North Carolina yielded 53 points in the first half of its game against James Madison, as the Tar Heels trail 53-21 after two quarters of play. It is the most points UNC has allowed in one half in school history. Fifty-three points in a single half is also a program record in scoring for James Madison.
It’s also the most first-half points that a Power Four team, née Power Five, has allowed against a Group of Five opponent since 2012. James Madison scored a total of 43 points through its first two games against Charlotte and Gardner-Webb.
After starting the game with a field goal and two punts, the Dukes scored a touchdown on five straight possessions from late in the first quarter to midway through the second quarter. They ended the half with a pick-six off of North Carolina quarterback Jacolby Criswell to give them their current four possession lead.
North Carolina hasn’t had an answer for James Madison quarterback Alonza Barnett III. After starting the game with just one completion in six attempts, Barnett hit on 13 of his next 15 passes for 282 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 64 yards and two touchdowns on just eight carries.
Barnett individually has more total yards of offense (352) than North Carolina has as a team (311) so far. While the Tar Heels were able to match James Madison blow-for-blow offensively early in the game, they haven’t scored since a 6-play, 75-yard drive ended with a touchdown with 14:33 left in the second quarter.
Criswell, in just his second career start and first this season, threw two interceptions, including the pick-six on an ill-advised throw with less than two minutes remaining in the second quarter. Conner Harrell, another of the Tar Heels’ quarterback options, entered the game briefly when Criswell lost his helmet and fumbled the snap, allowing James Madison to recover.
North Carolina will start the second half with the ball, but the Tar Heels have dug themselves into a hole that will be extremely difficult to climb out of.
James Madison is gunning for what would be its fourth win over a Power Four school and second in the last two seasons (36-35 over Virginia).
