Topic: R-H: ECU can clinch East with win over MU

[ZackUSAF82]

HUNTINGTON (AP) — East Carolina learned from last season’s tough finish not to underestimate an opponent.

The Pirates (6-4, 5-1 Conference USA) can clinch the East Division title and host in the league championship game with wins at Marshall (1-8, 1-4) today and next week against Tulane.

East Carolina is coming off a 56-40 win at Memphis in which tailback Chris Johnson rushed for 301 yards and four touchdowns. Marshall is coming off a 34-point loss at Central Florida.

“Marshall, we know, is a real good team,” Johnson said. “They don’t have a real good record but we know what happened last year when we underestimated a team and lost the conference championship. We know going in we can’t underestimate anybody.”

East Carolina lost at Rice in its conference finale last year to eliminate the Pirates from the division race.

East Carolina has scored at least 30 points in five straight conference wins. Johnson needs just 27 yards to reach 1,000 for the season.

Link: http://www.register-herald.com/sports/local_story_314011104.html