CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — T.J. Yates threw for two touchdowns while freshman receiver Erik Highsmith had a big game to help No. 24 North Carolina beat East Carolina 31-17 today.

Highsmith had six catches for 113 yards and a score for the Tar Heels, who are off to their first 3-0 start since winning the first eight games in 1997. His big day included a pair of key catches to move the chains on the Tar Heels' clock-draining drive that ended with Ryan Houston's 5-yard score with 1:58 left in the game.

Jheranie Boyd also had a juggling 59-yard touchdown grab for his first collegiate catch, and North Carolina got a solid all-around effort from its young offense to complement another strong performance from its defense.

East Carolina (1-2) got a touchdown catch from Jamar Bryant and a TD run from Dwayne Harris, but finished with just 247 total yards.