GREENVILLE — East Carolina got an overdue American Conference win over Charlotte at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Saturday, leaving little doubt about the outcome after taking a 21-0 first quarter lead and eventually subduing the 49ers, 48-22.

The Pirates (6-3, 4-1 AC) became bowl eligible for 2025 after losses the last two seasons to Charlotte (1-8, 0-6), including 10-7 in 2023 in Greenville and 55-24 last year in the Queen City.

An 0-2 record in the series with the only other in-state institution in the American created anticipation for ECU’s homecoming matchup.

“We had Charlotte on the timer,” said running back London Montgomery on the Pirate radio network. “We’ve been waiting on them all year.”

A crowd of 39,096 didn’t have to wait long for ECU to assert itself.

The Pirates went 65 yards in 12 plays after taking the opening kickoff and moved ahead to stay on Montgomery’s 7-yard scoring run with 10:03 left in the first quarter.

ECU coach Blake Harrell went for a fourth-and-goal at the Charlotte 3-yard line after an encroachment penalty on the 49ers as he motioned the field goal unit off the field.

The decision paid off as Katin Houser hit Anthony Smith in the back of the end zone with 4:53 left in the first for a 14-0 lead.

A 45-yard pick six of former Duke quarterback Grayson Loftis by Tymir Brown pushed the advantage to 21-0 with 1:22 to go in the first.

ECU went up, 28-0, when Houser capped a 68-yard series with a 1-yard keeper with 11:58 left in the half.

Mike Wright Jr. had a 20-yard reception from Houser the previous play after Wright took the snap and pitched to Houser, who then threw to Wright on the left sideline.

The 49ers outscored ECU 22-20 the rest of the way starting with a 46-yard scoring toss from Loftis to Javen Nicholas with 6:52 left in the half.

“At times I thought we played really well,” said Pirates coach Blake Harrell. “At times, we got a little bit sloppy. We’ve got to learn to mash the gas.”

After Charlotte’s initial score, the Pirates responded with a 65-yard drive that was capped with Houser’s 8-yard scoring pass to Yannick Smith.

The 49ers closed within 35-14 before the half on a 4-yard pass from Loftis to Sean Brown with 1:31 showing.

A 40-yard field goal by Nick Mazzie opened the second half scoring and extended ECU’s lead to 38-14.

Nicholas snared a 43-yard TD pass from Loftis as the 49ers cut the lead to 38-22 with a 2-point conversion pass from Loftis to Brown with 8:54 to go in the third.

ECU got the last two scores on an 11-yard run by Houser and a 50-yard boot by Mazzie.

Chaston Ditta played the last three possessions at quarterback for the Pirates after the second field goal by Mazzie with 13:21 left to play. The game ended with Ditta taking a knee at the Charlotte 23.

“We got a lot of young guys and a lot of depth in there at the end of the game in the fourth quarter from about 11 minutes on,” Harrell said. “So that was good. … Everybody gets to be a part of it.

“Part of me wanted to stick that last (series) and go get one more score, but the football gods will come back and haunt you if you do stuff like that.”

Part of those that wagered on the betting line would have liked one more ECU score, too, since the Pirates were giving 28.5 points and the margin was 26.

ECU led, 407-324, in total yards and, 29-13, in first downs.

Houser completed 26 of41 for 224 yards with two TDs and no picks. He ran 11 times for 26 yards with a pair of scores. Anthony Smith had eight catches for 69 yards and Yannick Smith had six receptions for 59 yards.

Montgomery had 11 carries for 85 yards as the Pirates had 183 yards rushing.

The visitors were limited to four of 14 on third down conversions while ECU was six for 16.

The Pirates had just one penalty for 15 yards for an end zone celebration after a touchdown.

Linebacker Dameon Wilson was in on a team-high five tackles for the Pirates with two solos.

Loftis accounted for the bulk of Charlotte’s offense as he completed 20 of 31 for 279 yards with three TDs and one interception.

The Pirates host Memphis (8-2, 4-2) on Saturday at 4 p.m. A rally by the Tigers fell short Friday night in a 38-32 loss to Tulane at the Liberty Bowl.