"Which is why I asked for insight on colleges that may look past lower test scores in the presence of an otherwise strong application (without hooks in consideration). "
That’s a tough question w/o more specifics as others have noted, you mentioned UNC-Chapel Hill, and it seems a little odd they would take kids with lower test scores as in their CDS, they list test scores as very important an gpa as just important. UNC’s 25% for SATs is 1270 and you have to think most of those are athletes, as a report a few years back on the football team had their average SAT score at 1040.
To answer your question generally on colleges that look past test scores, you would probably think test optional schools, but be careful on those, because some them still have really good scores. Wake Forest was mentioned - their 25/75 is 1310/1470.