MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Shane Carden had 365 yards passing and accounted for two touchdowns to help East Carolina edge Middle Tennessee 24-17 in a Conference USA matchup Saturday.
The Pirates (4-1, 2-0 C-USA) scored the go-ahead touchdown early in the fourth quarter when Carden found Justin Hardy for a 21-yard strike.
The Blue Raiders (3-3, 1-1) got the ball with 5:16 remaining following a missed field goal by Warren Harvey, but Logan Kilgore was intercepted by Damon Magazu on the next play.
East Carolina milked the remaining five minutes on the clock during the ensuing series, driving 42 yards on 11 plays and converting three times on third down.
Carden was 43-for-57 passing and also rushed for a score in the second quarter for the Pirates.
Kilgore was 28-for-37 with 245 yards and two interceptions. He connected with Tavarres Jefferson for a 26-yard touchdown to tie the game late in the third.
East Rowan finished eighth in the Wendy’s Invitational 3A race at McAlpine on Saturday.
The Mustangs were led by junior Conor Honeycutt (13th, 16:35). Other top times for the Mustangs were turned in by Josh Rowell (17:19), Cal Meyers (18:04), Justin Allen (18:06), Jason Basso (18:22), Chance Brown (18:29) and Jason Troutman (19:04).
• Carson’s boys placed 10th in a tough 32-team field.
Carson sophomore Zachary Marchinko finished 11th in a school-record 16:19 in a field of 216.
Other Carson standouts were Danyal Sherer (17:30), Garrett Ingold (17:51), Nick Cox (18:28), Hunter Kimball (18:31), Gabe Peeler (18:39) and Graham Purcell (19:36).
• Northwest Cabarrus’ Gil Gilreath was third in 15:57.
Weddington won the team competition. North Lincoln’s Ryan Shannon won in 15:45.
Carson posted its 22nd straight victory on Saturday by beating Lake Norman 25-16, 25-9 and 25-19.
A goal by Karen Presnell (Salisbury) lifted Catawba’s women’s soccer team to a 2-1 win against Coker on Saturday in Hartsville, S.C.
Mark Kirkman also scored for the Indians (5-4-1, 2-2-1) in the SAC contest.
• Australian freshman Declan Simpson scored in the 71st minute to lead Catawba to a 1-0 SAC win at Coker on Saturday.
Frankie Cardelle (Salisbury) made seven saves for the Indians (5-2-1, 2-2-1).
Catawba lost a five-set SAC match at Lincoln Memorial on Saturday.
Catawba (2-8, 2-6) won the first two sets. Bri Howard led the Indians with 15 kills. Alex Hopper had 11 kills, while Rachel Gallup and Erin Morant had 10 each.
On Saturday, both Catawba tennis teams lost 5-0 matches at Barton.
Catawba’s women are 2-4, while the men are 1-5.
Meredith’s women’s cross country team was the top Division III in Saturday’s Hagan Stone Classic.
Illa Jones (Gray Stone) was No. 5 scorer for Meredith and finished in the top 20.
North Rowan High boosters will meet in the auditorium on Monday at 6.
Salisbury High boosters will meet Monday at 6 in Room 153.