TAMPA, Fla. -- Jordan Cronkrite had the go-ahead 80-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter and South Florida beat Hurricane Florence-impacted East Carolina 20-13 in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams on Saturday night.

  • USF scored a fourth quarter touchdown to defeat East Carolina in its AAC opener
  • East Carolina had been staying in Orlando since Sept. 12 as Hurricane Florence approached North Carolina
  • USF is one of three undefeated teams remaining in the AAC

East Carolina relocated to Orlando, Florida by bus Sept 12th as the storm approached the North and South Carolina coastlines. The Pirates didn't travel to Blacksburg, Virginia for a scheduled game Sept. 15th at No. 13 Virginia Tech due to safety concerns and potentially hazardous travel conditions before and after that game.

Cronkrite's run put USF up 20-13 with 10:13 left. He finished with 129 yards on 15 carries.

The Bulls had been limited to 31 yards rushing entering the fourth quarter.

Blake Barnett went 12 for 20 for 181 yards and one touchdown for USF (4-0). He also ran for a 2-yard score.

ECU (1-2) used two quarterbacks. Reid Herring completed 21 of 48 passes for 253 yards and Holton Ahlers picked up 48 yards on 12 rushes while completing 1 of 2 passes for 3 yards.

Barnett hooked up with Darnell Salomon for a 66-yard TD pass and a 13-7 lead early in the second.

Jake Verity had a 28-yard field to make it 13-10 as the first half ended. The kick came two plays after Herring walked gingerly off the field following a 5-yard to run to the 5 with 15 seconds left.

Herring retuned for the Pirates initial second-half possession.

After forcing a turnover, ECU pulled to 13-all on a 24-yard field goal by Verity early in the third quarter.

Ahlers scored on a two-yard run as East Carolina opened the game with a nine-play, 82-yard drive.

USF got within 7-6 on Barnett's two-yard dash late in the first. The extra-point try was blocked.