Bear Bachmeier threw for 246 yards and accounted for two touchdowns while LJ Martin ran for 101 yards and a TD as BYU triumphed over East Carolina 34-13 in Greenville, NC, to remain undefeated.
BYU (3-0) built a 13-3 halftime lead on a pair of Will Ferrin field goals (40, 23) and an Evan Johnson 4-yard interception return for a touchdown in the final minute of the first half.
The BYU offense found better footing in the second half with three touchdowns, the first on Bachmeier’s 20-yard connection with Carsen Ryan to put the Cougars up 20-3 with 6:33 left in the third.
Despite nearly matching BYU in total yards (418-404), East Carolina (2-2) could not find the end zone until Katin Houser’s 2-yard scoring run capped off a 12-play, 97-yard drive with 8:11 left to play.
That drew the Pirates within 27-13. But it came sandwiched between two BYU touchdowns, a Bachmeier 16-yard run and a Martin 41-yard run, to account for the final 34-13 margin.
Houser passed for 285 yards but was intercepted twice. Yannick Smith grabbed nine receptions for 146 yards in defeat. Nick Mazzie kicked field goals of 36 and 25 yards.
–Field Level Media