Inside Game Day Saturday, September 13, 2014 By Al Myatt

Carden leads poetic triumph

Al Myatt
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BLACKSBURG, VA — The late British poet laureate, Rudyard Kipling, probably would have liked Shane Carden.

In the poem 'If' Kipling says, "If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster And treat those two impostors just the same ..."

The Captain, Carden, has experienced both triumph and disaster in the span of two weeks on the road against nationally-ranked teams as East Carolina quarterback.

His two interceptions in the third quarter a week ago at South Carolina contributed to a 33-23 loss.

Carden atoned by throwing to Cam Worthy twice for 59 yards in gains before he ran the final yard for the decisive touchdown with 16 seconds remaining in a 28-21 win at No. 17 Virginia Tech on Saturday.

Just like that, Carden went from the outhouse to the penthouse.

"It's like Ruff (ECU coach Ruffin McNeill) says, 'When you win, they want you to write a book," Carden said. "When you lose, they say you can't read one."

There were games within games against the Hokies. Carden and ECU owned the first quarter. His three touchdown passes staked the Pirates to a 21-0 lead.

Tight end Bryce Williams provided a memorable moment before catching a 4-yard pass for ECU's first score.

When a Carden bullet was deflected skyward, Williams alertly tracked it down like an outfielder and galloped for a 22-yard gain to the Hokies' five-yard line.

There was some deja vu for Pirate fans who recalled that Williams had latched on to an early score before the ECU offense went into hibernation in a 15-10 loss to Virginia Tech in 2013.

It proved a foundless worry. Ultimately, the Pirates were the ones who had packed their lunch pails on Military Appreciation Day. The occasion prompted the hosts to wear all white.

With the success the Pirates have had in black, there was no objection.

McNeill, a movie buff, had to like the reprise of "Men in Black."

Virginia Tech, coming off a 35-21 win at Ohio State that shocked the nation, didn't go quietly. The Hokies pulled even at 21 with 1:20 to go on an 18-yard pass from Michael Brewer to Cam Phillips, but they left ECU's Captain too much time.

Overtime appeared a likely scenario for the crowd of 63,267 at Lane Stadium.

But ECU's offense shifted its focus from running clock to heading north in a hurry on Worsham Field.

"We figure we can move a yard a second," McNeill said after his first win over a nationally-ranked opponent.

When the Hokies kicked off out of bounds after their last score, the Pirates even got a little breathing room. With possession at its 35, ECU had 80 seconds to go 65 yards.

Catches by Worthy of 31 and 28 yards plus two substitution infractions on Virginia Tech set up a one-yard keeper to the left side by Carden.

Much-acclaimed Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster sought out Carden after he had completed 23 of 47 passes for 427 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Carden was sacked seven times by Virginia Tech last season. He threw three interceptions.

He still had a turnover, Carden pointed out, a fumble that Virginia Tech recovered at the one-yard line in the second quarter after a 23-yard run following one of two interceptions by Josh Hawkins.

"We left some points out there," said ECU's senior passer.

McNeill embraced Carden at the close. Foster extolled his leadership.

"I give them credit," said the architect of the Hokies' defense. "Their quarterback played well. We've beaten him up ... but he played a great football game today. They've got a dynamic football team. They've got some skilled kids at receiver and their quarterback is as good as we'll play all year. ... The kid's a good player. ... We beat him up last year but he beat us up today. The receivers did a great job of going up and getting the ball."

Carden was aware of Foster's comments.

"It felt like they beat me up again today," he said.

A sense of humor is a handy thing for a guy whose public perception rides with the accuracy of his right arm.

Virginia Tech, too, had to deal with triumph and disaster.

"As good as we played last week, we weren't very good in the back end today," Foster said.

It was a battle that validated McNeill's belief in the Pirates' system.

"We've been talking about commitment since day one," said the ECU alumnus. "To see it grow in front of you is a beautiful thing to watch."

No ifs about that.

E-mail Al Myatt.

PAGE UPDATED 09/14/14 03:05 PM.