 7:05 of the second half to break open a close game against the visiting Pirates. QB Bryn Renner threw a 62-yard touchdown pass to WR Sean Tapley, and an ECU turnover set up a 4-yard run by RB Giovani Bernard as the Tar Heels built on a 10-6 halftime lead. LB Kevin Reddick finished with 9 tackles while recording one of UNC’s seven sacks and a forcing a fumble as UNC held an opponent without a touchdown for the second time this season.
UNC coach Larry Fedora said: “It’s not the halftime speeches. I’ll assure you. But it’s guys trying to come out with the same intensity level that we do at the beginning of the game. That’s always a struggle for any team, to come out just as intense in the second half as you do in the first half. I think our guys have maybe done a better job of that than we have at the beginning of the game.”
NC State 52, The Citadel 14
Freshman Shadrach Thornton rushed for 145 yards and two touchdowns in his fi rst college game to key the Wolfpack (3-1), which won its third straight game. Rashard Smith added a 73-yard punt return for a touchdown, while QB Mike Glennon rushed for a pair of touchdowns and passed for another. Wolfpack CB David Amerson came up with his third interception of the season, giving him 16 for his career and tying the NC State school record.
State coach Tom O’Brien on Thornton: “He’s the only healthy back we had left. I think by the end of preseason scrimmages he had shown us some good things and he continued that tonight. Getting him in this week will make him better for next week. We’re 3-1 and now the key is what we do when we go to Miami next week.”
Duke 38, Memphis 14
QB Sean Renfree threw for 314 yards and four touchdowns to lead Duke (3-1) to its best start to a season since 2008. Renfree threw touchdown passes of 37 and 31 yards to WR Conner Vernon, who moved into fifth place on the ACC career receiving yards list. Memphis (0-4) led 14-7 in the opening half, but the Blue Devils closed the game with 31 unanswered points. Duke has opened the season with three consecutive home wins for the first time since 1994.
Vernon said: ““It just goes to show the depth and talent on this team and the will to fight,” Vernon said. “Nobody was ready to back down or lay down. Nobody’s head was hanging. We knew how good we were.”