Belichick earns first college win as UNC tops Charlotte 20-3

North Carolina earned Bill Belichick his first win as a college head coach on Saturday, beating the Charlotte 49ers 20-3 at Jerry Richardson Stadium in a rain-soaked game that served as a rebound from a lopsided season opener. Gio Lopez opened the scoring with a 51-yard touchdown pass to Chris Culliver on the Tar Heels first drive, and Davion Gause added a 12-yard rushing score as North Carolina built a 17-3 halftime lead and held on through a defensive, low-scoring second half.

Lopez completed 17 of 25 passes for 155 yards and the early touchdown. Culliver finished with three catches for 74 yards. North Carolina's defense limited Charlotte to 271 yards, forced two turnovers and repeatedly stalled the 49ers offense. Charlotte finished with just 21 rushing yards on 29 attempts and managed its only points on a second-quarter field goal.

The 49ers used two quarterbacks. Conner Harrell finished 17 of 29 for 140 yards, while Grayson Loftis, who also saw time, was 8 of 12 for 110 yards and threw two interceptions, according to team figures. Charlotte coach Tim Albin said a missed fourth-quarter opportunity and a late first-half North Carolina touchdown were momentum killers. "Tonight...