UNC football falls to Oregon in Holiday Bowl heartbreaker

UNC could have taken a crucial step toward a higher tier of relevance Wednesday, but instead gave up a game-winning drive and lost to No. 15 Oregon, 28-27, in the Holiday Bowl, played at San Diego’s Petco Park.

With an interception-of-the-year play from Power Echols, an ensuing one-play drive to score, and a brutally tantalizing moment of watching the winning PAT hitting the upright before flitting through the goalpost, UNC fell just shy of securing a win that would have put it in elite territory.

Since coach Mack Brown returned to the Tar Heels in 2018, he’s aimed at ascension for a team that hasn’t won a conference championship in more than four decades. A victory over perennial power Oregon (10-4), would have sent the Heels (9-5) further along that path.

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“What we look at this game is we’re trying to take another step in our program,” Brown said ahead of Wednesday’s game. “You got Notre Dame, top-10 team. You got Oregon, top-10 team. You got Clemson, top-10 team. For us to get where we want to go, we’ve got to play the best to be the best and that’s why we’re so excited about this challenge.”

It's not there yet, but Brown has said several times this season that his young squad will be even better next year.

A Holiday Bowl victory would have given them a nice launching point. Instead, the Tar Heels will start next season with the same goal.

What happened?

Oregon pounded out an eight-play, 79-yard drive over the span of 2:05 and scored on a 6-yard pass from Bo Nix to Chase Cota with 19 seconds remaining to seize the lead after UNC's offense stalled before reaching the red zone. The Heels settled for a 44-yard field goal and a six-point advantage with 2:29 left on the clock.

Nix responded with four straight completions and then a pass interference penalty gave the Ducks a first-and-10 on UNC's 14. Nix ran for six yards to the 8 and the Tar Heels kept the Ducks out of the end zone for two more plays, but with one chance remaining on fourth down, Nix found Cota for the winning score.

That play capped a 414-yard performance from a Ducks offense that averaged 6.5 yards per carry.

Game-changing play

With Oregon in the red zone and looking to break a 14-all tie with less than a minute remaining in the first half, the Tar Heels delivered a one-two punch that completely reversed the game's momentum.

Nix threw to tight end Terrance Ferguson on second-and-5 from the UNC 16, but the pass was a bit behind him and linebacker Cedric Gray clubbed at the ball as it hit Ferguson's hand and then deflected off the back of Gray's leg. Then, the ball hit Echols' toe and popped up into the air where he was able to snag it for the interception and return it 40 yards to Oregon's 49 with 35 seconds left on the clock.

Fox Sports broadcaster and former Washington coach Chris Petersen said of the pick, "I don't think you've seen an interception this good all season long."

On the ensuing play, Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye completed a 49-yard pass to Kobe Paysour for a touchdown to give UNC a 21-14 lead heading into halftime.

A tale of 2 OLs

While Maye ducked and darted around the backfield looking for open receivers, Nix was often standing pat as his offensive line held off UNC’s defense.

That solid OL play worked out well for the Ducks with Nix not yet 100% healthy after suffering an ankle injury late in the season. His usual mobility was limited, but his backs bailed him out with a strong ground game.

Maye dazzled despite his happy feet and lack of sturdy blocking. As he has all season, the redshirt freshman found several opportunities to turn broken plays into first downs by running the ball.

The Ducks’ line helped their offense run efficiently, getting their first 14 points on just 17 snaps while it took UNC 37 plays to score 14 points.

Nix completed 23 of 30 passes for 205 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

Maye completed 18 of 35 passes for 206 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Oregon utilizes run game

Oregon’s Bucky Irving had 107 yards rushing on five carries with a pair of touchdowns in the first half alone.

Through three quarters, the Ducks had a 197-89 advantage in rushing yards.

UNC made a defensive adjustment by stacking the box to stop the run late in the second quarter and held Oregon scoreless in the third quarter.

Oregon adjusted by showing blitz and then spying Maye to contain his scrambles, which netted 45 yards, including a pair of runs for first downs.

The Ducks wound up with 209 yards rushing in the game while UNC gained 129 on the ground.

Field of play

The Holiday Bowl was played at Petco Park, home of Major League Baseball’s San Diego Padres.

It was the first time in the field’s 18-year history that it played host to a football game, and transitions included removal of the bullpen door and stairs along with the addition of field-level suites.

Petco Park is contracted to host at least the next four Holiday Bowl games.

Heavy rain Tuesday night made the field conditions wet and slippery in areas, with UNC receiver JJ Jones slipping at the goal line as a pass came his way on third down. He couldn't corral the pass from his backside, and UNC kicker Noah Burnette missed the subsequent 34-yard field goal attempt.

There had been a ban on football at Petco Park until an amendment to a joint agreement with the Padres was approved by the City Council in 2021.

The Holiday Bowl’s previous home had been SDCCU Stadium, where it was played since the inaugural game in 1978. That stadium was sold to San Diego Sate University and demolished, leaving the bowl game in search of a new home until the agreement with the Padres.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC football falls to Oregon in Holiday Bowl heartbreaker