GREENVILLE — East Carolina’s 17-9 American Conference win at home over Temple was not without its scary prospects on Halloween, especially in light of how the Pirates had been trending.

As in Thursday night overtime road losses at Alabama-Birmingham and Memphis in the previous two games, ECU built a 14-point lead.

This time, the Pirates were able to finish with the help of interceptions by Zyeir Gamble and Ashton Levells-Mitchell in the final 5:22 on Saturday.

ECU improved to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the American with South Florida (6-2, 2-2) coming to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff (ESPN2).

“Anytime you go through the last two weeks like we have, it can take a little bit of your confidence,” said Pirates coach Blake Harrell on the ECU radio network. ” … We did a better job of attacking things today.”

ECU took a 2-possession lead at 17-3 on a 19-yard run by T.J. Engleman with 10:06 left in the third quarter.

Engleman had 16 carries for 107 yards as the Pirates had a 352-249 lead in total yards with 222 on the ground.

“Credit to the offensive line,” Engleman said. “They created lanes for me so I could use my God-given ability.”

Engleman’s TD completed a 14-play, 75-yard drive after the Pirates got the ball to start the second half. ECU converted twice on 3rd-and-7s on a pass and a run, respectively, by starting quarterback Mitch Griffis.

Carl Hardin kicked a 46-yard field goal for the Owls with 5:08 to go in the third as Temple closed within 17-6. A 41-yarder by Hardin with 10:12 remaining reduced the Pirates’ lead to 17-9.

ECU went to halftime with a 10-3 advantage.

Temple took the first possession and punted from its 43. Griffis threw incomplete on third down on the first series for a three and out.

JoJo Bermudez returned a 55-yard punt by Tomas O’Halloran for 33 yards to the ECU 38.

A 16-yard pass from Ajani Sheppard to Bermudez moved the Owls into field goal range but Hardin was wide left on a 41-yard attempt.

Brock Spalding played for the first time this season and had an 8-yard reception to start the Pirates’ second series. ECU converted on a fourth down at the Temple 20 before Ashton Gray scored on a 1-yard run with 1:19 left in the first quarter.

Engelman had three carries for 29 yards on the 13-play, 77-yard march. Gray ran six straight times for 26 yards. Noah Perez added the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

An onside kick recovery by the Pirates was nullified after review. The Pirates actually were penalized for a block before the ball went 10 yards.

“Never seen a penalty called on a review,” Harrell said. “I told them they could probably call a penalty on every review.”

The Pirates were penalized five times for 31 yards. ECU had three takeaways to one for the Owls (2-6, 1-3). Angelo Ross had a pick for the hosts.

Gamble and Kamaurri McKinley were each in on a team-high six tackles with four solo stops apiece.

Following the onside kick, ECU made a defensive stop. The Pirates moved from their 25 to the Owls’ 16 before surrendering possession on a dropped pass on 4th-and-5.

Hardin hit from 41 yards to get Temple within 7-3 with 2:52 left in the first half.

Perez drilled a 20-yarder with 10 seconds to go in the half.

Griffis completed 17 of 30 for 130 yards with no TDs and one interception. Landon Sides had seven catches for 58 yards for the Pirates. Gray ran for 58 yards on 15 carries.

Ray Ray Joseph Jr. had a 56-yard kick return for the Pirates.

ECU converted four of 12 third downs while limiting Temple to one of seven. The Pirates were two for four on fourth down. The visitors did not go for a fourth down.

ECU increased its lead in the series with the Owls to 14-9 with its sixth straight win over Temple. The Pirates are 6-5 in games played in Greenville.