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.
