Hood, Trubisky lead No. 18 UNC past Georgia Tech, 48-20

Published Nov. 5, 2016 6:46 p.m. ET

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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) Elijah Hood ran for 168 yards and three touchdowns to help No. 18 North Carolina beat Georgia Tech 48-20 on Saturday.

The Tar Heels (7-2, 5-1 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 21 CFP) piled up 636 total yards. They had a season-high 283 on the ground and scored the game's final 21 points.

Hood had plenty of room to run, breaking into the secondary untouched on several carries between the tackles.

Mitch Trubisky passed for 329 yards and a touchdown as North Carolina beat Georgia Tech for the third consecutive year - the first time that's happened since 1992-94.

Justin Thomas passed for 184 yards and a touchdown for the Yellow Jackets (5-4, 2-4). He also rushed for 82 yards before suffering an upper-body injury near the end of a 21-yard run late in the third quarter.

Thomas received medical attention on the bench before heading to the locker room area prior to the start of the fourth quarter. He did not return to the game.

Dedrick Mills rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown for Georgia Tech.

THE TAKEAWAY

Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets fell behind 10-0 in the first seven minutes and couldn't get enough defensive stops to make up the deficit. Georgia Tech still needs to win one of its final three games to become bowl eligible for the 19th time in the last 20 seasons.

North Carolina: The Tar Heels had an extra week to prepare for Georgia Tech's option offense and needed every bit of it. They recovered two fumbles in the second half and kept alive their hopes of repeating as Coastal Division champions despite being gashed for 518 total yards and 7.6 yards per play.

UP NEXT

Georgia Tech: The Yellow Jackets head to No. 23 Virginia Tech to play the third game of a four-game stretch against Coastal Division competition.

North Carolina: The Tar Heels don't have to leave the state of North Carolina for the rest of the regular season, but they face a short week of preparation before they play at rival Duke on Thursday night.

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