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Bill Belichick won the first win in his collegial coaching career on Saturday night.
North Carolina Tar Heels jumped back from a loss last week to defeat Charlotte 49ers, 20-3.
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North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick looks from the sidelines during the first half of a NCAA football match against Charlotte in Charlotte, NC, Saturday 6 September 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
The game started in a similar way that Tar Heels’ loss against TCU started – with a touchdown. Quarterback Gio Lopez needed three pieces to enter the end zone. He found Chris Culliver for a 51-yard touchdown pass. The North Carolina defense locked in from there.
Charlotte put on her first three drives before picking up their lonely field goals in the second quarter. The 49s turned the ball into the second quarter, and the 49ers quarterback Grayson Loftis threw an interception to North Carolina’s Greg Smith to finish their drive.
Lopez was 17-of-25 with 155 passing yards and game opening of touchdown-Pas. Davion Gause ran after a touchdown along with 27 meters on the ground. Culliver led North Carolina recipients with three catches in 74 yards and scores in the first quarter.
North Carolina Quarterback Gio Lopez seems to pass against Charlotte during the first half of a NCAA football match in Charlotte, NC, Saturday 6 September 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
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Loftis entered the game for Conner Harrell. Loftis was 8-for-12 with 110 passing yards and two interceptions. Harrell was 17-of-29 with 140 passing yards.
Belichick heard a lot of criticism from the loss against the horned frogs. In a short week he got Tar Heels to stay focused on the current task and avoided a 0-2 start.
He took over as Tar Heels’ head coach of Mack Brown. He mostly remained out of the limelight until it was confirmed that he was with Jordon Hudson. The age gap between Belichick and Hudson became the speech point around the program from spring and throughout the summer.
North Carolina runs back Charleston French (23) looks for room to run against Charlotte Defensive Back Treyveon McGee during the first half of a NCAA football match in Charlotte, NC, Saturday 6th September 2025. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
Wins will help put some of the negative criticism to the side. North Carolina returns to play Richmond next week with a matchup against UCF coming after it.
