East Carolina’s junior quarterback Shane Carden scored five total touchdowns as the Pirates dismantled N.C. State on Saturday, 42-28.

 The Pirates’ (9-2) offense came out of the gates with guns blazing, taking a 7-0 lead on their opening drive. Carden went 5-5 on the drive, capping it off with a three-yard touchdown strike to junior wide receiver Justin Hardy, his eighth of the year.

 But the Wolfpack (3-8) quickly answered with a touchdown drive of its own. State converted four third-downs on its 76-yard march, finished off with a five-yard scoring pass from graduate student quarterback Brandon Mitchell to junior running back Tony Creecy to level the score at seven apiece.

 Both teams traded three-and-outs before ECU reclaimed the lead at the start of the second quarter. Senior running back Vintavious Cooper broke off a 26-yard run to give the Pirates first and goal from State’s eight yard line.

 Two plays later, Carden found sophomore wide receiver Bryce Williams wide open in the left side of the end zone for his second touchdown of the day. Williams’ fifth touchdown catch of the year gave the Pirates a 14-7 lead.

 After another three-and-out by the Wofpack offense, Carden led the Pirates on their third touchdown drive of the half, finishing it off with a three-yard scramble into the end zone to give ECU a 21-7 lead.

 State’s offense finally kicked into gear at the close of the second half, driving into Pirates territory to set up a field goal with 0:30 seconds left. But junior kicker Niklas Sade missed his 38-yard field goal wide left to send the Pack into halftime in a 14-point hole.

 After the halftime break, the Pirates stretched their lead to 21 points, capped off by a one-yard quarterback sneak by Carden. The junior’s second rushing touchdown of the day gave the Pirates a 28-7 lead with 8:23 left in the third quarter.

 The Pirates didn’t stop there, gashing the Pack’s defense en route to a three-yard touchdown run by junior running back Breon Allen. The Pirates’ third rushing touchdown of the day made the score 35-7 with 5:02 left in the third quarter.

 With the game well out of reach, State scored three times in the final 5:22 of the game. A pair of touchdown receptions by freshman receiver Jumichael Ramos, along with a 30-yard score by senior receiver Rashard Smith, lessened State’s deposit, but it was simply academic. Carden threw a late touchdown pass, which punctuated ECU’s domination of the Pack.