Emotion, yes, but no offense

CHAPEL HILL -- No one can accuse North Carolina and Duke football players of leaving their game faces in the locker room Saturday.

Foes since 1888, the 96th series contest began with some spirited scuffling and shoving between Duke's Austin Gamble and Carolina's Kennedy Tinsley on the opening kickoff and featured much posturing throughout.

But while Carolina's defense was impressive again, and the Tar Heels' 19-6 win an important bowl step, there's no confusing what happened in Kenan Stadium with time-capsule material.

A world of energy couldn't offset an offensive performance more like 1899 than 2009, a yawner that ranked as the lowest-scoring series game since UNC's 16-3 win in 1977.

And for all of the pregame hype, Duke fans hardly blew through the gates in anticipation of a memorable upset.

According to Carolina officials, Duke was offered 4,300 tickets but took only 1,500 - a loud reminder that football is still far removed from rivaling the lure of Duke and UNC basketball.

Tar Heel fans assured a sellout of 59,750 and there was no shortage of celebration when the Victory Bell was rolled out, but it was clear early on that one touchdown might be enough for a win.

Carolina (6-3, 2-3 ACC) decided both issues when freshman Jheranie Boyd scored on a short flanker-round run with about seven minutes left, staking the Heels to a 16-6 lead.

Duke (5-4, 3-2) had to settle for 125 yards and two Nick Maggio field goals - a far cry from the passing wizardry Thaddeus Lewis worked in league wins over N.C. State, Maryland and Virginia.

With its offensive line hobbled and starting tailback Shaun Draughn shelved early by a bum shoulder, Carolina relied almost entirely on reserve back Ryan Houston, whose 37 carries and 164 rushing yards turned the game into a bruise bowl. All of which - under the circumstances - was fine with Butch Davis.

"I'm proud of what this team did," Davis said. "I told the players - given what we had encountered in the last few games - that this would be one of our toughest games. To go through the emotional tests we've faced and then have to play a team that hates you so much, it wasn't going to be easy.

"People have been asking what it's like playing Duke, other than the last week of the season. There's not one bit of difference. You can play them in the middle of the summer and it would be the same."

Getting on the elevator, Davis said to UNC athletic director Dick Baddour: "What do you think, Dickie? Better than getting poked in the eye with a sharp stick?"

Not so for Duke coach David Cutcliffe, who may long recall his second Carolina-Duke experience as an afternoon he kayoed himself. Deep in Tar Heels territory and with a chance to land the touchdown punch, Cutcliffe fiddled away most of the first half's final two minutes by getting unusually methodical and conservative on play selection.

It was basically the same offensive strategy Duke used all game. Not that there was a lot of protection time to probe deep. But for a guy with Cutcliffe's imagination and reputation for going counter-grain, the game plan was forgettable at best.

But maybe the real essence of this Duke-Carolina game was as much about the promise as the product.

The game finally recovered some flavor. There wasn't a lot of meat on the bone, but at least the rivalry seems to be cooking again.

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