ECU's Marvin Townes (1) runs through the line as teammate Charlie Dempsey, left, blocks South Florida's Terrence Royal (56) in Saturday's matchup in Greenville, N.C.
GREENVILLE, North Carolina -- Cam Broadwell's missed extra point allowed South Florida to hold on for a 38-37 double overtime victory over East Carolina in a Conference USA contest.
East Carolina's Vonta Leach scored on a one-yard run with 21 seconds left in regulation to force overtime, then barrelled in from three yards in the second extra session to pull the Pirates within a point. East Carolina fell behind, 21-0, early in the second period.
But Broadwell's kick was partially blocked, causing it to go wide left and allowing South Florida (6-3, 4-2) to record its fifth road win against a Division I-A opponent since the program's inception in 1997.
It was the Bulls' second overtime win this season. They defeated Louisville, 31-28, in double overtime on October 4.
After the teams traded field goals in the first overtime, the Bulls took a 38-31 lead on Ronnie Banks' 22-yard touchdown pass to Elgin Hicks.
The duo also hooked up for a 33-yard TD with 8:19 left in the third quarter that gave South Florida a 28-21 lead.
Banks completed just 6-of-16 passes for 86 yards. DeJuan Green paced the Bulls on the ground with 117 yards on 13 carries.
Leach rushed for 111 yards and three touchdowns on 26 carries for the Pirates (1-9, 1-5). James Pinkey of East Carolina completed 16-of-34 passes for 146 yards and a TD.
Vince Brewer's 11-yard TD run staked South Florida to a 21-0 lead with 13:20 left in the first half.
Pinkey started East Carolina's comeback with a 28-yard TD pass to Marvin Townes six minutes later. Leach scored on a one-yard TD run with 4:34 left in the first half to make it 21-14 at the intermission.
East Carolina tied it when defensive end Guy Weimper returned a fumble seven yards for a score just 55 seconds into the second half.