CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina’s defense is dominating — even without its defensive coordinator.
The Tar Heels defeated East Tennessee State 35-3 on Saturday afternoon in Kenan Stadium with a late field goal snapping UNC’s streak of not allowing a point at seven quarters of game time.
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UNC is 2-0 under second-year head coach Bill Belichick and visits Clemson next week.
Saturday’s game was delayed 79 minutes by lightning in the area between the third and fourth quarters. By then, the Tar Heels had wrapped up a second consecutive win, propped by a defense missing its coordinator and best player.
“That was a long one, but got a solid effort by our guys,” Belichick said. “We were able to convert our opportunities into touchdowns and made a couple stops on defense to keep the points down.”
Defensive coordinator Steve Belichick has been on medical leave for more than a month. There is no timetable for his return and he is part of a widening investigation into the UNC football program.
Defensive end Melkart Abou Jaoude, who led the ACC in sacks last season and had a sack and forced fumble in the opener, missed the game against ETSU with an apparent arm injury. He wasn’t in uniform for the game.
Still, UNC had four sacks — two each by Xavier Lewis and Jalen Harvey — and forced two turnovers in the game, which led to 14 points. Defensive back Greg Smith had an interception and a fumble recovery. Linebacker Peyton Seelman had 10 tackles (seven solo) and a forced fumble.
“It’s just good team defense,” Belichick said.
The Tar Heels’ offense was efficient with quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. finishing 15-of-20 for 244 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Jelani Thurman, who is emerging as a breakout star for UNC, had four catches for 71 yards, both team highs, including a 24-yard touchdown on a catch and run in the first quarter to open the scoring. Thurman, a 6-foot-6, 245-pound transfer from Ohio State, has eight catches through two games.
Edwards hit running back Benjamin Hall in the flat for a 24-yard catch-and-run touchdown in the second half to cap a 10-play, 99-yard drive. The 99-yard touchdown drive tied a school record last set in 2022 against Miami.
“I threw a 35-yard touchdown pass, a 24-yard touchdown pass, whatever it was, I threw the ball five yards,” Edwards said. “So if I can just give these guys a chance and put it within a hula hoop circle of them and give them a chance to go make a play, then they’re going to do what they’re able to do which is be special and make plays.”
Running back Demon June added three rushing touchdowns — 9 yards, 6 yards and 1 yard. June, who had two rushing touchdowns in 2025, had seven carries for 33 yards, part of a three-man rotation at running back with Hall (four rushes, 49 yards) and Jaylen McGill (five rushes, 40 yards).
Rather than settle for field goals, the Tar Heels converted red-zone opportunities into touchdowns.
“You don’t want to have nine plays for 80 yards and end up kicking a field goal,” Belichick said. “You want to be able to finish that drive with a touchdown. That’s where you need your best execution is in the red area where there’s less space and everything has to be more precise.”
Eleven different receivers caught at least one pass for UNC.
ETSU had seven penalties for 67 yards, including a holding penalty that negated a touchdown run in the first half.
The game marked the start of UNC’s 100th season at Kenan Stadium, which held its first game in November 1927. It was the first ever meeting between the teams.
UNC’s blowout victory was just one of a series of big wins by ACC teams over teams from the Football Championship Subdivision. NC State (73-0), Miami (77-7), Virginia (59-3) and Louisville (59-13) scored lopsided victories over FCS teams this week.
