UConn quarterback Joe Fagnano threw two touchdowns and the Huskies’ defense overwhelmed North Carolina with a 27-14 victory in the Fenway Bowl on Saturday in Boston.

Mel Brown ran for 96 yards and the Huskies (9-4) reached the nine-win mark for the third time in program history.

It was a miserable day for the Tar Heels (6-7), who are in transition and waiting for Bill Belichick to take over as head coach. Freddie Kitchens served as interim coach Saturday after Mack Brown departed at the end of the regular season.

North Carolina’s Chris Culliver returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown and backup quarterback Michael Merdinger threw a touchdown for 86 yards. Six of the team’s 10 first downs came in the final 11 minutes.

Fagnano finished the game 16-for-23 for 151 yards for the Huskies, who were limited to one field goal in the second half after building a 24-7 halftime lead.

North Carolina lost starting quarterback Jacolby Criswell to an apparent shoulder injury on the team’s second offensive series. The Tar Heels, who were without running back Omarion Hampton (who is heading to the NFL draft), got a first down less than 30 seconds into the first half, which was followed by an interception.

UConn’s first points came from Chris Freeman’s 32-yard field goal. Then, with 3:45 left in the quarter, Fagnano connected with Skyler Bell on a 38-yard touchdown.

The Huskies led 10-0 before Culliver subsequently returned the kickoff, UConn’s only miscue of the first quarter.

Fifty seconds into the second quarter, Fagnano hit Alex Honig with a pass for a 4-yard touchdown.

The final touchdown of the first half came when running back Cam Edwards leapt into the end zone to complete a fourth-and-2 snap. It was the culmination of a 14-game drive that lasted nearly six minutes.

North Carolina, which lost its fifth straight bowl out, was credited with one rushing yard in the first half.

The Tar Heels drove 98 yards in eight plays and scored on running back Caleb Hood’s 17-yard pass to John Copenhaver with 6:46 to play. Hood rushed for a team-high 78 yards.

UConn had lost 0-3 against Atlantic Coast Conference teams this season, but had no trouble ending that streak against the Tar Heels.

–Field level media