CHAPEL HILL — As UNC football ’s starting quarterback, Gio Lopez doesn’t have to worry about being sacked by defensive lineman Melkart Abou-Jaoude and linebacker Tyler Thompson.

The red jersey saves Lopez in those situations, but he still hears the footsteps of that duo at the Bill Koman Practice Complex.

“There’s a couple of times I drop back to throw the ball and look to my left and I’m like, ‘Oh, probably wouldn’t have gotten that one off.’ It’s happened a couple times,” Lopez said with a smile after the Tar Heels’ 20-15 win against Stanford on Nov. 8 at Kenan Stadium.

Elijah Brown, the Cardinal ’s redshirt freshman quarterback, wasn’t so lucky against Abou-Jaoude and Thompson. UNC (4-5, 2-3 ACC) had a season-high nine sacks, including six from that duo, vs. Stanford (3-7, 2-5).

“Fo

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