Final Score: East Carolina 49, Memphis 27

Greenville, NC (Sports Network) - Dominique Davis threw for three scores and ran for two more, as the East Carolina Pirates notched a 49-27 win over the Memphis Tigers in Conference USA play at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

Davis finished with 244 yards on 27-of-38 passing for the Pirates (2-0, 2-0 C- USA), who opened the season with a wild last-second victory over Tulsa last weekend. Jonathan Williams carried 17 times for 109 yards and a touchdown in the victory.

Ryan Williams threw for 293 yards and three scores in a losing effort for the Tigers (0-2, 0-1).

Memphis fumbled away its opening drive to set ECU up on the Tigers' 12, and Davis capitalized with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Giavanni Ruffin.

The Pirates defense came up with another takeaway on the ensuing possession, as Derek Blacknall stepped in front of a Cannon Smith pass and returned it 46 yards for a score to put ECU on top, 14-0.

Memphis got on the board with a 38-yard field goal by Paulo Henriques to make it a 14-3 game with 6:20 to play in the opening quarter.

Three minutes later, the Pirates struck again, as Davis hooked up with Dwayne Harris for a five-yard scoring strike.

ECU expanded its lead to 28-3 on a two-yard touchdown run by Williams in the final minute of the first quarter, which was set up by another Memphis fumble.

The Tigers answered with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Williams to Gregory Ray at the 13:40 mark of the second quarter.

That score was followed by another touchdown from ECU, as Davis crossed the goal line on a one-yard QB sneak to make it a 35-10 game with 11:13 to play until halftime.

Both teams were kept off the scoreboard until the 4:19 mark of the third quarter, when Williams found Marcus Rucker for a 13-yard touchdown pass.

Once again the Pirates responded, this time with an 11-play, 80-yard drive that resulted in an eight-yard touchdown scamper by Davis to put ECU on top, 42-17.

The back and forth continued in the fourth quarter, as Williams kept Memphis alive with a 35-yard scoring strike to Jerrell Rhodes with 13:15 to play.

But the Pirates put the game away with a five-yard touchdown pass from Davis to Michael Bowman, which stretched the lead to 49-24 with six minutes remaining.

A 42-yard field goal by the Tigers' Henriques accounted for the final margin.

ECU held only a 425-413 edge in total offense, but three turnovers by Memphis provided the Pirates with all the leeway they needed.