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Promising start fizzles in second half
By The Associated Press
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Game No. 9 Vitals: ECU at Memphis |
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MEMPHIS — Struggling East
Carolina strutted for awhile on Saturday, then buckled in the third
quarter under pressure from a Memphis air and ground assault.
Danny Wimprine threw for
268 yards and four touchdowns as the Tigers defeated the Pirates 41-24
in a Conference USA battle.
The victory gives Memphis (6-3, 3-2 C-USA) its first six-win season
since 1994, when Chuck Stobart ended his coaching tenure with a third
consecutive 6-5 season. It also makes the Tigers eligible to make their
first bowl appearance since the now-defunt Pasadena Bowl in 1971.
DeAngelo Williams rushed for 137 yards and a touchdown for the Tigers,
who won their third straight. Williams has eight 100-yard games on the
year and 1,173 yards rushing, both school season records.
It was tied 17-17 at the half after East Carolina (1-8, 1-4) put
together its best opening quarter of the season. But the Pirates
struggled in the third period as Memphis pulled away.
The Pirates' 1-8 record
matched the program's worst start since 1986. East Carolina also put up
a 1-8 mark in its nine-game 1957 season. The last time the team had a
worse record was 1948 when it finished the season 0-9.
Memphis took the opening kickoff and drove to the Pirates 12 before
settling for a 30-yard field goal by Stephen Gostkowski.
East Carolina, which had not scored a touchdown in an opening period
this season, took a 7-3 lead when Damarcus Fox took the ensuing kickoff
back 94 yards. The Pirates would add another touchdown in the quarter on
Marvin Townes' 15-yard run.
The Tigers' two first half touchdowns came on a 4-yard run by Williams
and a 29-yard touchdown pass from Wimprine to Maurice Avery.
Memphis turned up the defensive pressure in the third period, causing
two Pirate fumbles and holding East Carolina to 17 total yards in the
period. The Tigers would end the day with seven sacks, tying a school
record.
Offensively, Wimprine connected on third-quarter touchdown passes of 32
and 27 yards to Darron White. His fourth touchdown pass was his second
to Avery, covering 51 yards. It was Wimprine's longest completion of the
day and gave the Tigers a 41-17 lead with 4:39 left.
The Pirates scored a late touchdown on a 9-yard pass from reserve
quarterback James Pickney to Terrance Copper.
02/23/2007 10:52 AM
Copyright 2003 The
Associated Press. Bonesville.net contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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