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Top 25: No. 16 Miami gets 3 defensive TDs, rolls by Tar Heels 47-10

Miami defensive linemen Joe Jackson (99) and Gerald Willis III rush North Carolina quarterback Chazz Surratt as he attempts to pass during the first half Thursday in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee / AP)
Associated Press

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Miami tied a school record with three defensive touchdowns, N’Kosi Perry threw for a score in his first start and the No. 16 Hurricanes downed North Carolina 47-10 on Thursday night.

Romeo Finley and Joe Jackson ran back interceptions for scores, Jonathan Garvin scooped up a fumble and rumbled in for another touchdown and the Hurricanes (4-1, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) wound up forcing six turnovers in all.

Perry didn’t have to do much, completing 8 of 12 passes for 125 yards with one touchdown and one interception in his debut as the Miami starter. DeeJay Dallas rushed 11 times for 114 yards and a touchdown for the Hurricanes, whose 12th straight home regular-season win matches the school’s longest streak in 15 years.

Chazz Surratt, making his season debut after serving a three-game suspension for selling team-issued shoes, relieved North Carolina starting quarterback Nathan Elliott early and rushed for a touchdown for the Tar Heels (1-3, 1-1). But Surratt was intercepted three times, the Tar Heels also fumbled the ball away three times and they were a combined 3 for 16 on third and fourth downs.

Miami coach Mark Richt kept everyone guessing on his decision whether to start Perry or incumbent Malik Rosier right up until kickoff. The Hurricanes didn’t list a quarterback on the starting lineups that were shown on the in-stadium video boards shortly before the game.

Perry went the whole way, except for a last-play kneel-down by quarterback Cade Weldon – though Miami’s defense was its best offense.

The three defensive touchdowns were a first for Miami since a game against West Virginia on Sept. 23, 2000. The Hurricanes became the first ACC team with three defensive scores in a game since Boston College in 2006, and are one of two teams nationally this season to do so – along with Akron, which did it against Northwestern earlier this month.

It was Miami’s first time forcing six turnovers in an ACC game since a 44-37 victory over North Carolina State in 2012.