The wait is over. After what felt like an eternity of close calls and gut-wrenching defeats, North Carolina finally got it done in conference play. Bill Belichick earned his first ACC victory on Friday night, and it came against a Syracuse team that’s been limping through October like a boxer who can’t find his corner.

The final score—27-10—doesn’t tell the whole story of how this game unfolded in the JMA Wireless Dome. But for a program that’s been desperate for any sign of life in conference play, this win feels like oxygen after being underwater.

A Tale of Two Halves

The Tar Heels trailed 10-6 at halftime, and honestly, it looked like we might be watching the same movie we’d seen before. Syracuse scored early on a defensive touchdown when Anwar Sparrow returned a fumble 51 yards for the game’s first touchdown. The Orange led, and North Carolina’s offense looked stagnant.

Then the third quarter happened.

Demon June became the spark plug this offense desperately needed. On the first play of the second half, Gio Lopez found June for what looked like a routine 9-yard gain. Then June did what playmakers do—he broke a tackle and turned on the jets, racing 63 yards down the right sideline to give the Tar Heels their first lead at 13-10.

That play changed everything. Suddenly, North Carolina had momentum. The defense, which had been solid but not spectacular, completely shut down Syracuse’s offense. The Orange didn’t score a single point after halftime. Not one.

June’s Breakout Performance

Let’s talk about Demon June for a minute. This kid put together 101 rushing yards and 81 receiving yards on just two catches. When your offense is struggling to find an identity, having a player who can make something out of nothing is invaluable.

His 5-yard touchdown run in the third quarter extended the lead to 20-10, and by that point, you could feel the energy shift in the building. North Carolina wasn’t just winning—they were dominating.

“He did a great job giving us a spark tonight,” Lopez said after the game. “He does a great job in every aspect. He’s picking up blocks better. That screen got us out of the funk we were having.”

Lopez himself had a solid outing, going 15-of-19 for 216 yards and two touchdowns. But it was that connection with June that broke this game wide open.

Syracuse’s Quarterback Nightmare Continues

Here’s where things get uncomfortable for Syracuse. Head coach Fran Brown made the decision to start true freshman walk-on Joe Filardi at quarterback. Yes, you read that right—a walk-on true freshman.

Filardi completed 1 of his first 11 passes. His first completion didn’t come until there was 6:12 left in the second quarter. He finished the night 4-of-18 for 39 yards. That’s not a typo. Thirty-nine yards.

This is what happens when your quarterback room implodes. Steve Angeli, who led Syracuse to a 3-1 start, suffered a season-ending Achilles injury against Clemson. LSU transfer Rickie Collins went 0-4 as a starter before Brown pulled the plug. Now we’re watching a walk-on struggle to complete basic throws.

“It was a month straight of football and we got other kids on the football team,” Brown said, defending his decision to start Filardi. “Just trying to get a new spark or something different to be able to move.”

The spark never came. Syracuse managed just 147 total yards and averaged 2.9 yards per play. That’s not going to win you many football games, especially against a team desperate for a victory.

What This Win Means for North Carolina

Let’s be real—North Carolina still has a lot of work to do. They’re 3-5 overall and 1-3 in the ACC. Bowl eligibility requires six wins, which means they need to win three of their final four games. That’s going to be tough.

But this victory matters for reasons beyond the standings. Belichick’s team had lost four straight games, including two heartbreakers. They lost by three at Cal and came within inches of upsetting No. 15 Virginia on a failed 2-point conversion. Those losses could have broken this team’s spirit.

Instead, they found a way to finish. They dominated the second half. They played complementary football. The defense held Syracuse scoreless after halftime, and the offense finally clicked when it mattered most.

“Feels good. Feels great,” Belichick said. “We had a couple of opportunities the last couple of weeks that we couldn’t capitalize on. It was good to get this one.”

The Road Ahead

North Carolina hosts Stanford next week before closing the season against Wake Forest, Duke, and NC State. They’ll probably only be favored against Stanford, which means this team needs to find a way to steal a win or two down the stretch.

The good news? They finally know what winning in conference play feels like. They’ve seen what happens when June gets loose in space and Lopez makes quick decisions. They’ve watched their defense shut down an opponent when it matters most.

Syracuse, meanwhile, has lost five straight and looks completely lost on offense. They travel to No. 10 Miami next week, which probably won’t go well. This program needs to figure out its quarterback situation in the offseason because what they’re running out there right now isn’t working.

For North Carolina, this win represents more than just a number in the win column. It’s validation that they can compete in this conference. It’s proof that Belichick’s system can work when players execute. And most importantly, it keeps their slim bowl hopes alive.

The nightmare is over. Now comes the hard part—building on it.