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 Postseason Scoreboard

• ECU 2023 Football Schedule
• ECU 2022-23 Hoops Schedule
• ECU 2023 Baseball Schedule

— Recruiting Thumbnails —
Football: 2023 • Hoops: 2023-24

Insights from Brett
Surge of young bloods bodes well for the future

November 19, 2018 By Brett Friedlander 1 Comment

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Senior nights are designed to honor those players whose college careers are coming to an end and to thank them for their contributions to the program over the past four years.

That’s only partially what happened at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Saturday.

Because while the night clearly belonged to Trevon Brown, Garrett McGhin, Nate Harvey and the other loyal soldiers that have given their all to the Pirates with little to show for it, East Carolina’s 55-21 thumping of Connecticut was as much about the promise of the future as it was celebrating the accomplishments of the past.

The occasion wouldn’t have been nearly as memorable or happy without the contributions of numerous young players whose careers are just getting started.

Rookie Holton Ahlers continued to live up to the hype that preceded him to ECU by throwing for four touchdowns and rushing for 130 yards, the third-highest total for a Pirates quarterback since 1990.

Story continues after photo…

True freshman quarterback Holton Ahlers completes a pass in a 55-21 win over UConn on senior night. The Greenville product accounted for five touchdowns — four through the air and one on the ground. (Photo by W.A. Myatt / >>VIEW GAME GALLERY>>)

Redshirt freshman Trace Christian, who had carried the ball only 14 times all year before Saturday, added 102 yards and a score on the ground while undersized slot receiver Tyler Snead caught a team-leading six passes for 62 yards and three touchdowns in just his third college game.

And they were only the tip of the iceberg.

Other first-year players that had a hand in the victory included converted linebacker Xavier Smith, who earned praise from coach Scottie Montgomery for his blocking as a tight end as well as his three catches for 60 yards; receiver Blake Proehl (3 catches, 37 yards), center Peyton Winston and safety Damel Hickman, who had one of the Pirates’ two interceptions against the Huskies.

Story continues after photo…

Redshirt freshman running back Trace Christian gets outside for an eight yard touchdown rush to cap the Pirates scoring with 10:14 remaining in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s senior night bout with UConn. (Photo by W.A. Myatt / >>VIEW GAME GALLERY>>)

“We’ve got a lot of young guys,” Montgomery said after the game. “We’ve recruited well over the last few years. You’re starting to see some of those guys come on.”

Though it’s only one game against an opponent that, like ECU, had yet to notch an American Athletic Conference victory, it would be hard not to get at least a little excited about the promise those talented newcomers bring to the program.

They have the potential to become the foundation upon which the Pirates can finally start to rebuild.

The big question is, who’s going to be in charge of the next phase of the process?

Story continues after photo…

Freshmen Tyler Snead (22) and Peyton Winstead (57) celebrate after Snead’s third touchdown reception of the evening in ECU’s Senior Night win over UConn. (Photo by W.A. Myatt / >>VIEW GAME GALLERY>>)

That won’t likely be known for another couple of weeks, or until the rescheduled season finale against N.C. State in Raleigh on Dec. 1 is played.

Chancellor Cecil Staton said as much before the UConn game by issuing a statement indicating that “an assessment of the program will be made at the conclusion of the season,” adding that “it would be inappropriate to address (the future) during a time when our student-athletes and coaches deserve everyone’s unequivocal support.”

While not everyone heeded Staton’s advice when it comes to support, as Saturday night’s disappointing crowd of 27,324 suggests, the players came through with their most complete effort since the North Carolina win way back on Sept. 8.

In many ways, it was a result you could see coming like a slow-developing gadget play.

After the offense’s strong performance in a close loss to Memphis and the improvement shown by the defense a week later in an even closer loss at Tulane, it figured to be only a matter of time before the two units got their act together in the same game and produced a victory.

In doing so Saturday, ECU’s players both old and young provided Staton, special advisor Dave Hart and anyone else that might be in the decision-making loop a legitimate reason to bring Montgomery back for another season in 2019.

Tangible progress is being made.

But let’s not get carried away with one emotional win against the one AAC team in worse shape than the Pirates over the past three years. A better read on whether ECU is getting close to turning the corner and heading in the right direction — or is even in the same neighborhood as that intersection — will come this week on the road against bowl-bound Cincinnati.

Win or lose, the decision on Montgomery’s future will ultimately come down to a subjective assessment of how far the program has come this season and if he’s the right man to continue that progress into the future.

Whoever the coach ends up being in 2019, Saturday’s Senior Night win suggests he’ll at least have a solid foundation of talented, experienced youngsters upon which to build.

And that’s a good place to start. Or just maybe, continue what has already been started.

TRUE FRESHMEN SPARK SENIOR NIGHT WIN
AUDIO: MONTGOMERY & AHLERS POSTGAME…
VIEW GAME DAY PHOTO GALLERY…
AUDIO: BONESVILLE PREGAME PODCAST
VIEW ECU’S 2018 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Related

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Filed Under: News & Features

Comments

  1. JAMES JIM LASSITER says

    November 19, 2018 at 9:03 pm

    HELLO SKIPPER THAT IS A TERM FOR CAPTAIN SO I AM CALLING YOU
    SKIPPER…….I AM NOTING A ‘SOMETHING IN YOUR RECENT COMMENT
    HERE………..A CERTAIN COMMENT THAT MEANS OR IT APPEARS TO ME
    MEANS ‘PERHAPS T THIS GIVEN TIME DO WE LOOK IN YOUR
    DIRECTION FOR A MAYBE?

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recent News & Features

BASEBALL NEWS
Virginia tops Pirates to close regional

BASEBALL NEWS
Familiar nemesis helps Cavaliers edge ECU, 2-1

BASEBALL NEWS
ECU tells Sooners, ‘later’

VIEW FROM THE EAST
Pirates prep for regional

Baseball News
Pirates headed to UVa

Baseball News
Tulane tops Pirates in American final

Baseball News
Saturday sweep puts ECU in Sunday AAC final

Baseball News
13 proves lucky for ECU

VIEW FROM THE EAST
Schwartz scores in transition

Baseball News
Pirates oust Cincinnati

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

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
ECU snatches late addition from Hoosiers

ECU Recruiting News
Class of 2024 starts with prized receiver

ECU Recruiting News
Late pitch lures lineman with pedigree

Recruiting Evaluation Part 2: Defense
Report card: Quality talent fills big holes

Recruiting Evaluation Part 1: Offense
Report card: Pirates reload at skill spots

ECU Recruiting News
Towering lineman Neolian still honing skills (updated)

ECU Recruiting News
More help is on the way to ECU secondary

ECU Recruiting News
Portal delivers blue chipper RaRa Dillworth

Class of 2023 Early Signing Review (UPDATED)
Pirates tap transfer portal for more talent

AAC Early Signing Review
New members dive into AAC recruiting wars

Class of 2023 Early Signing Review
First wave of recruits just the beginning

ECU Recruiting News
Brown finds way to ECU through portal

ECU Recruiting News
Transfer safety McDaniel destined for ECU

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates land coveted Spartanburg quarterback

ECU Recruiting News
Swift ECU recruit ‘in a class of his own’

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates win out for Georgia prep linebacker

ECU Recruiting News
Linebacker with pedigree charts path to ECU

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates find a gem in Palmetto State receiver

ECU Recruiting News
Official visit swayed North Mecklenburg star

ECU Recruiting News
Physical Georgia receiver poses tough matchup

ECU Recruiting News
Pirates project lineman Durant as center

ECU Recruiting News
ECU spotted potential in Conley lineman

ECU Recruiting News
ECU lands fleet-footed Georgia defensive back

ECU Recruiting News
‘Football town’ helps draw Short to Pirates

ECU Recruiting News
ECU targets edge rushers

Recent Web Roundups

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, June 7, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Tuesday, June 6, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, June 5, 2023

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
Wednesday, June 7, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Tuesday, June 6, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, June 5, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Sunday, June 4, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday, June 3, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Friday, June 2, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, June 1, 2023

More Web Roundups

Copyright © 2023 Bonesville.net · Website by Seaport Webworks. · Log in · Privacy Policy