The North Carolina Tar Heels played their best game of the 2025 college football season on Saturday afternoon, dominating Richmond in a 41-6 blowout.
UNC scored on its first drive, thanks to a Rece Verhoff field goal, then built a 17-point lead by the half. Gio Lopez connected with Jordan Shipp for two touchdowns and ran for another. True freshman running back Demon June cemented himself as North Carolina’s RB1, collecting over 100 yards and a score.
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The Tar Heels’ defense, once again, was the difference-maker. UNC held the visiting Spiders (1-2) to 199 yards. North Carolina generated three turnovers, forcing two fumbles and recording a late interception. Delaware transfer Melkart Abou-Jaoude proved himself as a defensive captain for the Tar Heels, sacking Richmond quarterback Kyle Wickersham on consecutive plays and recovering a fumble.
You might hear the outside noise of, “UNC played an FCS school. There wasn’t that much of a challenge.” False. In North Carolina’s postgame presser, Bill Belichick said the Spiders are better than Saturday’s score showed. For a Tar Heels team that struggled mightily overall in Week 1 – and offensively in Week 2 – Saturday was exactly the type of needed, confidence-boosting result.
Next up for UNC is a road matchup with 2-0 UCF, which dominated North Carolina A&T and barely squeaked by Jacksonville State. After a Week 5 bye, the Tar Heels return home October 4 to host Clemson, which looks a shell of the preseason ACC favorite we expected.
Before we get into future games, let’s hand out helmet stickers for UNC’s dominant, Week 3 victory over Richmond on Saturday afternoon.
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RB Demon June
Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels running back Demon June (35) runs for a touchdown as Richmond Spiders linebacker Jordan Allen (9) defends in the fourth quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Saturday was “Demon Time” in Kenan Stadium. North Carolina’s true freshman back gashed the Richmond defense for 148 yards on 14 carries, adding a touchdown in the mix.
We watched Belichick rotate his running backs in Weeks 1 and 2. Davion Gause backed up June Saturday, carrying the football just five times.
If the Tar Heels want to reach their maximum potential on offense, June needs to be the starter going forward. June looks like a star in the making.
DE Melkart Abou-Jaoude
Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels defensive lineman Melkart Abou-Jaoude (9) sacks Richmond Spiders quarterback Kyle Wickersham (16) in the first quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
UNC’s defensive line is filled with offseason transfers, including Abou-Jaoude, who proved himself as the best amongst that bunch.
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Abou-Jaoude sacked Richmond QB Kyle Wickersham on consecutive plays – and later recovered a fumble. Saturday might be just one game, but it’s encouraging to know the Delaware transfer can be a leader up front.
LB Mikai Gbayor
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 13: Mikai Gbayor #4 of the North Carolina Tar Heels runs for a touchdown after his fumble recovery against the Richmond Spiders during the second half at Kenan Memorial Stadium on September 13, 2025 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)
Another transfer who shined on Saturday afternoon was linebacker Mikai Gbayor, who came over from Nebraska in the offseason.
Gbayor was North Carolina’s best linebacker against the Spiders, recording six tackles (two solo), a sack, tackle for loss, forced fumble and – pictured above – a 61-yard scoop-and-score.
Jordan Shipp
Sep 13, 2025; Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels wide receiver Jordan Shipp (1) scores a touchdown as Richmond Spiders defensive back Lee Bruner IV (19) defends in the first quarter at Kenan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-Imagn Images
Shipp, a sophomore wideout who grew up in Charlotte, stepped up to prove himself as the Tar Heels’ WR1 on Saturday.
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Shipp caught four Gio Lopez passes for 52 yards, adding a pair of touchdowns. Saturday marked the first multi-TD game of Shipp’s collegiate career.
If Lopez and Shipp continue to develop this type of chemistry, expect the second-year receiver to add more multi-touchdown games to his name.
Steve Belichick
Sep 6, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels defensive coach Steve Belichick during the first quarter against the Charlotte 49ers at Jerry Richardson Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images
You have to give UNC’s defensive coordinator his flowers. A week after North Carolina held Charlotte to three points, North Carolina held Richmond under 200 yards.
If you know anything about Steve from his previous stops, his defenses are productive and highly-ranked. UCF will be a good test for the Tar Heels next week, but after a disappointing Week 1, the past two games are encouraging signs.
This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC Football: Helmet stickers in win over Richmond
