Louisville Holds Off North Carolina as Game Ends in Fight

Louisville’s Jabari Mack intercepted a fourth-down pass with 58 seconds remaining to preserve a 16-14 win over North Carolina. The ball bounced off Tar Heels receiver Jordan Shipp, and Mack returned it 32 yards before sliding. Louisville then ran out the clock for its fifth consecutive victory.

North Carolina had a chance to take the lead after Benjamin Hall’s six-yard touchdown run brought the Tar Heels within two points with 3:43 left. The team forced a punt and got the ball back with 1:41 to play, but backup quarterback Travis Burgess’s pass on fourth-and-12 ended in Mack’s interception. Burgess had entered after starter Billy Edwards Jr. left the game following a hit on a sack.

After the final snap, players jawed at one another before pushing and grappling. Players and coaches came onto the field, and the teams were separated after a brief melee. At least one confrontation broke away from the main group and ended with a Louisville player bringing a North Carolina player down in the end zone.

Louisville improved to 7-3 overall and 6-2 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, keeping its hopes of reaching the conference championship game alive. North Carolina fell to 5-5 overall and 2-4 in ACC play. The Cardinals host Pittsburgh next, while the Tar Heels travel to Virginia. The ACC could review the fight and issue suspensions.