
Memphis Falls To East Carolina
Oct 20, 2001 | Football
Oct 20, 2001
By JOHN MARSHALL
Associated Press Writer
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) - David Garrard ran for two touchdowns and threw a scoring pass, and Kevin Miller kicked four field goals as East Carolina beat Memphis 32-11 on Saturday.
East Carolina (4-3, 3-0 Conference USA) had allowed more than 400 total yards in each of its games this season, but held Memphis to 231 for its second straight win.
Memphis (4-3, 2-2), which had 486 total yards in a 52-33 victory over Houston last week, had just 97 yards in the first half, including 17 in the first quarter. The Tigers had one first down in the first quarter, and that came on a pass that was deflected backward to tight end Jeff Cameron with seven seconds left.
Garrard was 20-for-25 for 268 yards and scored on runs of 1 and 4 yards. He had trouble throwing downfield in the first half but hit Richard Alston on a 45-yard touchdown pass that put the Pirates up 25-3 early in the fourth quarter.
East Carolina's Leonard Henry had 132 yards on 26 carries - his sixth straight game with 100 yards or more - and needs 57 yards to become East Carolina's first 1,000-yard rusher in four years.
East Carolina scored 10 points in the first half after mistakes by Memphis punter James Gaither.
Gaither dropped to a knee on a low snap, allowing East Carolina to start its first drive at the Tigers' 21. Garrard scored on an option from the 1 four plays later.
Gaither also had a 32-yard punt off the side of his foot late in the second quarter, again giving East Carolina good field position. The Pirates moved 46 yards in 1:04 for a 35-yard field goal by Miller - his third of the half - to put East Carolina up 16-0 with four seconds left.
Miller also hit from 35 yards in the first quarter and had two 26-yarders.
Danny Wimprine of Memphis was 16-for-27 for 159 yards and a touchdown.
Alston caught six passes for 105 yards.