ANNAPOLIS, MD — The fired-up boys from Pitt County were too much for the Power Four team from Pitt on Saturday.
East Carolina won its second straight Military Bowl over an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent with a 23-17 triumph over the Panthers at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium.
“It doesn’t matter what conference you’re in,” said ECU defensive lineman Jasiyah Robinson, who had 1.5 sacks, on the Pirate radio network. “Put the ball down. ACC, Big Ten or SEC. Let’s go.”
The Pirates were back on the scene of a 26-21 win over N.C. State in 2024 at the Go Bowling-sponsored event. ECU coach Blake Harrell served as defensive coordinator for both triumphs, the first back-to-back bowl victories for the Pirates since winning the Tangerne Bowl in 1964 and 1965.
The Pirates finished 9-4 for the most wins by an ECU team since 2013, despite playing without the season’s leading passer (Katin Houser) and rusher (London Montgomery), who were among departures heading to the transfer portal.
Defensive personnel essentially remained intact and stepped up with five turnovers against Pitt (8-5).
The offense, with true freshman Chaston Ditta at quarterback, was led by scoring passes of 47 and 72 yards to fleet senior Anthony Smith in the second half.
Pitt led 7-3 at the half on a 22-yard touchdown pass from freshman Mason Heintschel to Raphael Williams with four seconds left.
“We’re lucky they didn’t score more than three points with the field position they had,” said Panthers coach Pat Narduzzi on ESPN.
ECU had first quarter possessions that reached the 26-, 29- and 8-yard lines of the Panthers without producing points.
The Pirates got on the board first with a 42-yard field goal by Nick Mazzie with 11:42 left in the half.
ECU regained the upper hand when Smith snared a Ditta pass at the 10 and took it to the end zone for a 10-7 lead with 9:32 left in the third quarter.
The Pirates were victims of a bad call when an inadvertent whistle nullified a 68-yard touchdown run by Marlon Gunn Jr. on 4th-and-1 that would have given ECU a 17-7 lead.
Fortunes pivoted abruptly as Ditta was stripped two plays later and Pitt’s Rasheem Biles took the loose ball 23 yards to give Pitt a 14-10 lead with 4:33 left in the third.
The Pirates, who applied their next man up and next play philosophy under adverse circumstances, went ahead to stay on a deep ball to Smith. He caught it at the ECU 45 on 3rd-and-7 at the ECU 45 and won the foot race for a TD with 3:58 remaining in the third.
The Pirates went up two scores, 23-14, on Mazzie’s 28-yarder with 6:41 to go.
Trey Butkowski kicked a 21-yard field goal for the Panthers with 1:22 left for the final points. The Pirates recovered the ensuing onside kick attempt.
Pitt used its timeouts and took possession at its 20 with 57 seconds to play. Heintschel was tackled at his 38 by Robinson as he scrambled on the last play of the game.
The Panthers led 376-241 in total yards and 24-11 in first downs but lost all four of their fumbles.
Ditta, who had thrown just seven passes on the collegiate level prior to Saturday’s 11 a.m., kickoff, completed eight of 17 for 177 yards with two scores and no picks.
Smith’s four receptions accounted for 156 yards. Gunn had 18 carries for 50 yards although 54 yards were canceled on the TD that was wiped off.
Defensive leaders for the Pirates — in their purple jerseys — were senior defensive back Teagan Wilk with nine tackles, including six solo stops, as well as senior linebacker Dameon Wilson, senior defensive end Samuel Dankah and sophomore defensive back Kamaurri McKinley, who were each in on seven tackles.
“We stayed tight and made it about the seniors,” said Smith, who transferred from N.C. State after the 2023 season.
“We were tired of being doubted,” said senior outside linebacker Raheem Craig, a transfer from Louisville, who was in on five stops.
The Pirates have some voids to fill and will be working the portal as they get ready for the 2026 season opener at Alabama on Sept. 5.
The Pirates played with epic heroism on both sides of the ball, but especially the defense.
That whistle did not need to negate the Marlon Gunn TD, so it was actually two monumentally bad mistakes by the zebras in one play, and it led directly to a 14 point swing. Thankfully it wasn’t decisive, but that Rahja Harris-like bowl TD run became a mere footnote when it deserved to be central to the storyline.
Blake Harrell has made himself to Pirates football what Cliff Godwin is to Pirates baseball.
Katin Whouser??
What a great effort by every Pirate player and coach!! Facing adversity going into the game from defectors, both players and coaches, the Pirates defense played their best game of the year.
The offense was far from perfect, but played better than expected. Chaston Ditta was not overwhelmed by the moment, though he did have some tough moments. The TD passes he threw were no accidents, however, his lack of height is something that will have to be accounted for in the future.
Coach Harrell, you would never accept the game ball… but you deserve it. WELL DONE, PIRATES!!
Grit, toughness, and determination won the day for the depleted Pirates. A 10 point underdog after the opt outs/portal jumpers left he Pirates shorthanded but not undone. Ditta showed he can play at this level and gain some important reps and confidence that will serve him and the team well coming into 2026. But the Pirate defense was the real winner for this team in this bowl. The D only gave up one TD to a very good Power four team, They battled every down and bent at times but never broke. Paint another bowl Purple!
Pirates played smack mouth defense and deceptive offense. Thy shook off the bad call.
Purple Power