2019 East Carolina Pirates football team American college football season
The 2019 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Pirates, led by first-year head coach Mike Houston, played their home games at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, and were members of the East Division in the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 4–8, 1–7 in AAC play to finish in fifth place in the East Division.
Preseason
The AAC media poll was released on July 16, 2019, with the Pirates predicted to finish fifth in the AAC East Division.[1]
Media poll (East)
|
Predicted finish
|
Team
|
Votes (1st place)
|
1 |
UCF |
169 (19)
|
2 |
Cincinnati |
157 (11)
|
3 |
USF |
107
|
4 |
Temple |
101
|
5 |
East Carolina |
66
|
6 |
UConn |
30
|
Schedule
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
---|
August 31 | 12:00 p.m. | at NC State* | | ACCN | L 6–34 | 57,633 |
September 7 | 6:00 p.m. | Gardner–Webb* | | ESPN3 | W 48–9 | 34,118 |
September 14 | 3:30 p.m. | at Navy | | CBSSN | L 10–42 | 30,707 |
September 21 | 6:00 p.m. | William & Mary* | - Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
- Greenville, NC
| ESPN3 | W 19–7 | 38,004 |
September 28 | 6:00 p.m. | at Old Dominion* | | ESPN+ | W 24–21 | 18,643 |
| 8:00 p.m. | Temple | - Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
- Greenville, NC
| ESPN | L 17–27 | 33,253 |
October 19 | 7:00 p.m. | at UCF | | CBSSN | L 28–41 | 42,906 |
October 26 | 3:45 p.m. | South Florida | - Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
- Greenville, NC
| ESPNU | L 20–45 | 33,088 |
November 2 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 17 Cincinnati | - Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
- Greenville, NC
| CBSSN | L 43–46 | 32,276 |
November 9 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 25 SMU | | ESPNU | L 51–59 | 29,528 |
November 23 | 12:00 p.m. | at UConn | | ESPN3 | W 31–24 | 12,084 |
November 30 | 12:00 p.m. | Tulsa | - Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
- Greenville, NC
| ESPNU | L 24–49 | 27,978 |
|
- Schedule Source:[2]
Personnel
Coaching staff
Game summaries
At NC State
Game information
|
- First quarter
- NCST - Zonovan Knight 9-yard TD run, Christopher Dunn kick good, 8:34 (NCST 7-0)
- ECU - Jake Verity 47-yard field goal, 6:04 (NCST 7-3)
- Second quarter
- NCST - Dunn 27-yard field goal, 10:01 (NCST 10-3)
- NCST - Matthew McKay 4-yard TD run, Dunn kick good, 0:51 (NCST 17-3)
- Third quarter
- NCST - Tabari Hines 48-yard TD pass from McKay, Dunn kick good, 9:48 (NCST 24-3)
- Fourth quarter
- NCST - McKay 21-yard TD run, Dunn kick good, 12:21 (NCST 31-3)
- NCST - Dunn 34-yard field goal, 4:14 (NCST 34-3)
- ECU - Verity 31-yard field goal, 1:18 (NCST 34-6)
|
- Top passers
- NCST - Matthew McKay - 25/37, 308 yards, TD
- ECU - Holton Ahlers - 22/39, 168 yards, INT
- Top rushers
- NCST - Zonovan Knight - 9 carries, 42 yards, TD
- ECU - Darius Pinnix Jr. - 11 carries, 23 yards
- Top receivers
|
|
Gardner–Webb
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
|
|
At Navy
Game information
|
- First quarter
- (11:26) NAVY TD – Malcolm Perry 18-yard rush, Bijan Nichols kick
Drive: 6 plays, 38 yards, 2:08; Navy 7–0
- (05:46) NAVY TD – Malcolm Perry 11-yard rush, Bijan Nichols kick
Drive: 8 plays, 65 yards, 3:54; Navy 14–0
- Second quarter
- (13:38) NAVY TD – CJ Williams 29-yard pass from Malcolm Perry, Bijan Nichols kick
Drive: 10 plays, 85 yards, 5:08; Navy 21–0
- (09:09) ECU FG – Jake Verity 23-yard field goal
Drive: 11 plays, 69 yards, 4:29; Navy 21–3
- (05:25) NAVY TD – Malcolm Perry 6-yard rush, Bijan Nichols kick
Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards, 3:44; Navy 28–3
- Third quarter
- (07:53) NAVY TD – Malcolm Perry 1-yard rush, Bijan Nichols kick
Drive: 14 plays, 75 yards, 7:07; Navy 35–3
- (06:34) NAVY TD – CJ Williams 80-yard pass from Malcolm Perry, Bijan Nichols kick
Drive: 1 play, 80 yards, 0:12; Navy 42–3
- Fourth quarter
- (12:30) ECU TD – Holton Ahlers 2-yard rush, Jake Verity kick
Drive: 8 plays, 50 yards, 2:46; Navy 42–10
|
- Top passers
- ECU – Holton Ahlers: 11/23, 138 yards, 1 INT
- NAVY – Malcolm Perry: 5/7, 151 yards, 2 TD
- Top rushers
- ECU – Holton Ahlers: 9 carries, 36 yards, 1 TD
- NAVY – Malcolm Perry: 24 carries, 156 yards, 4 TD
- Top receivers
- ECU – Tyler Snead: 3 receptions, 54 yards
- NAVY – C.J. Williams: 3 receptions, 117 yards, 2 TD
|
|
William & Mary
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
|
|
At Old Dominion
East Carolina at Old Dominion – Game summary
Quarter |
|
|
| | Total |
Pirates |
10 |
7 |
0 | 7 | 24 |
Monarchs |
3 |
0 |
10 | 8 | 21 |
at S.B. Ballard Stadium, Norfolk, VA
- Date: September 28
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 18,643
- TV: ESPN+
- [7]
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
|
|
Temple
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
|
|
At UCF
East Carolina at UCF – Game summary
Quarter |
|
|
| | Total |
Pirates |
0 |
6 |
16 | 6 | 28 |
Knights |
21 |
14 |
6 | 0 | 41 |
at Spectrum Stadium, Orlando, FL
- Date: October 19
- Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
- Game attendance: 42,906
- TV: CBSSN
- [9]
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
|
|
South Florida
South Florida at East Carolina – Game summary
Quarter |
|
|
| | Total |
Bulls |
14 |
21 |
3 | 7 | 45 |
Pirates |
7 |
3 |
0 | 10 | 20 |
at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, NC
- Date: October 26
- Game time: 3:45 p.m.
- Game attendance: 33,088
- TV: ESPNU
- [10]
Game information
|
- First quarter
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- Fourth quarter
|
- Top passers
- Top rushers
- Top receivers
|
|
No. 17 Cincinnati
Cincinnati at East Carolina – Game summary
Quarter |
|
|
| | Total |
No. 17 Bearcats |
21 |
0 |
7 | 18 | 46 |
Pirates |
14 |
17 |
9 | 3 | 43 |
at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, NC
- Date: November 2
- Game time: 7:08 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Clear, 54 °F (12 °C)
- Game attendance: 32,273
- Referee: Edwin Lee
- TV: CBSSN
- [11]
Game information
|
- First quarter
- (9:20) CIN – Michael Warren II 1-yard run, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 5 plays, 50 yards, 2:07; Cincinnati 7–0)
- (9:09) ECU – C. J. Johnson 75-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:11; Tied 7–7)
- (8:19) CIN – Gerrid Doaks 2-yard run, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 0:50; Cincinnati 14–7)
- (3:22) ECU – Holton Ahlers 6-yard run, Jake Verity kick (Drive: 14 plays, 75 yards, 4:57; Tied 14–14)
- (0:19) CIN – Michael Warren II 1-yard run, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:03; Cincinnati 21–14)
- Second quarter
- (5:57) ECU – Zech Byrd 3-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:42; Tied 21–21)
- (3:10) ECU – Jsi Hatfield 3-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick (Drive: 7 plays, 71 yards, 1:56; East Carolina 28–21)
- (0:01) ECU – Jake Verity 27-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 38 yards, 0:22; East Carolina 31–21)
- Third quarter
- (10:45) CIN – Michael Warren II 3-yard run, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:15; East Carolina 31–28)
- (4:20) ECU – Jake Verity 20-yard field goal (Drive: 15 plays, 80 yards, 6:25; East Carolina 34–28)
- (0:14) ECU – Tyler Snead 9-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Holton Ahlers pass failed (Drive: 7 plays, 81 yards, 2:32; East Carolina 40–28)
- Fourth quarter
- (8:37) CIN – Josiah Deguara 3-yard pass from Desmond Ridder, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 6:37; East Carolina 40–35)
- (4:38) CIN – Sauce Gardner 62-yard interception, Josiah Deguara pass (Cincinnati 43–40)
- (1:10) ECU – Jake Verity 27-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 3:28; Tied 43–43)
- (0:00) CIN – Sam Crosa 32-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 50 yards, 1:10; Cincinnati 46–43)
|
- Top passers
- CIN - Desmond Ridder – 12/24, 161 yards, TD, 2 INT
- ECU - Holton Ahlers – 32/52, 535 yards, 4 TD, INT
- Top rushers
- CIN - Desmond Ridder – 12 carries, 146 yards
- ECU - Trace Christian – 9 carries, 44 yards
- Top receivers
|
|
At SMU
East Carolina at SMU – Game summary
Quarter |
|
|
| | Total |
Pirates |
7 |
13 |
17 | 14 | 51 |
No. 23 Mustangs |
14 |
14 |
17 | 14 | 59 |
at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, University Park, TX
- Date: November 9
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Sunny, 57 °F (14 °C)
- Game attendance: 29,528
- Referee: Henry Johns
- TV: ESPNU
- [12]
Game information
|
- First quarter
- (12:44) SMU TD – Kylen Granson 22-yard pass from Shane Buechele, Kevin Robledo kick
Southern Methodist 7–0; Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:16
- (07:20) ECU TD – Jsi Hatfield 68-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick
Tied 7–7; Drive: 3 plays, 70 yards, 0:42
- (03:51) SMU TD – Kylen Granson 4-yard pass from Shane Buechele, Kevin Robledo kick
Southern Methodist 14–7; Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:29
- Second quarter
- (11:06) ECU FG – Jake Verity 38-yard field goal
Southern Methodist 14–10; Drive: 9 plays, 34 yards, 3:39
- (07:28) SMU TD – Xavier Jones 3-yard rush, Kevin Robledo kick
Southern Methodist 21–10; Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 3:38
- (04:45) SMU TD – James Proche 51-yard pass from Shane Buechele, Kevin Robledo kick
Southern Methodist 28–10; Drive: 3 plays, 66 yards, 1:02
- (02:04) ECU TD – Tyler Snead 36-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick
Southern Methodist 28–17; Drive: 6 plays, 73 yards, 2:37
- (00:00) SMU FG – Jake Verity 37-yard field goal
Southern Methodist 28–20; Drive: 7 plays, 60 yards, 1:00
- Third quarter
- (13:53) ECU TD – Zech Byrd 45-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick
Southern Methodist 28–27; Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:07
- (12:01) SMU TD – Xavier Jones 35-yard rush, Kevin Robledo kick
Southern Methodist 35–27; Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 1:52
- (08:06) ECU TD – Tyler Snead 47-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick
Southern Methodist 35–34; Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:55
- (05:34) SMU FG – Kevin Robledo 23-yard field goal
Southern Methodist 38–34; Drive: 7 plays, 47 yards, 2:22
- (01:56) ECU FG – Jake Verity 41-yard field goal
Southern Methodist 38–37; Drive: 10 plays, 51 yards, 3:38
- (00:19) SMU TD – Xavier Jones 64-yard rush, Kevin Robledo kick
Southern Methodist 45–37; Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:29
- Fourth quarter
- (10:58) ECU TD – Tyler Snead 57-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick
Southern Methodist 45–44; Drive: 10 plays, 97 yards, 4:20
- (07:25) SMU TD – Kylen Granson 31-yard pass from Shane Buechele, Kevin Robledo kick
Southern Methodist 52–44; Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:40
- (04:18) SMU TD – James Proche 3-yard pass from Shane Buechele, Kevin Robledo kick
Southern Methodist 59–44; Drive: 6 plays, 22 yards, 3:00
- (01:55) ECU TD – Audie Omotosho 22-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick
Southern Methodist 59–51; Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards, 2:16
|
- Top passers
- ECU – Holton Ahlers – 32/42, 498 yards, 6 TD
- SMU – Shane Buechele – 33/46, 414 yards, 5 TD, INT
- Top rushers
- ECU – Tay Williams – 14 carries, 61 yards
- SMU – Xavier Jones – 20 carries, 157 yards, 3 TD
- Top receivers
- ECU – Tyler Snead – 19 receptions, 240 yards, 3 TD
- SMU – James Proche – 14 receptions, 167 yards, 2 TD
|
|
At UConn
East Carolina at Connecticut – Game summary
Quarter |
|
|
| | Total |
Pirates |
10 |
7 |
7 | 7 | 31 |
Huskies |
7 |
0 |
7 | 10 | 24 |
at Rentschler Field, Hartford, CT
- Date: November 23
- Game time: 12:00 p.m.
- Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C) • Wind: 9 W • Weather: Gorgeous Fall Day
- Game attendance: 12,084
- Referee: Edwin Lee
- TV announcers (ESPN3): Robert Lee (play-by-play) & Matt Chatham (color analyst)
- [13]
Game information
|
- First quarter
- UCONN • 13:07 • Cameron Ross 40 yd pass from Jack Zergiotis (Clayton Harris kick) • UCONN 7–0
- ECU • 05:57 • Jake Verity 26 yd field goal • UCONN 7–3
- ECU • 01:11 • Darius Pinnix 3 yd run (Jake Verity kick) • ECU 10–7
- Second quarter
- ECU • 01:49 • Zech Byrd 17 yd pass from Holton Ahlers (Jake Verity kick) • ECU 17–7
- Third quarter
- UCONN • 13:09 • Jay Rose 20 yd pass from Jack Zergiotis (Clayton Harris kick) • ECU 17–14
- ECU • 10:31 • Darius Pinnix 1 yd run (Jake Verity kick) • ECU 24–14
- Fourth quarter
- UCONN • 14:33 • Clayton Harris 27 yd field goal • ECU 24–17
- UCONN • 09:28 • Cameron Ross 94 yd pass from Jack Zergiotis (Clayton Harris kick) • TIED 24–24
- ECU • 03:28 • Holton Ahlers 2 yd run (Jake Verity kick) • ECU 31–24
|
- Top passers
- ECU - Holton Ahlers – 34/50, 374 yards, TD
- UCONN - Jack Zergiotis – 21/37, 418 yards, 3 TD
- Top rushers
- ECU - Darius Pinnix – 27 attempts, 105 yards, 2 TD
- UCONN - Kevin Mensah – 20 attempts, 75 yards
- Top receivers
- ECU - Tyler Snead – 16 receptions, 126 yards
- UCONN - Cameron Ross – 8 receptions, 169 yards, 2 TD
|
|
Tulsa
Tulsa at East Carolina – Game summary
Quarter |
|
|
| | Total |
Golden Hurricane |
7 |
14 |
14 | 14 | 49 |
Pirates |
3 |
0 |
7 | 14 | 24 |
at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, NC
- Date: November 30
- Game time: 12:02 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Cloudy with Drizzle, 48 °F (9 °C), Calm
- Game attendance: 27,978
- Referee: A. Calabrese
- TV: ESPNU
- [14]
Game information
|
- First quarter
- (1:42) ECU – Jake Verity 51-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 52 yards, 3:20; East Carolina 3–0)
- (1:06) TUL – Sam Crawford Jr. 66-yard pass from Zach Smith, Jacob Rainey kick (Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:36; Tulsa 7–3)
- Second quarter
- (12:09) TUL – Keylon Stokes 29-yard pass from Zach Smith, Jacob Rainey kick (Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 1:52; Tulsa 14–3)
- (4:45) TUL – Keenen Johnson 4-yard pass from Zach Smith, Jacob Rainey kick (Drive: 10 plays, 92 yards, 5:50; Tulsa 21–3)
- Third quarter
- (11:40) TUL – T. K. Wilerson 10-yard run, Jacob Rainey kick (Drive: 4 plays, 21 yards, 0:34; Tulsa 28–3)
- (6:55) ECU – Blake Proehl 3-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick (Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 4:45; Tulsa 28–10)
- (4:10) TUL – Shamari Brooks 2-yard pass from Zach Smith, Jacob Rainey kick (Drive: 7 plays, 58 yards, 2:45; Tulsa 35–10)
- Fourth quarter
- (14:31) TUL – Corey Taylor II 12-yard run, Jacob Rainey kick (Drive: 4 plays, 82 yards, 0:50; Tulsa 42–10)
- (11:17) ECU – C. J. Johnson 35-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick (Drive: 9 plays, 78 yards, 3:14; Tulsa 42–17)
- (6:36) TUL – Ethan Hall 39-yard pass from Zach Smith, Danny Donley kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:41; Tulsa 49–17)
- (2:36) ECU – Blake Proehl 34-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick (Drive: 3 plays, 37 yards, 1:11; Tulsa 49–24)
|
- Top passers
- TUL - Zach Smith – 21/30, 331 yards, 5 TD, INT
- ECU - Holton Ahlers – 27/48, 308 yards, 3 TD
- Top rushers
- TUL - Shamari Brooks – 16 carries, 202 yards
- ECU - Holton Ahlers – 6 carries, 35 yards
- Top receivers
- TUL - Sam Crawford Jr. – 5 receptions, 93 yards, TD
- ECU - C. J. Johnson – 6 receptions, 141 yards, TD
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References
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