With 14 points in the last 30 seconds, Maryland has taken a 28-21 lead heading into halftime.
After the teams traded punts, Maryland started a drive with about 10:30 left in the half. Shawn Petty ran for seven yards, and on third-and three Brandon Ross took a zone read 71 yards down the left side line, breaking one tackle and outrunning several Tar Heel defenders before being brought down by Tre Boston at the two. On the next play, Petty rolled out and ran it in, standing up a UNC defender and tying the game at 14.
North Carolina was able to strike back before the half ended, putting together a 12-play, 63-yard drive punctuated by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Bryn Renner to A.J. Blue after a series of missed tackles.
On the next drive, Nigel King had back-to-back one-handed catches - the first which he turned from a negative gain into one for two yards, and the second a highlight-reel grab that went for 43. Two plays later, King had another big catch, grabbing one over the middle for 21 yards. Maryland pulled out another trick play just before the end of the half, as Stefon Diggs threw the ball on a reverse to Matt Furstenburg for an eight-yard score, tying the game at 21-21.
On the ensuing kick-off, Brad Craddock attempted a squib kick. North Carolina never gained possession, and Anthony Nixon ended up recovering it at the 28. On the next play, Petty found Kevin Dorsey over the middle, and after three broken tackles, he dove into the endzone to take a 28-21 lead.
Petty finishes the half 11/16 for 147 yards and a touchdown, Ross has run 13 times for 116 yards and a score, and Diggs has nine touches for 80 yards and a score. Maryland has outgained North Carolina 304-206, outpacing their season average of 273.91.