ECU 38, Houston 32

GREENVILLE -- Houston's Case Keenum threw for more than 500 yards and five touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to knock off East Carolina as Conference USA champions.

The Pirates intercepted Keenum three times, including the game-clincher in the end zone by safety Van Eskridge on the last drive of the game, to edge No. 18 Houston 38-32 and repeat as C-USA champs on Saturday at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

The Pirates (9-4) became the first C-USA team to win the title game, started in 2005, twice.

Dominique Lindsay and Giavanni Ruffin each rushed for two touchdowns and the Pirates' defense picked off Keenum three times after the spectacular Houston quarterback had only thrown six interceptions in the first 12 games of the season.

Ruffin's 20-yard touchdown run, after Keenum's fourth TD, sealed the Pirates' repeat and sent them back to the Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn. They will play Arkansas in the Jan. 2 game, the fourth straight bowl trip for ECU under coach Skip Holtz.

Keenum finished 56-of-75 with 527 yards and five touchdowns. He threw for three touchdowns and almost
300 yards in the first half, and led 19-14 but ECU scored the game's next 17 points.

ECU quarterback Patrick Pinkney hit Dwayne Harris for a 22-yard touchdown on the first drive of the third quarter. Ben Hartman hit a 37-yard field goal on ECU's next drive to extend ECU's lead to 24-19.

Eskridge's first interception, ECU's third forced turnover, set up Lindsay's second touchdown run, a 7-yarder and a 31-19 advantage early in the fourth quarter.

Twice Keenum led quick response scores. He hit L.J. Castile for a 6-yard touchdown pass to make it 31-26 after Lindsay's second score and connected on a 24-yarder to Cleveland to make it 38-32 with 3:24 left.

But Keenum couldn't come up with a third answer. He heaved a ball from the 34-yard line that was tipped and found its way into Eskridge's hands in the end zone.

Houston's Matt Hogan's missed three PATs, one was blocked, to cost the Cougars points. Those weren't their only special teams mistakes.

After the Cougars' first TD, they kicked to Harris, who has three kickoff returns for touchdown this season. Harris went 69 yards to set up ECU's first TD.

ECU safety Levin Neal's interception in the end zone in the second quarter prevented another Keenum touchdown and started ECU's second scoring drive, capped by Ruffin's 5-yard TD, which gave the Pirates their first lead, 14-13.