GREENVILLE — East Carolina got a 31-yard leaping catch on a heave by Katin Houser by South Carolina transfer Payton Mangrum — a senior on Senior Day — with 1:08 left in the game for a 31-27 American Conference win over Memphis on Saturday at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
Elated Pirate fans stormed the field as ECU improved to 7-3 overall and 5-1 in league play with a game ending interception by senior Mike Wright Jr. on a deep ball at the Pirates’ 10-yard line.
“It wasn’t about the offense,” said ECU coach Blake Harrell on the Pirate radio network. “It wasn’t about the defense. It wasn’t about the men on the field. It was everybody in that stadium. Everybody in this community. Everybody in Pirate Nation.”
A 30-yard field goal by Gianni Spetic gave Memphis a 27-24 lead with 2:29 to go.
ECU started the winning series at its own 25 and drove toward the East end zone.
“Great catch by Payton,” said Houser, who completed 23 of 34 for 332 yards with the TD to Mangrum and no picks. “I just put it in his vicinity and he made the catch.”
Mangrum said he had made some key receptions when the Pirates worked on their 2-minute drill in practice this week and he did it for real with 37,348 witnesses.
The nearby goal post was dismantled in the postgame frenzy.
There will be plenty of time to get new uprights in place as the Pirates play the last two games of the regular season on the road.
The Pirates lost receiver Yannick Smith during the game to an injury that had him in a medical boot. Memphis quarterback Brendon Lewis had a persistent limp due to ankle injury but managed to play most of the way.
Lewis connected on 32 of 43 passes for 209 yards with one score and one pick.
The Pirates took the option to receive the opening kickoff. Wright delivered a 40-yard punt on the opening series that rolled out at the Memphis 9-yard line.
The defense forced a punt from the ECU 47 before the Pirates drove 91 yards for a 7-0 lead on a 1-yard plunge by London Montgomery and Nick Mazzie’s conversion kick with 2:36 left in the first quarter.
The Tigers tied the score at 7 with 12:50 left in the first half as Lewis hit Matt Adcock in the end zone on 4th-and-3 from the Pirates 5.
An 84-yard scoring run by Sutton Smith with 5:30 left in the half gave Memphis a 14-7 lead.
Mazzie’s 49-yard field goal with 2:19 in the half brought ECU within 14-10.
Memphis added a 44-yard field goal by Spetic with 22 seconds showing for a 17-10 lead at the half.
Memphis did not incur a penalty in the first 30 minutes.
Brock Spalding made a one-handed grab in tight coverage for a 12-yard gain to the Memphis 1 on ECU’s first possession of the second half. The play was initially ruled a touchdown, but the ball was spotted short after review. Houser scored on a keeper on the next play as the Pirates pulled even at 17 with 11:59 to go in the third quarter.
Lewis hobbled into the end zone from seven yards out as the Tigers took a 24-17 lead with 7:36 left in the third quarter.
Montgomery went 23 yards around the right side for a tying score with 5:46 left in the third. Houser had a 42-yard completion to Desirrio Riles on the series that covered 75 yards in six plays.
Montgomery ran 27 times for 103 yards with two TDs. The Pirates had a slight 457-454 lead in total yards.
Spalding had five catches for 88 yards.
The Tigers (8-3, 4-3 AC) drew a pass interference — their first flag — that nullified an interception with 3:35 left in the third. The visitors finished with five penalties for 55 yards. ECU was assessed eight times for 72 yards.
Navy, North Texas, Tulane and the Pirates all have one league loss.
ECU plays at Texas-San Antonio (5-5, 3-3) on Saturday with kickoff time to be announced.
Congratulations to the Pirates for a great win over Memphis. The Pirates overcame the self-inflicted problems of penalties, and some questionable no-calls by officials to answer the bell when needed. The Pirates defense showed up big late, holding the Tigers to a field goal. The offense promptly did to Memphis what it could not do against NC State and Tulane, drive down the field and score. It’s a shame more people didn’t turn out to see a very good game.
Hopefully, the Pirates will take this momentum and finish strong in SA and Boca.
…an instant classic, part track meet, but mostly street fight, with the Pirates able to deliver the final knockout blow.
ECU showed tremedous courage in standing its ground against a very solid opponent that has occupied the Top 25 for most of the season, despite lots of setbacks and frankly questionable officiating that went against them.
There were so many remarkable plays by so many Pirates, on both sides of the ball; this was truly one for the books.
Next week vs. UTSA in San Antonio stands to be another barn burner, with the Roadrunners still looking for bowl eligibility and to protect its winning record at home, while the Pirates remain very much in the hunt for the conference title game; confidence should not be an issue for this business trip.