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Jordan Travis threw three touchdown passes and rushed for two more scores as Florida State upset North Carolina for the second year in a row, winning 35-25 on Saturday.
The Seminoles (2-4, 2-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) have won back-to-back games for the first time since 2019.
“It’s been a roller coaster all season,” Travis said. “The boys came out today and we responded. We lost 10-0 pretty early on.”
Travis ran for 121 yards on 14 carries and completed 11 of 13 passes for 145 yards. Two of his touchdown shots went to Ontaria Wilson and another went to Malik McClain.
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The Tar Heels (3-3, 2-3), who started the season in the Top 10, lost for the first time in four outings at home despite two touchdowns and 108 rushing yards from quarterback Sam Howell .
Howell hit Kamari Morales in the end zone on a 21-yard playoff in North Carolina’s first possession in the second half to finish at 21-17.
The State of Florida responded with Travis’ 1-yard sneak. The Seminoles scored again on Travis’ 6-yard pitch to Wilson.
“We know how we play and how we are supposed to play,” said Florida State cornerback Jarrian Jones, who had an interception in the end zone in the second quarter. “On the road, no one really gives you a chance, especially us being 1-4. We believe in us.”
North Carolina coach Mack Brown fell to 0-11 against his alma mater (including 0-8 while in charge of the Tar Heels).
“We’re not good enough to win unless we play well,” said Brown.
It was Florida State’s first road victory in six trials under second-year coach Mike Norvell.
“Being able to come out on the road and do the things that we did was a challenge,” said Norvell.
Travis, who surprised a then undefeated North Carolina team last October, ran for 53 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter as the Seminoles took a 14-10 lead. He had 87 yards on the ground in the first half.
“I was able to cut up the field and make a play,” Travis said of the long run. “But then again, I couldn’t do it without the guys blocking in front of me.”
Travis threw Wilson for 32 yards for a touchdown on Florida State’s next possession to extend the lead with 53 seconds left in the half.
“The two or three deep balls he hit made a difference in the ball game,” Brown said of Travis.
Josh Downs of North Carolina, who passed 33 yards for the game’s first touchdown, has caught at least one touchdown pass in every game this season.
North Carolina kicker Grayson Atkins posted a 51-yard field goal to finish the game’s opener, tying his longest time as a Tar Heel since his transfer from Furman.
Take it away
Florida State: The Seminoles are 5-10 in two seasons under Norvell. Two of the victories came against North Carolina. It marked Florida State’s first visit to Chapel Hill since 2009, and he improved to 8-1 in all-time trips here.
North Carolina: The Tar Heels didn’t resolve Travis in two games as he broke free for big chunks of yards. North Carolina also struggled two weeks earlier to contain Georgia Tech’s Jeff Sims on racing games.
GROWING CONFIDENCE
The Seminoles could regain some of their boast after bouncing back from a winless September.
“Confidence is one of the most important things in football,” Travis said. “… (You have to) lock up. The guys did a great job.”
Much of that success has come with a good variety up front. The Seminoles averaged 5.8 yards per carry, while Travis recorded a season-high passing yardage.
“We just won big today,” he said. “We had a running game, a passing game.”
WHAT’S WRONG ?
North Carolina is halfway through its schedule and has already suffered as many losses as the entire 2020 regular season.
“It’s disappointing for us, disappointing for our fans,” Howell said. “Obviously nobody thought we would be 3-3 at this point in the season.”
Brown, whose team suffered 12 penalties for 110 yards on Saturday, said expectations for this year were out of balance. Still, a second double-digit margin pullback is worrying.
“We can learn from that. Learn from what we haven’t done well,” Brown said. “Learn from momentum changes. Learn to be depressed, frustrated.”
FOLLOWING
Florida State: at home on October 23 against Massachusetts
North Carolina: at home Saturday against Miami to complete a three-game home stay.
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