By By The Associated Press
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Bernard Morris threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead Marshall to a 26-7 win over East Carolina on Saturday night.
Morris completed 24-of-32 passes for 238 yards and rushed 11 times for 126 yards. He became the first quarterback in Marshall history to surpass 1,000 career rushing yards.
Marshall (2-8, 2-4 Conference USA), which was coming off a 34-point loss at Central Florida, compiled 477 yards of offense.
The loss prevented East Carolina (6-5, 5-2) from clinching the East Division title. The Pirates, averaging 32 points per game, were limited to 276 total yards and saw their five-game conference winning streak snapped.
Chris Johnson, who had 301 rushing yards and four TDs a week ago against Memphis, was held to 72 yards on 12 carries.
Marshall jumped ahead 16-0 early in the third quarter after Morris scored on a 75-yard run. He also had a 23-yard TD pass to E.J. Wynn in the second quarter and a 17-yard scoring toss to Emmanuel Spann in the fourth.
Anthony Binswanger kicked field goals of 34 and 33 yards for Marshall.
Johnson’s 4-yard TD run late in the third accounted for the only scoring for East Carolina.
East Carolina’s Patrick Pinkney completed 13-of-21 passes for 109 yards.