Wolfpack, Heels provide nailbiters

Few football rivalries have been as evenly matched recently as the yearly Triangle tilt between North Carolina and N.C. State, which meet at noon Saturday in Chapel Hill.

North Carolina leads the series 63-28-6, but each team has won four times since 2000. Three of the past four games have been decided by seven points or fewer, with dramatic defensive stands deciding the 2004 and 2007 games.

Considering that 21 of the 39 ACC games this season were decided by seven points or less, it's possible that the teams are headed for another nailbiting finish at Kenan Stadium this week.

T.J. OR CAM?

North Carolina coach Butch Davis said on Wednesday that he doesn't plan to announce until Saturday whether sophomore T.J. Yates or junior Cameron Sexton will start at quarterback.

Davis said North Carolina is fortunate to have two quarterbacks who inspire the confidence of the team. The Tar Heels are more fortunate to have one wide receiver, Hakeem Nicks, who would make anybody look like a capable quarterback.

BUTCH VS. TOM

Because they were hired in the same year, coaches Butch Davis of UNC and Tom O'Brien of N.C. State will forever be measured against each other.

Their styles have been markedly different. O'Brien said last season that he expected N.C. State to reach a bowl game and admittedly was disappointed when the team fell short. But after injuries torpedoed the start of the 2008 season, O'Brien has held the Wolfpack (4-6, 2-4 ACC) together enough to keep bowl hopes alive.

Davis didn't publicly set any measurable goal last season and saw his team finish 4-8. But he has North Carolina (7-3, 3-3) already bowl eligible and, while very slim, still with an outside chance at an ACC Coastal Division title in 2008.

Head to head, O'Brien has the edge so far thanks to a 31-27 win in Raleigh last year.

UNEXPECTED GOAL-LINE STANDOUT

An unusually large number of unexpected defenders have made huge plays in the closing seconds of games in this rivalry in the last 10 years.

A year ago, N.C. State cornerback Jimmie Sutton hadn't played a snap on defense in three previous games but was sent in after DeAndre Morgan gave up a 50-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Tate from fullback Bobby Rome.

Sutton made a game-saving, fourth-and-goal deflection on a Yates throw to Hakeem Nicks.

Other recent unlikely heroes in the rivalry have included Cotra Jackson of N.C. State in 2000, North Carolina's Khalif Mitchell in 2004 and the Tar Heels' David Bomar in 1998.

Just for fun, we'll pick two defensive non-starters to watch in this game -- end Jeff Rieskamp of N.C. State and tackle Tydreke Powell of North Carolina.

TRICK PLAYS

Rivalry games seem to bring out all kinds of gimmicks for coaching staffs eager to get a cheap touchdown.

This rivalry is no exception. Rome's pass to Tate resulted in a score last season for North Carolina. In 2005, Chuck Amato split out 6-foot-6 Manny Lawson, a defensive end with a 39-inch vertical leap, and had Jay Davis lob a pass to him on third-and-goal from the 4. Trimane Goddard, a 5-11 safety, broke up the pass.

No doubt N.C. State's busted coverage last week on an end-around pass that Wake Forest pulled off for a touchdown will catch the North Carolina staff's attention. For that reason alone, the Tar Heels may attempt the first trick.

BAND AID

Last year, referee Ron Cherry warned the North Carolina band to stop playing while N.C. State called signals on offense.

The Wolfpack promptly converted a third-and-6 and continued downfield for a touchdown. We trust that the tubas and trombones will play only during breaks in play this season.

NO HARDWARE

The North Carolina-Duke winner gets to ring the Victory Bell for a year. N.C. State's games with Clemson end with the winner keeping the Textile Bowl.

But no trophy is bestowed upon the winning team in the North Carolina-N.C. State rivalry, which probably is more heated than either of those other two series.

A year ago, The News & Observer asked readers to propose names for the series. Dozens upon dozens chimed in.

Some of the best? The First Flight Fight. The Brick Bowl.

The worst? The War on 54. Family Feud.

The funniest? The Mediocre Bowl. The Boise Play-In Game. The Wait Till Basketball Season Bowl.

Maybe in better financial times some rich corporate sponsor will step in and give both schools a handsome donation to name this rivalry. For now, though, it remains an extremely intense game with no name or trophy.