GREENVILLE — The East Carolina football team gave itself a chance to become bowl eligible next week against Cincinnati with a blowout win over Central Florida, 44-7.

Blake Kemp got his first start since the Pirates’ (5-6, 3-4 American Athletic Conference) last win, a 30-17 victory over Tulsa a little over a month ago, and made the most of it. The junior threw for 448 yards and four touchdowns on 34-of-50 passing.

A key to the game was getting the ball in the hands of the team’s playmakers. Isaiah Jones was Kemp’s top target as he racked up 164 yards on 13 receptions. Jones hauled in his first of two touchdowns midway through the first quarter to put ECU on top, 14-7.

After an early score through the air by the Knights (0-11, 0-7 AAC), an 11-yard pass from Justin Holman to Tre’Quan Smith, connection between Holman and his receivers seemed lost. He eventually exited the game with an injury and finished with 110 yards on 9-of-17 passes with a touchdown and an interception.

Corey Seargent came up with his first career interception in the first quarter, which set up the Pirates’ second score of the day.

The Pirates scored 44 unanswered points after the opening touchdown by the Knights. Kemp found Trevon Brown 29-yard touchdown in the second quarter for his third passing touchdown of the half.

Senior running back Chris Hairston had a strong day on the ground with 123 yards and 14 attempts and a rushing touchdown late in the second quarter. Hairston ran up the middle and broke down the right sideline for a 39-yard score that put ECU up 31-7.

The Pirates padded the lead in the third quarter with another Kemp to Jones touchdown pass and a pair of Davis Plowman field goals. Plowman hit a career-long 45-yard field goal in the second quarter.

ECU senior linebackers Montese Overton and Zeek Bigger snapped their 23-game starting streaks in their final road games. Bigger finished the game with eight tackles while Cam White finished second on the team with seven tackles.

James Summers entered the game late at quarterback and completed one pass for eight yards.

ECU has its chance to gain bowl eligibility with a win over Cincinnati at home next Saturday.