CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — Anderson Castle punched in the go-ahead 1-yard touchdown with 2:18 left set up by an audacious fake field-goal call and Duke followed with a late stop to hold off rival North Carolina 32-25 on Saturday.
The win made the Blue Devils (6-5, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) bowl eligible again, along with ensuring they could keep the Victory Bell that goes to the rivalry winner for another year.
Castle ran for three 1-yard touchdowns for Duke, then joined with kicker Todd Pelino to finally put the Blue Devils on top.
With Duke trailing 25-24, Duke lined up a 45-yard field goal for the lead — only to see holder Kade Reynoldson take the snap and flip it to Pelino to the left side.
Pelino took off to the open field for 26 yards, getting all the way to the UNC 1-yard line in a stunning play that set up Castle’s score.
Gio Lopez threw and ran for a touchdown for UNC (4-7, 2-5), while Davion Gause also ran one in. But the loss means UNC won’t be able to reach the six-win threshold for bowl eligibility in Bill Belichick’s first season.
UNC had a final possession, but didn’t move the ball before Lopez’s fourth-down throw for Kobe Paysour fell incomplete with 1:18 left.
The takeaway
Duke: The Blue Devils were riding high after a thrilling win at Clemson, their first in Death Valley since 1980, only to lose at UConn and then badly at home to No. 19 Virginia. They led this one 24-10 only to squander that lead, then come through in thrilling fashion anyway.
UNC: The Tar Heels had shown gains in wins against Syracuse and Stanford before trailing the entire way in a loss at Wake Forest. Now Belichick, who won six Super Bowls as an NFL head coach, is 0-2 against instate ACC rivals.
Up next
Duke: The Blue Devils host Wake Forest in an instate rivalry game next Saturday.
UNC: The Tar Heels visit rival N.C. State next Saturday.
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Aaron Beard, The Associated Press
