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GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) - Justin Hardy caught two of Shane Carden's three touchdown passes and threw one of his own on a trick play, helping East Carolina pull away from North Carolina Central 52-7 in the season opener for both teams Saturday night.<br />
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The Pirates trailed 7-3 early, but surged ahead when Hardy took a reverse and threw a 41-yard touchdown strike to Isaiah Jones. Breon Allen added a 5-yard rushing score before Carden and Hardy connected twice to make it 31-7 at half.<br />
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Carden found Trevon Brown for a 17-yard touchdown while Anthony Scott and Kurt Benkert each added rushing touchdowns to fuel the rout in the second half.<br />
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Carden finished 26 of 37 with 283 yards for East Carolina and Jones had 10 receptions for 150 yards.<br />
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The Eagles' lone touchdown came on a 31-yard fumble recovery by C.J. Moore to open the scoring.