East Carolina Escapes New Orleans With Win, 28-24
Sep 13, 2008 | Football
Sept. 13, 2008
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Patrick Pinkney threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Jamar Bryant with 1:41 left to play, and No. 14 East Carolina rallied for a 28-24 victory against Tulane on Saturday.
The Pirates (3-0, 1-0 Conference USA) vaulted into the national rankings and national spotlight by upsetting Virginia Tech and West Virginia in consecutive weeks, and barely escaped having Tulane (0-2) pull the same trick on them.
Pinkney completed 22 of 32 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns, and the Pirates improved to 3-0 for the first time since 1999. ECU secured the victory when Pierre Bell intercepted Kevin Moore's pass at the Green Wave 45 with 28 seconds left.
Ross Thevenot kicked a 28-yard field goal with 13:40 left in the fourth quarter to put Tulane up 24-21.
Pinkney drove the Pirates 80 yards in nine plays for the winning score as Tulane lost its 34th consecutive game against a ranked opponent.
The Green Wave last beat a ranked team in 1982 when it defeated No. 12 LSU 31-28.
Moore was 21-for-37 for 236 yards and a 47-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Williams in the third quarter that tied it at 14.
Williams finished with eight catches for 138 yards, and Andre Anderson ran for 82 yards and two touchdowns.
