GREENVILLE – On an unseasonably warm September afternoon in eastern North Carolina, the East Carolina Pirates and UTSA Roadrunners clashed in a high-stakes American Athletic Conference opener. With the mercury hitting 85 degrees and a gentle southwest breeze, 41,851 fans packed Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, eager to see which team would emerge victorious in this early-season showdown.
The game began with UTSA's defense flexing its muscles, forcing a quick three-and-out from ECU's offense. However, the tide turned rapidly when UTSA's running back Robert Henry fumbled on their first possession, giving ECU prime field position. The Pirates capitalized with a short field goal, drawing first blood.
UTSA's offense, led by quarterback Owen McCown, responded swiftly. A 66-yard bomb to Willie McCoy set up a game-tying field goal, knotting the score at 3-3. The first quarter continued its back-and-forth nature, with UTSA striking next. McCown orchestrated an impressive 80-yard drive, capped off by a 5-yard touchdown pass to tight end Oscar Cardenas, giving the Roadrunners a 10-3 lead.
As the second quarter unfolded, both defenses tightened their grip. UTSA's Martavius French and Jamal Ligon wreaked havoc in the ECU backfield, while ECU's Michael Edwards III disrupted the Roadrunners' passing game with timely pass breakups. The Pirates' offense struggled to find rhythm, but their special teams came through with a clutch field goal, narrowing the gap to 13-10 just before halftime.
The third quarter saw a dramatic shift in momentum. ECU's quarterback Jake Garcia, who had been stifled for much of the first half, suddenly found his groove. He connected with Winston Wright Jr. on a 40-yard touchdown strike, giving ECU its first lead of the game at 17-13. The Pirates' defense, energized by the offensive explosion, forced a quick three-and-out.
Garcia wasn't done yet. Later in the quarter, he uncorked a 53-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Smith, extending ECU's lead to 24-13. The home crowd erupted, sensing a potential upset in the making.
A resilient UTSA squad refused to go quietly. Early in the fourth quarter, running back Brandon High broke free for a scintillating 66-yard touchdown run, breathing new life into the Roadrunners and cutting the deficit to 27-20.
The game's final minutes were a test of nerves for both teams. UTSA's defense, led by Zah Frazier's two interceptions, gave the Roadrunners multiple chances to equalize. However, ECU's defense rose to the occasion each time, with Omar Rogers and Andrew Wilson-Lamp each snagging crucial interceptions of their own.
In the end, ECU's Noah Perez sealed the victory with a 24-yard field goal in the waning seconds, securing a hard-fought 30-20 win for the Pirates. The victory marked ECU's first conference opener win since 2021 and sent Greenville into party mode.
Despite the loss, UTSA showed flashes of brilliance. McCown finished with 251 passing yards and a touchdown, while High's 92 rushing yards on just seven carries hinted at his explosive potential. For ECU, Garcia overcame a slow start to throw for 294 yards and two touchdowns, with Chase Sowell leading the receiving corps with 67 yards on four catches.
The game was a defensive showcase as well, with both teams forcing multiple turnovers. ECU's Michael Edwards III was a standout, recording nine tackles, including 1.5 for loss, and two pass breakups. UTSA's Martavius French matched that intensity with eight tackles and a tackle for loss.
Next Week
Both teams are on the road next week as UTSA travels to Houston to take on Rice while East Carolina makes it first ever appearance at Charlotte’s Jerry Richardson Stadium in an Old North State clash.
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