New QB throws for five scores, East Carolina whips Catamounts
Published 1:28 am Sunday, September 4, 2016
- East Carolina's Zay Jones dives into the end zone tailed by Western Carolina's Tra Hardy during an NCAA college football game in Greenville, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016. (Joe Pellegrino/The Daily Reflector via AP)
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Philip Nelson passed for five touchdowns and ran for another in his East Carolina debut and the Pirates gave new head coach Scottie Montgomery a 52-7 victory over Western Carolina on Saturday.
Western Carolina took the opening kickoff and drove to the East Carolina 10 before Travon Simmons came up with an interception. Nine plays and 89 yards later, Nelson had run in from the 7 and the Pirates led from there.
Nelson threw touchdown passes to Quay Johnson, Anthony Scott and Zay Jones en route to a 31-7 halftime lead and added one each to Scott and Jimmy Williams in the third quarter.
Nelson, who made 16 starts in two seasons at Minnesota, set career highs with his five touchdowns and 398 yards passing.
Jones caught 10 passes for 180 yards and Scott added 120 yards rushing and his third TD.
Montgomery was on the Duke staff the three previous seasons.
East Carolina is home again on Saturday, hosting in-state rival North Carolina State in a 12 noon contest.
