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Pirates convert SMU miscues into victory
DALLAS � Quarterback James
Pinkney ran for a career-high three touchdowns, including the tiebreaker
midway through the fourth quarter, as East Carolina defeated Southern
Methodist 24-17 on Saturday.
All three of Pinkney's
scores were from 1 yard, including the final one to break a 17-17 tie
with 7:11 left in the game.
Pinkney, who was 15-of-21
passing for 225 yards, finished with 42 rushing yards on 13 attempts as
East Carolina (3-3, 2-1 Conference USA) improved to .500 in October for
the first time since 2001.
Pirate defensive back
Demetrius Hodges sealed the victory with 11 seconds left with his second
interception of the game at the ECU 21-yard line.
SMU quarterback Jerad Romo
threw three fourth-quarter interceptions, including two in the last two
minutes, and finished 19-of-37 for 211 yards and four interceptions.
East Carolina forced five
turnovers and scored 17 points off turnovers.
With 1:32 left, the
Mustangs had the ball at the ECU 44, but safety Pierre Parker came up
with his second interception of the fourth quarter when he picked off
Romo at the ECU 25.
SMU (2-5, 1-3) used its
time-outs to get the ball back just a minute later before Hodges ended
the Mustangs' hopes.
Parker set up Pinkney's
game-winning touchdown by returning a Romo interception 11 yards to the
SMU 13.
After falling behind 17-7,
SMU tied the score on a 1-yard touchdown run by Romo with 45 seconds
left in the third quarter. A 23-yard punt by Ryan Dougherty gave SMU the
ball at the East Carolina 24, and running back DeMyron Martin had 19
yards on the scoring drive.
Martin led all rushers
with 129 yards and a touchdown on 22 attempts.
The Pirates scored 17
straight second-quarter points to build a 17-7 margin, their largest
halftime lead this season.
Pinkney completed an
80-yard pass to receiver Phillip Henry to set up the first East Carolina
touchdown. Pinkney scored on a quarterback sneak three plays later.
Henry led all receivers
with 123 yards on five receptions. A former walk-on, he came into the
game with three career receptions for 46 yards.
ECU's Marcus Hands
recovered a Martin fumble at the SMU 34-yard line on the second play of
SMU's next possession, leading to Pinkney's second touchdown. Defensive
tackle Brandon Setzer forced the fumble, and Pinkney gave the Pirates a
14-7 edge with 5:52 left in the first half.
02/23/2007 10:54 AM
Copyright 2005 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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