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Pirates close with win

By Al Myatt
©2014 Bonesville.net
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It was good to see Shane Carden smile at the end of the Senior Bowl on the NFL Channel on Saturday. It was a good memory to close his college career.

The East Carolina quarterback took a knee in the final seconds of a 34-13 win for the North team. There was an element of deja vu in the moment.

The last time Carden had dropped to a knee was with a 30-26 lead against Central Florida late in the final game of the 2014 regular season, a matchup the Knights miraculously salvaged with a closing Hail Mary to spoil ECU's Senior Night at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium by a 32-30 margin.

There was more disappointment to deal with in the ensuing Birmingham Bowl. The Pirates significantly outgained Florida (536-339 in total yardage) but couldn't make the production pay off on the scoreboard in a 28-20 loss at historic Legion Field.

Carden threw a pass on second and goal at the Gators' 5-yard line intended for Justin Hardy but it was picked off with 1:20 remaining by Vernon Hargreaves III, son of a former ECU assistant.

That marked a bitter end to a season that had incredible promise at one stage.

Sure, coach Ruffin McNeill said to focus on the body of work, not the last game.

The body of work included a 28-21 win at Virginia Tech, the week after the Hokies had taken a road win over eventual national champion Ohio State.

The Pirates followed up with a 70-41 home victory over North Carolina, setting records for points and total yards by a Tar Heels opponent as a record crowd cheered every play. The sky had a purple tinge by game's end.

That outcome lifted ECU into the national rankings. With wins over Southern Methodist, South Florida and Connecticut, the Pirates climbed to No. 19 in the coaches poll and No. 21 in the Associated Press rankings.

Then came that trip to Temple and a hard lesson on how turnovers can impact a game — and a season.

Five lost fumbles by ECU in chilly, rainy and windy conditions left the Owls to hoot with a 20-10 win. ECU moved the ball all over Lincoln Financial Field, amassing a 428-135 advantage in total yardage but took a deflating loss.

One characteristic that has developed under McNeill's leadership is resilience. The Pirates underwent some self evaluation before visiting Cincinnati for a Thursday night kickoff in 27-degree weather. Dressed warmer than in Philadelphia, ECU overcame a 38-20 deficit to lead 46-45 with 1:02 to go on a 2-yard run by Carden. The Bearcats answered by driving for a go-ahead 47-yard field goal by Andrew Gantz, his career longest, with 15 seconds to go.

A closing desperation play by the Pirates led to a game-ending fumble return by Cincinnati that pushed the final margin to 54-46.

In the first of three games in 13 days, ECU downed Tulane 34-6 as Hardy became the Football Bowl Subdivision career receptions leader. The Pirates traveled to Tulsa for a contest the day after Thanksgiving and managed a 49-32 win over a group trying to save coach Bill Blankenship's job.

ECU still had hopes of back-to-back 10-win seasons when UCF came calling.

Offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley, who has since departed for similar responsibilities at Oklahoma, took responsibility for the time management and field position issues that gave the Knights the opportunity for their improbable triumph and a share of the AAC championship. The last line of defenders in ECU's prevent alignment failed to bat down the high-arching 51-yard scoring pass as time expired.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and so are perceptions of the past season for the Pirates. Regardless of outcomes, ECU always competed.

Carden was named AAC Offensive Player of the Year. He won the same honor in Conference USA in 2013. He passed for more yards in 2014 than Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota of Oregon.

The Senior Bowl is the premier postseason all-star game and many of its alumni go on to the NFL. Carden and Hardy were there in their purple Pirate helmets and reportedly made good impressions on the pro scouts who were on hand in full force.

Carden completed four of seven passes for 70 yards and had a six-yard run at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile. Hardy had one catch for eight yards. Alabama quarterback Blake Sims was among the elite, playing for the South. Nebraska receiver Ameer Abdullah played for the North and was MVP.

Carden drove his team for a field goal in the third quarter to break a tie at 10 and put the North ahead to stay. His 16-yard pass to Antwan Goodley of Baylor got the North into the red zone.

If only indirectly and symbolically, the outcome provided a positive ending for ECU's 2014 peaks and valleys. When the ball was snapped for the last time this college season, it was grasped by a Pirate.

ECU has had its share of tough results in postseason excursions in Alabama. The circumstances Saturday provided an exception.

Carden and Hardy, players who were glaringly overlooked in the recruiting process, went out as winners in the Senior Bowl. That says a lot about the no-ego, no-entitlement program that produced them.

The duo leave some voids to fill but the Pirates have proven again that they can develop players who can compete with anyone.

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PAGE UPDATED 01/26/15 05:19 PM.