Bonesville: The Authoritative Independent Voice of East Carolina

News & Features from ECU, the AAC and Beyond

  • Home
  • News & Features
  • Recruiting
  • Photos
  • Audio
  • Roundup
  • Comments
  • Legacy Archives

• ECU 2021-22 Hoops Schedule
• ECU 2022 Baseball Schedule
• ECU 2022 Football Schedule
• Recruiting: Football • Hoops

From the Anchor Desk
Momentum accompanies Pirates on AAC road trip

October 2, 2018 By Brian Bailey 1 Comment

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

After a crazy month of weather it is on to October for the East Carolina football team.

One game was moved by a day, while another was canceled and is still in limbo.

Through it all, the Pirates are at .500 as the calendar flips over to the tenth month of the year.

Saturday’s 37-35 win over upstart Old Dominion gives the program a real shot of momentum as conference play resumes. The American Athletic Conference took note as well, honoring kicker Jake Verity as the league’s “Special Teams Player of the Week” and Nate Harvey as the league’s “Defensive Player of the Week.”

Verity improved to 8-8 on the season in field goal attempts with the game winner on Saturday night. Harvey has gone from 5th string running back to one of the nation’s top statistical leaders on defense.

“Once you look at it, all of them are connected, especially this week,” said ECU coach Scottie Montgomery at his weekly news conference Monday. “If Jake [Verity] doesn’t get that chance to kick that field goal at the end, then he probably wouldn’t be the Special Teams Player of the Week. If Nate doesn’t make the sacks and the tackles for loss that give us the chance to get the ball back, then he wouldn’t be the Defensive Player of the Week. We’re really happy that it’s connected, and it says a lot to our team.”

Starter Reid Herring, one of three quarterbacks who saw action in ECU’s win over Old Dominion on Saturday, passed for 309 yards and three touchdowns against the Monarchs. (Photo by Al Myatt / >>VIEW GAME GALLERY>>)

The Pirates have a most odd situation at quarterback. The football adage says that if you have two quarterbacks, then you really don’t have any. Montgomery, though, says he likes using all three of his quarterbacks in a game.

“I like my three,” said Montgomery. “I’ve had one and that one has gotten hurt and then you have zero. I hope that math can tell you I like my three and I like the skill set of our three. What’s really significant for everyone to understand is that all three are playing in their first year at quarterback, all three of them. So, one of the things we’re seeing is first-year mistakes from all three of them. If we can clean up some of the first-year mistakes with the talent we have around them and the creativity we have going on now around them, they have a chance to be pretty special. I like our three and I’ll take those three all the time.”

A key play in the game came late, when Montgomery’s starter at quarterback, Reid Herring, looked like he was trying to throw one away. An ODU defensive back almost came up with the interception. It was as close as it can get.

I was standing about six or seven feet from the play and I thought ODU safety Justice Davila had the interception. One official ruled it a catch and the other said Davila was bobbling the football and didn’t have control. I’ve seen several replays and think the call could have gone either way.

On Monday, Conference USA Coordinator of Football Officials Gerald Austin addressed the play with this comment.

“I have confirmed that even though the official may have gotten the call correct he was too technical in his decision to rule incomplete on that interception,” said Austin. “He should have called it a catch and let replay decide. We cannot take a play away from a player that we cannot back up as officials.”

WHAT????? From my vantage point on the sideline I watched and listened as the officials got together. One of them said they were certain that he didn’t have possession. The other indicated that he thought it was a good catch, and didn’t see a bobble. One overruled the other and they came up with an incomplete pass and called it that way. If replay was conclusive, then the call would have been overturned. It’s the official’s job to do the best to get the call right. It’s replay’s job to overturn an obvious error. There was simply nothing obvious about this play. The play could have gone either way.

Austin’s comments were bizarre at best. Too technical? I think Mr. Austin was ‘too technical’ in his explanation.

So now the Pirates get back into conference play visiting Temple. The Owls have had the Pirates’ number of late. ECU hasn’t beaten the Owls since 1995. They didn’t play from ’95 until 2014 when the two started playing as members of the American Athletic Conference.

Temple has scored a non-offensive touchdown in all five of its games so far this season. The Owls have scored a total of six touchdowns with their defense and special teams.

“On special teams, this is going to be a big week for us,” said Montgomery. “They apply a lot of pressure in special teams and are very opportunistic. They tip the ball away in a turnover situation. They’ve dominated games through special teams. We have our work cut out for us in that area. We’re going to have to be really sound and our best players are going to have to play their best on special teams this week.”

Add in the offense and defense to that statement as well. These Pirates played with great poise and confidence two weeks ago in Tampa, and repeated that effort in the win over ODU at home.

It will certainly take that same kind of effort this week in Philadelphia.

COACH MO WEEKLY PRESSER…
PROGRAM SHOWING SIGNS THAT REVIVAL IS UNDERWAY
ECU DEPOSES MONARCHS WITH CLUTCH EFFORT
VIEW GAME DAY PHOTO GALLERY…
AUDIO: COACH MO & JAKE VERITY POSTGAME…
AUDIO: BONESVILLE PREGAME PODCAST
VIEW ECU’S 2018 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Related

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Filed Under: News & Features

Comments

  1. Irish Spectre says

    October 2, 2018 at 10:54 am

    “…the call could have gone either way.” …at BEST, to be honest; the call was effectively game deciding.

    It was a mental/inexperience mistake by Herring. In D1, when you throw the ball way, you must throw it AWAY; the defensive backs are just far, far too athletic to leave throwaways on the margin.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent News & Features

Baseball News
Pirates clinch AAC crown

Baseball News
ECU captures series, boosts conference lead

Baseball News
Pirates take series opener with Bulls

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates aim high for interior line talent

VIEW FROM THE EAST
Pirates prevail at less than best

Baseball News
Pirates top Duke, 5-4

Baseball News
Pirates sweep series with 15-1 route

Baseball News
Pirates take series, boost league lead

Baseball News
ECU takes epic duel in 13 innings

VIEW FROM THE EAST
Resilient Pirates surge to first in AAC

More News & Features

ECU Schedules

  • ECU 2021 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2020-21 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2021 Baseball Schedule

ECU Recruiting

  • Football Recruiting Class of 2021
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2020
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2019
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2018
  • Football Recruiting Class of 2017
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2021-22
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2020-21
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2019-20
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2018-19
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2017-18
  • Hoops Recruiting Class of 2016-17
Tweets by bonesville

Past Football Schedules

  • ECU 2020 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2019 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2018 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2017 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2016 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2015 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2014 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2013 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2012 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2011 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2010 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2009 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2008 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2007 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2006 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2005 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2004 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2003 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2002 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2001 Football Schedule
  • ECU 2000 Football Schedule
  • Historical Schedules

Past Basketball Schedules

  • ECU 2019-20 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2018-19 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2017-18 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2016-17 Basketball Schedule
  • ECU 2000-2015 Basketball Archives

Past Baseball Schedules

  • ECU 2020 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2019 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2018 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2017 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2016 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2015 Baseball Schedule
  • ECU 2001-2014 Baseball Archives

Recruiting Class Profiles

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates aim high for interior line talent

ECU Recruiting News
Well stocked Pirates enter fray for O-linemen

ECU Recruiting News
ECU faces uphill battle in hunt for tight ends

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates cast wide net for wide receivers

ECU Recruiting News
Loaded Pirates still courting running backs

ECU Recruiting News
ECU targets quarterbacks of the future

AAC Football Recruiting News
Transfer portal reshaping AAC football programs

Class of 2022 Defensive Report Card
ECU’s former weak link becoming big strength (updated)

Class of 2022 Offensive Report Card
Help is on the way for blocking corps (update 3)

American Athletic Conference Recruiting
Bearcats lead AAC’s early signing push

Class of 2022 In-depth Analysis
Surprises, depth highlight early recruiting haul

VIEW FROM THE EAST
‘What a difference a year makes’

Football Recruiting Report
Prolific receiver Webb may enroll early

Football Recruiting Report
Another gifted running back headed to ECU

Football Recruiting Report
ECU wins pledge from hotly recruited RB Gunn

Football Recruiting Report
Coveted lineman Sacra may enroll early

Football Recruiting Report
Pirates lure a star from DB factory

VIEW FROM THE EAST
Harrell on quest for unanimous effort

Football Recruiting Report
West Craven star Mims sticking close to home

VIEW FROM THE EAST
Pirates ready for preseason camp

Football Recruiting Report
Lineman built his future during COVID layoff

Football Recruiting Report
Norcross star on track for early enrollment

VIEW FROM THE EAST
Pirates pulling from portal

Football Recruiting Report
Big man Allen tapping into ‘nasty side’

Football Recruiting Report
ECU gets one of NC’s top D-line prospects

Recent Web Roundups

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, May 16, 2022

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Sunday, May 15, 2022

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday May 14, 2022

Writer Archives

  • Bonesville Staff
  • Brian Bailey
  • Sammy Batten
  • Bethany Bradsher
  • Brett Friedlander
  • Al Myatt
  • NFF
  • Greg Vacek
  • Danny Whitford

Recent Web Roundups

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, May 16, 2022

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Sunday, May 15, 2022

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday May 14, 2022

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Friday, May 13, 2022

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, May 11, 2022

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, May 9, 2022

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Sunday, May 8, 2022

More Web Roundups

Copyright © 2022 Bonesville.net · Website by Seaport Webworks. · Log in · Privacy Policy