Notre Dame holds off North Carolina 50-43 to remain undefeated

It wasn’t pretty, but it got the job done.

No. 6 Notre Dame overcame a lackluster defensive effort and three turnovers from quarterback Everett Golson to hold off North Carolina 50-43 in a back-and-forth affair that featured over 1,000 combined yards of offense.

Despite the two lost fumbles and throwing a first quarter interception, Golson threw for 300 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 71 yards to help the Fighting Irish (6-0) remain unbeaten in front of the crowd in South Bend. 

North Carolina quarterback Marquise Williams threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns while running for 132 yards and a score. He also caught a TD pass from Quinshad Davis late in the third quarter to give the Heels a 36-35 lead – a lead that would not stick.

It took less than a minute for the Tar Heels to open the scoring with a 6-yard Elijah Wood touchdown run on the heels of Golson’s first fumble of the game. After a three-and-out and a missed UNC field goal, Golson made another mistake – throwing an interception that was returned 29 yards for a touchdown by UNC linebacker Jeff Schoettmer.

Golson rebounded from his rough start and did so in a big way. Golson picked apart the UNC defense, leading the Irish on three consecutive scoring drives to take a 21-14 lead.

By halftime, Notre Dame led 28-26 thanks to a blocked UNC extra point and a botched two-point conversion attempt.

The second half looked like it’d be more of the same offensive show when Golson hit William Fuller for a 35-yard score on its first drive to make it 36-25, but the two defenses managed to tighten up for much of the third quarter. The teams traded a total of four punts before UNC cut into the lead with a field goal. On the ensuing Notre Dame possession, Golson fumbled again. On UNC's first play after the fumble, Davis hit Williams on a 23-yard trick play and all of a sudden the Tar Heels took a 36-35 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

Once again behind on the scoreboard, Golson responded.

The Fighting Irish delivered a 15-play, 81-yard drive that took 7:32 off the clock and culminated with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Golson to running back Tarean Folston. The drive was boosted by a UNC roughing the holder penalty (yes, the holder) on a punt. That obscure foul gave the Irish new life, and Golson and the offense capitalized to take a 43-36 lead.

The Notre Dame defense intercepted Williams on the next drive, and the Irish all but sealed the win with another touchdown from Folston – this time on a 6-yard run. UNC managed to score again with under a minute to go, but Notre Dame recovered the onside kick to clinch a victory.

Notre Dame (6-0) played far from a perfect game, but Brian Kelly’s team is still unbeaten heading into next weekend’s showdown with top-ranked Florida State in Tallahassee.

North Carolina started the season ranked in the Top 25 but fell to a lowly 2-4 with the loss.

For more Notre Dame news, visit IrishIllustrated.com.

For more North Carolina news, visit TarHeelIllustrated.com.

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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!

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