INSIDE THE GAME Quarterback T.J. Yates may be hurt, but North Carolina's bowl dreams remain healthy because of junior quarterback Cameron Sexton and senior safety Trimane Goddard.

Sexton threw two fourth-quarter touchdowns and Goddard grabbed two fourth-quarter interceptions to seal a 28-24 come-from-behind victory at Miami.

It was a feat that seemed unlikely, what with Yates, last year's runner-up for ACC Rookie of the Year, out for five more weeks because of a fractured left ankle.

"[This game] says a lot, but it is not our season,'' receiver Brooks Foster said. "We have a lot more to go."

GREAT CALL Leaving in Sexton. After following a 9-yard offensive series in the third quarter with a three-and-out at the beginning of the fourth, some coaches might have re-inserted Mike Paulus, who started the game, to try to get something going.

Instead, the Tar Heels - whose plan at quarterback was to let Paulus play the first two series, insert Sexton on the third and see what happened - stuck with the poised third-stringer, and he sure didn't disappoint, finishing 11-for-19 with 264 yards. MATCHUP THAT MATTERED UNC's receivers vs. Miami's secondary: The Hurricanes simply couldn't handle Hakeem Nicks (five catches, 133 yards, one TD), Brandon Tate (three catches, 62 yards) and Foster (two catches, 27 yards, one TD) all at once. For example, on Nicks' 74-yard touchdown grab in the fourth quarter, he said he got so open because a UM safety "bit" on Tate. Won't make the coach's show: How forgotten was Sexton, who had fallen into ACC obscurity despite starting five games (including one at Miami) in 2006? When he completed his first pass, the announcer in the press box initially credited it to Casey Barth, who also wears No. 11 - and is the Tar Heels' back-up kicker. LOOKING AHEAD UNC (3-1) and No. 24 Connecticut (5-0), both usually known for their basketball prowess, will kick off Saturday at 7 p.m. at Kenan Stadium. With a victory, the Tar Heels would likely crack the AP Top 25.

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