East Carolina University
6-4 , 5-1
Memphis
4-5 , 3-2
Pirates Run Past Memphis, 56-40
November 03, 2007 | Football
Nov. 3, 2007
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Chris Johnson rushed for a career-high 301 yards and four touchdowns Saturday as East Carolina held onto the top spot in Conference USA's East Division with a 56-40 victory over Memphis.
Johnson scored on runs of 16, 44, 70 and 50 yards as he racked up his rushing stats on 20 carries. The Pirates (6-4, 5-1) finished the day with 491 yards on the ground. Johnson's rushing total was the second-highest in school history, trailing only Scott Harley, who ran for 351 yards against North Carolina State in 1996.
Johnson's touchdowns and a 45-yard first-quarter run by reserve quarterback Patrick Pinkney were evidence of the quick scoring by the Pirates.
Pinkney also threw for two touchdowns -- a 6-yard scoring pass to Jamar Bryant and 25 yards to Steven Rogers. Pinkney threw for 105 yards on the day.
Dominque Lindsay also scored on a 22-yard run as Memphis (4-5, 3-2) gave up more than 400 yards rushing for the first time since 1982 against Georgia.
East Carolina has won five of its last six and defeated five straight C-USA opponents. The Pirates have score at least 30 points in five straight conference games.
The East Carolina victory leaves the Pirates in first place in Conference USA's East Division.
Carlos Singleton caught a pair of touchdown passes from Martin Hankins for Memphis. The scoring passes of 5 and 14 yards came in the second half as the Tigers never got close enough to threaten.
Hankins finished with 416 yards passing and four touchdowns for the Tigers.
Memphis had its two-game winning streak snapped as they were unable to stop the East Carolina running game and big plays.
East Carolina led 21-13 at the half.
Team Stats
ECU 0, MEMPHIS 3
MEMPHIS - REAGAN, Matt 37 yd field goal 13 plays, 64 yards, TOP 4:24
ECU 7, MEMPHIS 3
ECU - JOHNSON, Chris 16 yd run (HARTMAN, Ben kick), 5 plays, 60 yards, TOP 1:52
ECU 14, MEMPHIS 3
ECU - PINKNEY, Pat 45 yd run (HARTMAN, Ben kick), 2 plays, 63 yards, TOP 0:35
ECU 21, MEMPHIS 3
ECU - JOHNSON, Chris 44 yd run (HARTMAN, Ben kick), 2 plays, 48 yards, TOP 0:12
ECU 21, MEMPHIS 6
MEMPHIS - REAGAN, Matt 24 yd field goal 8 plays, 65 yards, TOP 3:02
ECU 21, MEMPHIS 13
MEMPHIS - CALHOUN, Duke 14 yd pass from HANKINS, Martin (REAGAN, Matt kick) 9 plays, 83 yards, TOP 2:42
ECU 28, MEMPHIS 13
ECU - JOHNSON, Chris 70 yd run (HARTMAN, Ben kick), 2 plays, 72 yards, TOP 0:45
ECU 28, MEMPHIS 19
MEMPHIS - SINGLETON, C. 5 yd pass from HANKINS, Martin (REAGAN, Matt kickfailed) 7 plays, 56 yards, TOP 1:50
ECU 35, MEMPHIS 19
ECU - LINDSAY, Dmnque 22 yd run (HARTMAN, Ben kick), 5 plays, 66 yards, TOP 1:07
ECU 42, MEMPHIS 19
ECU - BRYANT, Jamar 6 yd pass from PINKNEY, Pat (HARTMAN, Ben kick) 8 plays, 59 yards, TOP 4:35
ECU 42, MEMPHIS 26
MEMPHIS - DOSS, Joseph 2 yd run (REAGAN, Matt kick), 8 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:12
ECU 49, MEMPHIS 26
ECU - ROGERS, Steven 25 yd pass from PINKNEY, Pat (HARTMAN, Ben kick) 6 plays, 72 yards, TOP 1:58
ECU 49, MEMPHIS 32
MEMPHIS - SINGLETON, C. 14 yd pass from HANKINS, Martin (REAGAN, Matt kickfailed) 9 plays, 65 yards, TOP 2:22
ECU 56, MEMPHIS 32
ECU - JOHNSON, Chris 50 yd run (HARTMAN, Ben kick), 1 plays, 50 yards, TOP 0:08
ECU 56, MEMPHIS 40
MEMPHIS - KNOCKUM, Taz 1 yd pass from HANKINS, Martin (SINGLETON, C. pass) 7 plays, 65 yards, TOP 2:44
