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

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

From the Anchor Desk
‘Winnable’ games up next for humbled Pirates

September 17, 2019 By Brian Bailey Leave a Comment

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Score this one as another disappointing chapter in East Carolina’s football series with Navy.

We analyzed it all week. The Navy numbers against the Pirates were astounding in the series. Everything pointed to another Midshipmen blowout.

Most of the time in sports a preliminary look doesn’t always pan out. This time it did.

Navy dominated from the very start, again. The Midshipmen played what Navy Coach Ken Niumatalolo would call one of their best games in years. It came at the Pirate’s expense in a 42-10 loss.

“Congratulations to Navy,” ECU coach Mike Houston would say after the game. “I thought they had a great plan on both sides of the ball and special teams. I thought their kids looked extremely prepared. They had a lot of energy to start the game and a great atmosphere.”

Then-backup quarterback Holton Ahlers charges ahead for a gain in ECU’s 37-35 comeback victory over Old Dominion last season in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Ahlers was ECU’s leading rusher in the contest with 63 yards and a touchdown on 8 carries. (Photo by Al Myatt)

That energy to start the game set the tone. The Pirates had a dreaded three and out and then a short punt. Two of the keys to the game, controlling the football on offense and field position, were negated in the game’s first series.

“I thought that we did not handle some of the adversity early very well,” said Houston. “Obviously, we made a lot of mistakes. That being said, it is my responsibility to make sure the team is prepared. So it is my responsibility to get it fixed.”

The Pirates were hoping to slow down the Navy option on defense and control the football and put points on the board on offense.

Like the N.C. State game, though, the Pirates were manhandled up front.

Whether it was scheme, or talent or a combination of both, the day turned into another disaster in this seven-game series with the Middies.

Senior defensive tackle Alex Turner was visibly upset after the loss.

“We kind of took a step back today,” said Turner. “We all know that Navy runs an interesting offense and we didn’t fundamentally correct it or fit up right like we should have. Every day we are going to start new, so tomorrow we are going to have to start new and get ready for William & Mary coming up.”

While the defense had obvious issues with the option, it was the ECU offense that, perhaps unexpectedly, failed to hold up its end of the bargain.

“We have to keep pushing,” said ECU sophomore quarterback Holton Ahlers. “We have hurt ourselves more than the defense has stopped us. That is just the way it is right now. We have a new offense. (We have) young players. We have to keep learning from it. The defenses aren’t stopping us, it is us stopping ourselves.”

The Pirates now host William & Mary at home and then travel to Old Dominion.

These are certainly two ‘winnable’ games before the Pirates dive back into conference play in the American Athletic Conference.

This is a team that will continue to grow and improve.

“We just have to keep working and keep getting better every day,” said Houston.

ECU still has a great shot at a winning record in September to gear up for some success in the AAC.

ECU 2019 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
‘WINNABLE’ GAMES UP NEXT FOR HUMBLED PIRATES
NO QUICK FIX IN SIGHT
PIRATES ‘TAKE A STEP BACK’
AUDIO: MIKE HOUSTON POSTGAME
GAME DAY PHOTO GALLERY
AUDIO: BONESVILLE PREGAME PODCAST
WINS MEAN FESTIVE MEALS
SIGNATURE ROAD WIN FUELS HOME MOMENTUM

Related

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Filed Under: News & Features

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recent News & Features

VIEW FROM THE EAST: FAU
The new American

Basketball News
Pirates rally past Tulsa to snap losing streak

ECU Recruiting News
Portal delivers blue chipper RaRa Dillworth

VIEW FROM THE EAST: CHARLOTTE
The new American

Basketball News
Owls pull away from ECU in second half

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

Basketball News
Small matter costly in ECU loss

VIEW FROM THE EAST
The new American

Basketball News
Bearcats beat ECU from long range

Basketball News
Memphis run tops ECU

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
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

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

Recent Web Roundups

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Friday, January 27, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, January 26, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, January 25, 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
Friday, January 27, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, January 26, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, January 25, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, January 23, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday, January 21, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, January 18, 2023

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, January 16, 2023

More Web Roundups

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