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 Baseball Schedule
• AAC Tournament Schedule

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

Game times and TV coverage
set for 5 ECU football games

Inside Game Day
ECU responds with dominance

October 3, 2021 By Al Myatt 1 Comment

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

GREENVILLE — East Carolina started a 52-29 win over Tulane on Saturday well before the 3:35 p.m. kickoff at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

Coach Mike Houston challenged the team last Sunday after a lackluster 31-28 win over Charleston Southern. The Pirates built on their preparation with physical practices on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Houston said even the pregame Pirate Walk was special. The result was an ECU team that was ready to play. The Pirates put the Green Wave in a 24-0 hole and when the visitors had closed within 31-23 late in the third quarter, ECU pulled away by outscoring Tulane 21-6 in the final period.

East Carolina coach Mike Houston wants an explanation on an offensive pass interference call. (Photo by Al Myatt | View Photo Gallery)

The bottom line for a group that played the way it had practiced was a 1-0 start in the American Athletic Conference. The next objective is a 1-0 week with a game at Central Florida on Saturday at 6 p.m.

ECU had not started 1-0 in the AAC since 2017.

“I’m just proud of the way they responded,” said Houston, after the Pirates improved to 3-2 overall. “It says a lot about the character.”

Houston said the Pirates played like the team he had alluded to when he took over the program in December of 2018.

That style of play manifested itself as the Pirates built a 31-7 lead at the half.

Owen Daffer’s 23-yard field goal before the contest was five minutes old put ECU ahead to stay. Holton Ahlers ran for a 17-yard score and a 10-0 lead with 5:03 left in the first. Keaton Mitchell ran 68 yards for a 17-0 advantage. Ahlers found Tyler Snead for 53 yards on a 4th-and-2 to give the Pirates a 24-0 lead with 13:18 to go in the half.

Holton Ahlers has protection and time to throw. (Photo by Al Myatt | View Photo Gallery)

Rahjai Harris scored on a 3-yard pass from Ahlers with 36 seconds remaining in the half.

Mitchell ran 15 times for 222 yards with two scores. Ahlers completed 21 of 32 for 288 yards and a pair of TDs.

The Green Wave drove 91 yards to cut ECU’s lead to a single score with 3:39 left in the third on a 2-point conversion carry by Michael Pratt, who started last year’s 38-21 win in Greenville as a true freshman.

Pratt completed 22 of 36 for 268 yards with one TD and three interceptions. Jireh Wilson, Warren Saba and Ja’Quan McMillian had picks for the Pirates. Teylor Jackson recovered a muffed punt for the Pirates.

ECU generated a 4-0 lead in turnover margin.

The Pirates ran for 310 yards after managing a scant 35 on the ground against the Green Wave in 2020. ECU led 612-404 in total yards.

If there was a sore spot for the Pirates it was a 3-for-14 effort on third down conversions. ECU compensated by going 4-for-5 on fourth down tries.

The Pirate offense revived in the fourth quarter beginning with a 1-yard scoring run by Harris. Back-up quarterback Mason Garcia threw a dart to Oklahoma transfer Ryan Jones for a 14-yard TD before Mitchell capped the day with a 30-yard sprint to the end zone with 1:06 to go.

Rahjai Harris crosses the goal line as ECU goes up 38-23 with 13:33 left. (Photo by Al Myatt | View Photo Gallery)

“Anytime you can hand the ball off and they go score, it makes it easy for me,” Ahlers said.

Saba said the team focused on having fun. Watching the Pirates play a game they love made for an enjoyable afternoon for a crowd of 33.475 as well..

The attendance put ECU over nine million since 1963.

The Pirates have won three in a row for the first time since 2014. Tulane had won four of the last five against ECU prior to Saturday’s breakout by the Pirates.

ECU 2021 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
ECU FOOTBALL RECRUITING CLASS OF 2022
ECU RESPONDS WITH DOMINANCE
GAME DAY PHOTO GALLERY
AUDIO: MIKE HOUSTON POSTGAME
AUDIO: HOLTON AHLERS POSTGAME
AUDIO: KEATON MITCHELL POSTGAME
AUDIO: WARREN SABA POSTGAME
BONESVILLE PREGAME PODCAST
HOUSTON SAYS WAVE’S RECORD DECEPTIVE
PIRATES RALLY, THEN HOLD OFF BUCS
AUDIO: MIKE HOUSTON POSTGAME
GAME DAY PHOTO GALLERY

Related

Tweet
Share
Share
Pin

Filed Under: Football, News & Features

Comments

  1. Richard (Don) Edwards says

    October 7, 2021 at 7:43 pm

    Can’t get over how exciting our game with Tulane was. It reminded me of some of our past years when we had a great team and it was always a pleasure to be at Downy-Ficklin. It also showed that we have the making of a great team and one hopefully going to a good bowl game this year. Great to be a Pirate!!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recent News & Features

Baseball News
ECU rallies to reach AAC final

Baseball News
Pirates pound Bearcats

Baseball News
Worrell’s slam lifts ECU

VIEW FROM THE EAST
Man with deep roots notes Pirates’ progress

Baseball News
Pirates walk off in 10th for sweep

Baseball News
Pirates continue roll

Baseball News
Pirates overtake Houston for 12th straight win

VIEW FROM THE EAST
Pirates grind to success

Baseball News
ECU edges Campbell, 7-6

Baseball News
Pirates clinch AAC crown

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
Saturday, May 28, 2022

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Friday, May 27 2022

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, May 26, 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
Saturday, May 28, 2022

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Friday, May 27 2022

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Thursday, May 26, 2022

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Wednesday, May 25, 2022

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Monday, May 23, 2022

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Sunday, May 22, 2022

GREG VACEK'S WEB ROUNDUP
Saturday, May 21, 2022

More Web Roundups

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