A rivalry unlike any other: UNC-NC State football highlights a busy week in the Triangle
.JPG "North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell (7) throws a pass as Pittsburgh defensive back Brandon Hill (9) defends during overtime in an NCAA college football game Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh won 30-23 in overtime. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)")
Any contest between the University of North Carolina and N.C. State is always a fun one, no matter which sport we’re talking about.
But this week, they meet on the gridiron — in a game that actually matters for both schools.
UNC is bowl eligible, after a win over Wofford on Saturday, and the Tar Heels are playing for a better bowl bid and, of course, for pride against the Wolfpack. N.C. State, meanwhile, has a lot more to play for, with the outside shot at a trip to the ACC title game still in play.
Under center, the matchup might be a tad personal, too, though Devin Leary would never admit to as much. Leary, the Wolfpack’s signal caller, has been overlooked for all of the individual accolades awarded to college quarterbacks this season, despite being among the conference — and national — leaders in various categories. On the other side, Sam Howell was on several preseason Heisman lists, and he’s had a very good — and productive — season, despite his team’s overall struggles in the win-loss department.
News from the pitch
The NCAA women’s soccer championship bracket is through its second week, and has whittled the field down to 16 teams nationally, while the men’s tourney will play its second round on Sunday to get to that point. The women play their round-of-16 matchups Sunday, as well.
From the greater Triangle region on the women’s side, Duke is a No. 1 seed. The Blue Devils edged ODU in the first round, and then got past Memphis on Friday night to reach Sunday’s Round of 16, where it will host St. John’s at 6 p.m.
Other top ACC schools still in the women’s tourney include Florida State and Virginia, who also had No. 1 seeds.
On the men’s side, UNC will face No. 16 New Hampshire on Sunday, Duke will play UCLA and Wake Forest takes on FIU.
On the road again
After a blazing start to the season, the Carolina Hurricanes set out on a road trip last week, and even that got off to a solid start. It’s a long road trip, though, as the Canes continue on their trek through the Pacific time zone this week, with dates at San Jose (Monday), and Seattle (Wednesday), before crossing the country for a date with the Flyers in Philadelphia on the Friday afternoon after Thanksgiving.
The Canes came into this weekend 13-2-0 and alone in second place in the NHL’s overall standings, and atop the Metropolitan Division standings by a point over the Capitals, with two games in hand.
And speaking of Washington, the Capitals will be the Canes’ next home opponent in a 1 p.m. matinee next Sunday.
This story was originally published November 21, 2021 at 6:00 AM with the headline "A rivalry unlike any other: UNC-NC State football highlights a busy week in the Triangle."
