One play later, North Carolina running back Ryan Houston slid into the end zone from the 1-yard line to give the Tar Heels a 28-13 lead in a game they would win a few minutes later, 31-13.

And just like that, BC’s visions of having a chance to win its third consecutive Atlantic Coast Conference Atlantic Division crown evaporated. So did the hopes of finishing the season unbeaten at home.

All that remains for the Eagles (7-4, 4-3) is a game next Saturday at Maryland and a bowl game, most likely the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco Dec. 26.

“Eight is better than seven,’’ said BC coach Frank Spaziani of what he could now use to motivate his team. “The last I looked.’’

Meanwhile, six - the amount of BC turnovers yesterday - is a number that will haunt Spaziani for a while. As well as a dismal 0 for 13 on third-down conversions. Both were major contributors in the Eagles’ first loss after eight consecutive wins at home, dating to last season.

“It certainly wasn’t the recipe for success we needed,’’ said Spaziani, who watched his defense allow an opening 11-play, 70-yard scoring drive to give Carolina (8-3, 4-3) a 7-0 lead. It was 21-0 before half of the traditionally late-arriving Alumni Stadium crowd of 41,272 were in their seats as a Shinskie fumble was returned for a touchdown and a Shinskie pass was intercepted and returned for another TD - all three scores occurring in the span of 2:19.

“It got ugly real fast,’’ said Spaziani. “But we scrapped our way back into it.’’

The Eagles did indeed, as the defense made adjustments and pretty much shut down the Tar Heel offense for the rest of the game, forcing Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates into three interceptions.

When Shinskie (12 of 28, 101 yards) connected with Rich Gunnell on a 2-yard TD pass with 1:13 left in the first half, BC had climbed back to 21-13.

“When we went into the half, I was excited to come back and get the ball,’’ said Shinskie.

But the excitement quickly faded as the Eagles couldn’t put together any sustained drives, failing to convert repeatedly on third down.

“I came out [in the second half] a little flat myself,’’ said Shinskie, “and I couldn’t get anything behind the ball.’’

And thus the Eagles couldn’t figure a way to move the ball for a potential tying score, despite another solid performance by sophomore running back Montel Harris (23 carries, 132 yards), who was going against a stacked defense all day, Carolina coach Butch Davis almost daring the Eagles to beat his team through the air.

“It was more of a scheme thing,’’ said Harris, who picked up 88 yards on 17 carries in the first half, but carried the ball only six times in the second half. “If you keep running the ball the defense is going to load up in the box. I think [offensive coordinator Gary Tranquill] was trying to throw them off by passing the ball around. Usually it’s effective, but we couldn’t connect on the passes.’’

No, the Eagles couldn’t. They had as many interceptions (2) as completions in the second half.

Still, there was reason for hope when the Eagles, still trailing, 21-13, took over at their 20-yard line with 5:40 remaining. But Shinskie was sacked for a 10-yard loss on first down, then picked off by free safety Deunta Williams, his third interception of the game.

Williams returned it to the 1, and Houston scored on the next play to make it 28-13.

And the Eagles’ faint hopes of winning a third consecutive division title were gone.

“It’s about as frustrating as it gets,’’ said senior middle linebacker Mike McLaughlin. “We did such a good job of hanging around, we really did. But you can’t go out there and spot a team like that 21 points. We gave them an [11-play] drive to come out of the gates and you can’t do that.’’

McLaughlin tried to focus on the positives, of what still could lie ahead for the Eagles. “We’ve got a big game down in Maryland for the seniors’ last regular-season game,’’ he said. “If we can get eight wins, that’s a heck of a season.’’

But as far as another division title? Those hopes will have to be put away until next year.

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.