Saturday's North Carolina-East Carolina rivalry game at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, the first played since 2003, was everything a fan could hope for. And for the Pirates, thanks to a 34-31 victory, a whole lot more.

First-time starter Patrick Pinkney passed for 406 yards, then navigated a clutch 49-second scoring drive that resulted in a 39-yard winning field goal from Ben Hartman as time expired.

It marked the Pirates' (1-1) first win of the season, and broke a four-game losing streak to the Tar Heels that dated back to 1975. It also gave most in the sold-out stadium plenty to brag about.

"This game was important for our community," said ECU defensive lineman Khalif Mitchell, a former Tar Heel who blocked an extra point and recovered a fumble. "... For all those people that have been waiting for 32 years, it feels good for those people and that's what we played for."

The duel was a cacophony of scream-inducing plays and nail-biting mistakes.

ECU saw Pinkney complete 31 of his 41 passes with three TDs; running back Chris Johnson score three TDs (two receiving, one rushing); and its offense record almost 12 more minutes in possession time over Carolina.

But the Pirates also missed three field goals, recorded a 12-yard punt and gained only 64 rushing yards.

UNC (1-1) saw redshirt freshman T.J. Yates pass for 344 yards and three TDs, sophomore Brandon Tate return a punt for a touchdown, and the defense record its first two sacks of the season.

But the Tar Heels also allowed an interception, missed an extra point, and had a recovered on-side kick negated by a penalty.

Not what they intended for their first road game under coach Butch Davis.

"We had some big plays on offense, we had some big plays in the passing game, we had better success running the football," said Davis, who is now 0-3 against the Pirates as a college head coach. "But you can't win big football games giving up big plays on special teams; we can't win big football games giving up plays on defense. ... "

The score was knotted 17-17 at halftime and 31-31 in the fourth quarter, when UNC wide receiver Hakeem Nicks fumbled a pass. Mitchell -- who lettered for Carolina in '04 and '05 -- recovered it.

Still, Carolina got another chance with 3:03 left when Hartman -- who had already missed kicks of 30 and 32 yards -- saw his 37-yard field-goal attempt sail wide right.

With 55 seconds left, UNC kicker Connor Barth lined up to attempt a 52-yarder, putting his streak of 13 straight made field goals at risk. But he never got to kick because holder Ryan Baucom appeared to bobble the snap, and had to pick up the ball for a 12-yard loss.

"He made a mistake, and we're over it," Barth said of his holder. "Adversity happens, and you just have to deal with it."

The Tar Heels' miscue set up ECU's final drive, and Hartman's chance to atone for his misses.

The sophomore's thoughts before the ball split the uprights: "Just keep your head up, don't let anything between your ears bother you."

And it didn't.

"What a heck of a game, two teams just battling like crazy out there,'' said ECU coach Skip Holtz, who was seen storing the game ball in his backpack. "... It would have been real easy for [our players] to hang their heads after missing three field goals.. ... I'm just really happy with the way they competed."

UNC is now 8-2-1 against ECU. The rivals will play again in 2009 in Chapel Hill, where fans can only hope for similar drama.

"... They didn't quit, we didn't quit," Carolina defensive lineman Kentwan Balmer said. "It's one of the great Carolina-ECU games. That's what we expect when we come down here; that's what they should expect when they come to Carolina."

KEY PLAY

North Carolina's bobbled snap on a field-goal attempt late in the fourth quarter cost Connor Barth an opportunity to possibly win the game. Holder Ryan Baucom couldn't handle the snap, however, and ECU took over at its own 47 with 49 seconds left. That proved to be plenty of time to execute the game-winning drive.

WHY ECU WON

Take your pick. The rowdy 43,387 fans at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. The terrific home debut by ECU's junior quarterback Patrick Pinkney. Uncharacteristic errors in the Carolina kicking game. And of course, there's also the fact that Ben Hartman missed three field goals, but finally delivered when it mattered most for ECU.

KEY STAT

Patrick Pinkney validated his coach's decision to make him the Pirates' starter by throwing for 406 yards after completing 31 of 41 passes. His performance was second only to former Pirate David Garrard's 414 passing yards against Memphis in 1998.

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