North Carolina Beats Stanford 20-15 for Second ACC Win

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. North Carolina secured its second consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference victory with a 20-15 win over Stanford on Saturday night at Kenan Stadium, bolstering bowl eligibility hopes in coach Bill Belichick's first season with the Tar Heels.

Quarterback Gio Lopez completed 18 of 25 passes for 203 yards and two second-half touchdowns, guiding North Carolina to the narrow triumph. His connections with receivers Jordan Shipp and Davion Gause proved decisive. Shipp led the Tar Heels' receiving corps with five catches for 83 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter that extended the lead to 20-3. Gause added a 20-yard scoring reception earlier in the second half. Lopez's efficiency helped the offense overcome a sluggish first half, where the teams combined for just 147 total yards and six punts.

North Carolina's defense dominated Stanford's passing attack, recording nine sacks on redshirt freshman quarterback Elijah Brown, who made his second career start. Brown finished with 268 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but constant pressure limited the Cardinal's rhythm. The Tar Heels forced a fumble in the first quarter when Andrew Simpson...