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

Inside Game Day
Lights go out as ECU plays Owls closer

October 4, 2019 By Al Myatt 1 Comment

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

GREENVILLE — A program that has yearned for a return to relevance got 60 minutes on the big stage Thursday night.

East Carolina football was on display on ESPN against Temple and viewers saw the Pirates put forth a competitive effort under first-year coach Mike Houston, albeit a 27-17 loss that dropped ECU to 3-3 overall and 0-2 in the American Athletic Conference.

A win was what the mostly black-clad Pirate fans among a crowd of 33,253 wanted to see, but they had to settle for significant improvement from a 49-6 loss to the Owls in Philadelphia last season.

“I told the kids in there, they are going to have a lot of people patting them on the back, telling them good game, you’re really coming along and all that stuff, but we’re not in it for moral victories,” Houston said. “We can take some positives out of this, yes.

“People can look at the score the last couple of years and look at our score tonight and say that the program is improving. That’s all fine and good, but you play the game to win.

“That’s what we’re setting out to do. We’ve got to do things better if we’re going to win these ball games.”

ECU will have time to correct mistakes and refocus before playing at Central Florida on Oct. 19.

There was an unanticipated blackout on a night when fans were encouraged to dress for a blackout.

The Pirate offense made an impressive start, but were stymied subsequently by a Temple defense until a late touchdown after the stadium lights went out for about 15 minutes with 3:52 left to play.

“The lights are new,” said ECU athletic director Jon Gilbert. “We’re pretty positive it was a programming error that shut them off. We’re working to find out exactly what that was.

“The electricians actually over-rode the computer at the breaker system. So, not something that we expected. We’ll work to get that corrected.”

Houston didn’t want to see the game called because of the malfunction. The Pirates were looking to get a stop with Temple facing 3rd-and-13 at the ECU 39 when Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium darkened.

“You’re hoping the lights come back on,” Houston said. “Certainly, it was not ideal. The other option was calling the game and I didn’t want to do that. We score the touchdown and get an onside kick, I had visions in my mind of getting another score in there and having a chance with an onside kick and a Hail Mary. You play until it’s triple zeroes.

“I’m glad they were able to get the lights back on.”

The Owls deferred their option to the second half after winning the opening toss and the Pirates responded by driving 90 yards on their first possession to score on a 14-yard pass from Holton Ahlers to former high school teammate C.J. Johnson for a 7-0 lead with 10:25 left in the first quarter.

ECU sophomore quarterback Holton Ahlers sets to deliver a pass on Thursday night. (Photo by Al Myatt)
ECU sophomore quarterback Holton Ahlers sets to deliver a pass on Thursday night against Temple at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Ahlers hooked up with former D.H. Conley High School teammate C.J. Johnson on two touchdown passes in the contest. (Photo by Al Myatt / >>>PHOTO GALLERY>>>)

“I loved the way that we started the ballgame, the way we were competing,” Houston said. “The stadium was electric; it was everything I came to ECU for. I mean, I was sitting there thinking, at the end of the first quarter, just what a special place this could be.”

Jake Verity was wide right on a 39-yard field goal late in the first quarter that would have given ECU a 10-0 lead.

“That hurt,” Houston said. “The momentum hurt us. That would have been good — it would have been a tighter game at the half. It took some wind out of our sails. But Jake is pretty consistent. He doesn’t do that very often so we can’t complain too much because he comes through most of the time.”

Verity connected on a 39-yarder that tied the score at 10 with 5:52 left in the half. The Owls got the go-ahead score on a 1-yard run by Re’Mahn Davis with 3:21 to go in the half. Davis had 24 carries for 157 yards.

ECU was 3-0 when scoring first this season, but the Owls are allowing just 14 points per game in a 4-1 start and the Pirates could make little headway after the initial drive.

Temple had a 490-327 lead in total yardage. ECU got 84 yards on a series that started with 2:58 remaining in the game. Ahlers had a 37-yard pass to Jsi Hatfield to the Temple 34. The TD came on a 10-yard pass to Johnson.

Defensive back Davondre “Tank” Robinson was in on a game-high 11 tackles for a Pirate defense that was on the field for over 35 minutes. Linebacker Xavier Smith was involved on 10 stops. Linebackers Bruce Bivens and Gerard Stringer were each in on nine tackles. Defensive end Kendall Futrell had two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, forced a fumble and recovered it for the game’s only turnover.

“It was a close game overall,” said ECU defensive tackle Alex Turner. “We just didn’t execute as well as we should have.”

ECU 2019 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
LIGHTS GO OUT AS ECU PLAYS OWLS CLOSER
TEMPLE GROUND GAME SINKS PIRATES
AUDIO: MIKE HOUSTON POSTGAME
GAME DAY PHOTO GALLERY
AUDIO: BONESVILLE PREGAME PODCAST
WINNING RECORD ON THE LINE AGAINST TEMPLE
YOUNG GUNS BOOST ECU’S REBUILDING EFFORT
ROAD STREAK STOPS AT ODU
AUDIO: MIKE HOUSTON POSTGAME
GAME DAY PHOTO GALLERY
AUDIO: BONESVILLE PREGAME PODCAST
PIRATES SEEK END TO TWO YEARS OF ROAD LOSSES
QUESTIONS THAT NEED ANSWERS
ECU EMERGED FROM THE PACK TO LAND McIVER

Related

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Filed Under: News & Features

Comments

  1. Larry Woolard says

    October 10, 2019 at 11:50 pm

    Good article Al, slow turn around for the Pirates———-FYI is you don’t travel to Orlando on 10/19 try to attend 40 class reunion for WHS at Washington Civic Center – several coaches from WHS Cham teams attending, Coach Sipe, Bass and other attending – Brunch fro 9:30 – 2 pm, Doug McMillian is coming too, —— Larry “Moon” Woolard
    919-673-6921 —— lwool@hotmail.com
    Main event is Sat evening

    Reply

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