In a game filled with explosive offensive talent, it was defense that ended up deciding the 83rd Hyundai Sun Bowl. Stanford would make one more play late on a potential game-tying two-point conversion to hold off North Carolina 25-23 in front of 42,166 at the Sun Bowl.
“We just didn’t make enough plays to win a football game,” North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora said after the game, “Our guys fought all the way to the end and we put ourselves in a position to tie it up late and we just didn’t get it done.”
Both offenses struggled to get something started for long stretches during the game, but it was Stanford’s defense who stepped up a few more times. The Cardinal forced three Tar Heel turnovers, bottled up the run for most of the game, and made North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky feel the heat all game long, primarily from former Coppell High standout Solomon Thomas, who was named the game’s MVP.
“The mentality you have is that you don’t want to get blocked and I try to have that mentality every play,” Thomas said, “But it was a team effort and I’m glad to get that win for my brothers.”
After a Stanford three-and-out to start the game, Trubisky led the Tar Heels down the field 71 yards, capped off with a 19-yard strike to Ryan Switzer for a 7-0 lead.
Stanford quickly responded with a 49-yard pass from Keller Chryst to running back Bryce Love on a wheel route to tie the game less than three minutes later.
Stanford would hit some adversity late in the first quarter as Chryst appeared to seriously injure his right knee. It was the Ryan Burns show for three-plus quarters and head coach David Shaw had full confidence in him when things got difficult.
“At halftime, I asked Ryan who was the starting quarterback when we beat USC, when we beat UCLA, and at Notre Dame, it was Ryan Burns. He wasn’t perfect today, but he made just enough plays to give us a chance to win.”
After a 44-yard field goal from Conrad Ukropina to make it 10-7, Dallas Lloyd intercepted a Trubisky pass returned back into Stanford territory.
The Cardinal would not convert as Ukropina missed a field goal on a drive that was a combination of costly Stanford penalties and a stingy North Carolina red-zone defense stepping up to keep the game close. The Tar Heels trailed 13-7 at the half.
Stanford and North Carolina would exchange field goals to make the score 16-10 late in the third. Then, the Tar Heels were able to do something they hadn’t done very well to that point: run the ball.
After rushing for just 43 yards at halftime, Trubisky, T.J. Logan, and Jordon Brown combined for 47 yards on the ground on a nine play, 68-yard drive capped off by a five-yard Brown touchdown. It was North Carolina’s first lead since their opening drive of the game.
The tide would turn quickly early in the fourth as Lloyd picked off a Trubisky and returned it 19 yards for a score to give Stanford the lead once again at 22-17.
Stanford had a third and goal at the three-inch line. After a timeout, Bryce Love was stuffed on an option play which forced another Stanford field goal and kept the Tar Heels hopes alive.
On the final drive for North Carolina, Trubisky led the Tar Heels 97 yards down the field in 70 seconds, capped off by a two-yard pass to Bug Howard.
Then, on the final two-point conversion, Thomas led the charge one final time to take down Trubisky and essentially ice the game.
“The heart of this football team really showed tonight,” Shaw said, “It doesn’t necessarily have to be pretty or go to script, but our guys responded in this game and I’m extremely proud of them.”
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