Javonte Williams scored four touchdowns in the first half and North Carolina demolished host Duke 56-24 in the Atlantic Coast Conference on Saturday afternoon in Durham, N.C.

The Tar Heels (5-2, 5-2 ACC) scored touchdowns on their first seven possessions, not counting when they got the ball with one second to play in the first half.

Sam Howell threw three touchdown passes and rushed for a touchdown as North Carolina eclipsed the 40-point mark for the third game in a row, this time doing so prior to halftime. Howell finished 18-for-27 for 235 yards with one interception.

Williams needed just 12 carries to gain 151 yards. Michael Carter added 85 yards on the ground and scored a pair of touchdowns.

Duke (2-6, 1-6) will have its third losing record in a five-year span unless it wins its last three scheduled games and is selected for a bowl with a losing record.

Chase Brice completed 11 of 23 passes for 155 yards and an interception for the Blue Devils. Mataeo Durant, who scored on a 46-yard run in the third quarter, gained 132 yards on 11 carries.

North Carolina, playing for the first time this season without a national ranking, scored on the game's opening possession on Howell's 2-yard, fourth-down pass to Williams. Less than five minutes into the game, the Tar Heels had their next touchdown on Howell's 3-yard run.

Williams extended the lead on a 4-yard run with 2:06 to play in the first quarter. Total yardage was 196-17 in North Carolina's favor at that point.

Then Carter capped a 22-yard pass play by bowling over a Duke defender at the goal line on the second play of the second quarter.

Duke finally scored on Eli Pancol's 22-yard end-around run. The Tar Heels were right back in the end zone when Williams ran 32 yards untouched on a fourth-and-2 snap. On the next North Carolina possession, Williams rambled 33 yards for a touchdown.

--Field Level Media