North Carolina's stout D gives Bill Belichick first win

Field Level Media|published: Sat 6th September, 22:57 2025

NCAA Football: North Carolina at Charlotte

Sep 6, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Gio Lopez (7) looks to throw to running back Charleston French (23) during the first quarter against the Charlotte 49ers at Jerry Richardson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Gio Lopez threw for a touchdown and legendary NFL coach Bill Belichick secured his first collegiate coaching victory as North Carolina defeated Charlotte 20-3 on Saturday night in Charlotte.

Belichick became one of the biggest stories in college football when he took the coaching job with the Tar Heels in December. Then the former coach of the New England Patriots came under considerable scrutiny with a season-opening blowout loss earlier in the week.

To pick up his first victory of the season, Belichick's team mostly relied on defense after breaking out to an early 10-0 lead.

The 49ers (0-2) were held to 271 yards, though North Carolina (1-1) managed slightly more with 303.

Lopez finished 17-for-25 for 155 passing yards just five nights after he exited with an injury during a season-opening home loss to TCU.

Charlotte transfer quarterback Conner Harrell, who last year started for the Tar Heels in a game against the 49ers, was 17-for-29 for 140 yards.

North Carolina caught a break when Charlotte matched into Tar Heels territory on the first possession of the second half. But Harrell's fourth-down throw was dropped by E. Jai Mason in the end zone -- a situation that was so stunning that fireworks were set off prematurely to celebrate a would-be Charlotte touchdown.

Lopez threw 51 yards to Chris Culliver on the game's third play from scrimmage, so just like earlier in the week against TCU, the Tar Heels opened the game with a touchdown. The lead grew to 10-0 on Rece Verhoff's 49-yard field goal, with Lopez already at 104 passing yards and the 49ers without a first down.

Liam Boyd's 39-yard field goal early in the second quarter accounted for Charlotte's points.

Running back Davion Gause scored on a 12-yard run with 13 seconds remaining in the first half for a 17-3 lead.

Verhoff's 33-yard field goal with 10:46 to play provided the only points of the second half. That came at the end of a 14-play drive that consumed more than eight minutes.

The game's start was delayed 30 minutes because of stormy weather.

--Field Level Media