East Carolina Pirates @ North Carolina Tar Heels
Gio Bernard has 2 TDs in return from injury as UNC sinks ECU
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Gio Bernard scored two touchdowns in his return from a knee injury, and North Carolina took over after halftime to beat East Carolina 27-6 on Saturday.
Bernard had missed two straight games since hurting his left knee in the season-opening win against Elon, but he returned with a 14-yard scoring catch from Bryn Renner in the first quarter and added a 4-yard TD run in the third.
Bernard didn't have a big rushing day for the Tar Heels (2-2), finishing with 50 yards on 18 carries. But Renner had little trouble through the air, completing 27-of-43 passes for 321 yards and two touchdowns, including a 62-yard scoring pass to sophomore receiver Sean Tapley early in the third.
The Pirates (2-2) struggled to sustain drives all afternoon, twice settling for first-half field goals after stalling inside the 10-yard line and finishing with 233 total yards.
Game Information
Chapel Hill, NC
2025 Standings
| American Conference | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Tulane | 7-1 | 11-3 |
| North Texas | 7-1 | 12-2 |
| Navy | 7-1 | 11-2 |
| East Carolina | 6-2 | 9-4 |
| South Florida | 6-2 | 9-4 |
| Army | 4-4 | 7-6 |
| Memphis | 4-4 | 8-5 |
| UTSA | 4-4 | 7-6 |
| Temple | 3-5 | 5-7 |
| Florida Atlantic | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Rice | 2-6 | 5-8 |
| UAB | 2-6 | 4-8 |
| Tulsa | 1-7 | 4-8 |
| Charlotte | 0-8 | 1-11 |
| Atlantic Coast Conference | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 7-1 | 11-3 |
| SMU | 6-2 | 9-4 |
| Miami | 6-2 | 13-3 |
| Pittsburgh | 6-2 | 8-5 |
| Georgia Tech | 6-2 | 9-4 |
| Duke | 6-2 | 9-5 |
| NC State | 4-4 | 8-5 |
| California | 4-4 | 7-6 |
| Clemson | 4-4 | 7-6 |
| Louisville | 4-4 | 9-4 |
| Wake Forest | 4-4 | 9-4 |
| Stanford | 3-5 | 4-8 |
| Florida State | 2-6 | 5-7 |
| North Carolina | 2-6 | 4-8 |
| Virginia Tech | 2-6 | 3-9 |
| Boston College | 1-7 | 2-10 |
| Syracuse | 1-7 | 3-9 |
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