Syracuse 31, North Carolina 30: Angeli's two-point pass ends it in overtime

Syracuse did not play for a second overtime. After North Carolina scored first in the extra period, Steve Angeli found Calvin Russell III for a 4-yard touchdown, then hit Russell again for two points. That made it 31-30 Syracuse at Kenan Stadium on Saturday, October 24.

The Orange only got to overtime because of a missed kick. Tylik Hill's 3-yard run with 1:54 left tied the game at 23, and Syracuse's S. Barker then missed the extra point that would have put the Orange ahead. North Carolina could not use the reprieve in regulation. In overtime, Syracuse coach's call to go for two decided it.

How it was won

North Carolina controlled the first half. Billy Edwards Jr. hit Jordan Shipp for a 5-yard touchdown at 11:40 of the first quarter, and R. Verhoff added a 27-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead. Ahmad Miller's 2-yard run cut it to 10-7 in the second quarter. Verhoff answered from 39 yards, and Barker's 30-yard field goal with one second left made it 13-10 at the half.

Demon June broke a 25-yard touchdown run at 8:26 of the third quarter for a 20-10 Tar Heels lead. Syracuse got back in it with one throw: Angeli to Umari Hatcher for 76 yards at 11:01 of the fourth. Verhoff's 22-yard field goal pushed North Carolina back ahead 23-17, and Hill's touchdown run set up the tie.

In overtime, Edwards found June for a 3-yard score and Verhoff converted for 30-23. Angeli and Russell answered with the touchdown and the conversion.

The box score favored Syracuse. The Orange outgained North Carolina 455 yards to 372, with 199 rushing yards against 101. Miller carried 30 times for 125 yards, and Syracuse held the ball for 31:25. Angeli finished 20 of 34 for 256 yards and two touchdowns. Hatcher had 103 yards on four catches, and Russell caught eight passes for 86 yards.

Edwards went 27 of 44 for 271 yards and two touchdowns. Shipp caught eight balls for 102 yards and Jelani Thurman had seven for 77. North Carolina converted 9 of 17 third downs to Syracuse's 8 of 19. Neither team turned the ball over.

Against the number

North Carolina closed at -7.5, so Syracuse covered with room to spare by winning outright. The Orange were +275 on the moneyline, with the Tar Heels at -345.

The total closed at 49.5, and 61 points went over. That result needed overtime. Regulation ended 23-23, or 46 points, under the number. The two overtime touchdowns added 15 points and moved the total over. Full prices and line history are on the game page.

What's next

Syracuse moves to 3-4 and hosts No. 23 SMU on Saturday, October 31, on ESPN2. The Orange keep playing close games. This was their fourth result of the season decided by three points or fewer, after the 42-41 win at UConn and losses to Virginia (28-25) and California (21-18). They come in off a home loss to Louisville, 34-26, before this win.

North Carolina falls to 4-3 and hosts No. 1 Miami on Saturday, October 31. The Tar Heels had won two straight one-possession road games, 21-17 at Pittsburgh and 24-20 at Duke, before this one went the other way at home. Their three losses have come against Clemson, Notre Dame and Syracuse.