Try as they might, the North Carolina Tar Heels can’t shake their Virginia hex.

Saturday appeared the perfect time for the Heels to exorcise those Cavalier demons. Virginia entered with an 0-3 record – including a loss to William & Mary of the FCS, while UNC stood 3-1 with its only loss coming at powerful Georgia Tech.

But 39 rushing yards and no trips to the red zone later, the Tar Heels suffered a 16-3 defeat before a stunned crowd at Kenan Stadium.

For those keeping score, and I know folks in Cavalier Orange and Blue and Tar Heel Blue and White are doing just that, Virginia has won four straight in the series and 10 of the last 12.

Carolina last prevailed in Charlottesville in 1981 and its homework against the Cavs hasn’t been all that much better in recent years.

At 3-2 overall and 0-2 in ACC play, UNC remains in the mix for a solid season and a bowl bid.

But the loss to the Cavaliers derailed any realistic hopes for a Coastal Division crown. Virginia Tech does not have a league loss yet, while Georgia Tech and Miami are 2-1 in ACC action. The Heels will be hard-pressed to pass all three on the ultra-competitive Coastal path.

In classic TV terms, the Cavaliers once again have proven the Perry Mason to the Tar Heels Hamilton Burger.

– Mark McKinney

Enterprise sports editor