Michael Carter rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns and No. 8 North Carolina generated 656 yards of offense in a 56-45 victory over No. 19 Virginia Tech on Saturday in Atlantic Coast Conference play in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Javonte Williams, Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome also scored two touchdowns apiece for the Tar Heels (3-0, 3-0 ACC). Williams rushed for 169 yards on 20 carries and Sam Howell completed 18 of 23 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns.

Hokies starter Braxton Burmeister completed 7 of 15 passes for 79 yards and added 51 rushing yards before giving way to Hendon Hooker. Virginia Tech running back Khalil Herbert, who came in as the nation's leading rusher, ran for 138 yards on 18 carries.

Virginia Tech (2-1, 2-1) posted 14 points in a 54-second span of the third quarter, aided by an onside kick, to close within 42-31. Hooker's 5-yard run and Herbert's 52-yard scamper were the scoring plays.

Hooker's 33-yard pass to Tayvion Robinson pulled the Hokies, who were denied on a two-point conversion play, within 42-37 with 15 seconds to play in the third quarter.

The Tar Heels regained momentum on a 75-yard drive, capped by Howell's 12-yard touchdown pass to Newsome.

Carter, who finished with 17 carries, and Williams combined for 173 rushing yards in the first half.

North Carolina took the opening possession 75 yards in 11 plays, capped by Williams' 1-yard touchdown run.

Howell threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Brown for North Carolina's second touchdown. It was 21-0 before the first quarter ended, courtesy of Williams' 19-yard touchdown run.

By then, the Hokies were still without a first down, while North Carolina had rolled up a 224-13 edge in total yards.

Virginia Tech scored early in the second quarter when James Mitchell reached the end zone from 1 yard out. The Hokies cut the gap to 21-14 via a 70-yard march, with Herbert running 8 yards for the score.

North Carolina struck back in a hurry, scoring five plays later on Newsome's 6-yard score on a swing pass that counted as a rushing play. The Tar Heels had their largest point total of the season by halftime with a 35-14 edge after Howell's 43-yard pass to Brown.

Virginia Tech's Brian Johnson connected on a 55-yard field goal in the third quarter. The Tar Heels answered on Carter's 16-yard run on a 75-yard march that took just six plays.

North Carolina was without three starting defenders -- tackle Raymond Vohasek and defensive backs Storm Duck and Ja'Qurious Conley.

--Field Level Media