Nov. 28, 2008
Final Stats
Complete Box Score In PDF Format 
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) -
Brandon Simmons ran for three scores and had a touchdown catch to help East Carolina beat UTEP 53-21 on Friday in its final home game.
Patrick Pinkney threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns for the Pirates (8-4, 6-2 Conference USA), who have already clinched a berth in next week's league championship game. Though there was nothing to play for in the standings, the Pirates came out with probably their best performance of the season and quickly turned the game into a rout.
East Carolina scored the first 24 points and scored on all five first-half drives to take a 30-7 lead into the break. The Miners (5-7, 4-4) got no closer after the break, ending their push to become bowl eligible for the first time in three years.
The Pirates didn't punt and scored on their first eight offensive possessions.
Simmons finished with a career-high 111 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns in the first half, the last a 7-yard reception from Pinkney with 22 seconds left. Then East Carolina ran the ball nine straight times in the second half before Simmons scored for the fourth time on a 2-yard run to push the margin to 37-7.
UTEP didn't have much to feel good about other than Terrell Jackson's 28-yard touchdown run late in the first half and Trevor Vittatoe's 50-yard TD pass to Kris Adams late in the third quarter. The loss extended an odd streak for the Miners; they haven't ended a season with a victory since 1986.
