The ECU football team lost a double-digit lead and fell in overtime for the second straight game on Thursday, this time at Memphis.
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Photo by ECU Sports Information
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Marcus Stokes was 29-of-43 passing for 320 yards and three touchdowns and added two rushing TDs to help Memphis beat East Carolina 41-34 in overtime on Thursday night.
Stokes’ 5-yard rushing TD on the first possession of OT capped the scoring. Ellis Ellis Jr. intercepted a pass in the end zone to end the game for Memphis (6-2, 3-1 American Conference).
Jermyri Davis had eight receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns for the Tigers.
After Stokes capped a 13-play, 80-yard drive with a 2-yard scoring run with 3:31 left in regulation, Mitch Griffis threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Landon Sides on fourth-and-9 about 2 minutes later that made it 34-all and forced overtime.
Noah Perez kicked field goals of 22, 30 and a career-long 49 yards for ECU (3-4, 1-2), the last of which made it 16-3 as time expired in the first half.
Griffis replaced starting quarterback Emory Williams early in the second quarter and was 14-of-26 passing for 199 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. Williams finished 5 of 13 for 61 yards passing. TJ Engleman Jr. had 92 yards rushing and a TD for the Pirates and Ashton Gray added a 1-yard rushing touchdown.
Jermane Hayes caught a 59-yard scoring strike from Stokes a little more than a minute into the second half that cut the Memphis deficit to 16-10.