CHAPEL HILL — Maybe it was the nine-month layoff or maybe North Carolina was mesmerized by the familiarity of The Citadel's uniforms, either way it took one quarter for the Tar Heels to find their bearings in Saturday's season-opener at Kenan Stadium.

The 21st-ranked Tar Heels made up for a sluggish start with an assertive finish in a 40-6 win over the lower Division I Bulldogs.

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina teammates Hakeem Nicks and Ryan Houston insist they haven't been talking too much trash about tonight's showdown rivalry between their high school alma maters.

They say it all with their eyes.

"We just do a little inside thing, we give each other a little look like, ‘You know what Friday is, man,' " said Houston, a sophomore running back who played at second-ranked Matthews Butler, which plays No. 1 Charlotte Independence tonight.

CHAPEL HILL — Where is North Carolina tailback Ryan Houston?

A year ago, the UNC bruiser from Butner played in seven games, rushing for 145 yards and a touchdown on 44 attempts. Entering Saturday's game at Miami, the sophomore has carred only six times for 20 yards.

CHAPEL HILL — Some tailbacks set goals of reaching 1,000 yards. Or carrying the ball 20 times a game. Or making the all-conference team.

But this season, North Carolina running back Ryan Houston's aim is a little more simple.

"I just want to get in the end zone a couple of times, for real,'' said the sophomore from Matthews. "I want my whole name to be up there,'' he added, pointing to the massive Kenan Stadium videoboard.

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates said he knew his shoulder was recovering well from offseason surgery earlier this summer when he overthrew wide receiver Hakeem Nicks — 65 yards down the field.