2019 East Carolina Pirates football team

American college football season

2019 East Carolina Pirates football
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
DivisionEast Division
Record4–8 (1–7 The American)
Head coach
  • Mike Houston (1st season)
Offensive coordinatorDonnie Kirkpatrick (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorBob Trott (1st season)
Home stadiumDowdy-Ficklen Stadium
Uniform
Seasons
← 2018
2020 →
2019 American Athletic Conference football standings
  • v
  • t
  • e
 Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
East Division
No. 21 Cincinnati xy   7 – 1     11 – 3  
No. 24 UCF   6 – 2     10 – 3  
Temple   5 – 3     8 – 5  
South Florida   2 – 6     4 – 8  
East Carolina   1 – 7     4 – 8  
UConn   0 – 8     2 – 10  
West Division
No. 17 Memphis xy$   7 – 1     12 – 2  
No. 20 Navy x   7 – 1     11 – 2  
SMU   6 – 2     10 – 3  
Tulane   3 – 5     7 – 6  
Houston   2 – 6     4 – 8  
Tulsa   2 – 6     4 – 8  
Championship: Memphis 29, Cincinnati 24
  • $ – Conference champion
  • x – Division champion/co-champions
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

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

AAC media poll

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

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 3112:00 p.m.at NC State*ACCNL 6–3457,633
September 76:00 p.m.Gardner–Webb*ESPN3W 48–934,118
September 143:30 p.m.at NavyCBSSNL 10–4230,707
September 216:00 p.m.William & Mary*
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPN3W 19–738,004
September 286:00 p.m.at Old Dominion*ESPN+W 24–2118,643
October 38:00 p.m.Temple
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPNL 17–2733,253
October 197:00 p.m.at UCFCBSSNL 28–4142,906
October 263:45 p.m.South Floridadagger
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPNUL 20–4533,088
November 27:00 p.m.No. 17 Cincinnati
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
CBSSNL 43–4632,276
November 912:00 p.m.at No. 25 SMUESPNUL 51–5929,528
November 2312:00 p.m.at UConnESPN3W 31–2412,084
November 3012:00 p.m.Tulsa
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPNUL 24–4927,978
Schedule Source:[2]

Personnel

Coaching staff

Position Name Years at ECU Alma mater
Head coach: Mike Houston 1st Mars Hill '94
Defensive coordinator
Safeties coach:		 Bob Trott 1st UNC '76
Offensive coordinator
Quarterbacks coach:		 Donnie Kirkpatrick 1st Lenoir-Rhyne '82
Special Teams Coordinator: Roy Tesh 1st Greensboro College '04
offensive line coach: Steve Shankweiler 1st Davidson '74
Wide Receivers coach: Drew Dudzik 1st JMU '10
Running backs coach: De'Rail Sims 1st Pikesville '10
Cornerbacks coach: Brandon Lynch 3rd Middle Tennessee '06
Defensive line coach Jeff Hanson 1st Richmond '71
Special Teams Assistant: Fontel Mines 1st Virginia '07

Game summaries

At NC State

East Carolina at North Carolina State – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Pirates 3 0 036
Wolfpack 7 10 71034

at Carter–Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC

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

Gardner–Webb at East Carolina – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Runnin' Bulldogs 0 7 209
Pirates 17 14 71048

at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, NC

  • Date: September 7
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 34,118
  • TV: ESPN3
  • [4]
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • GWU -
  • ECU -
Top rushers
  • GWU -
  • ECU -
Top receivers
  • GWU -
  • ECU -

At Navy

East Carolina at Navy – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Pirates 0 3 0710
Midshipmen 14 14 14042

at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD

  • Date: September 14
  • Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Temperature: 79 °F (26 °C) • Wind: S 10-15 mph • Weather: Overcast
  • Game attendance: 30,707
  • Referee: Charles Lamertina
  • TV announcers (CBSSN): John Sadak (play-by-play), Randy Cross (analyst) & Sheehan Stanwick-Burch (sideline)
  • [5]
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

William & Mary at East Carolina – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Tribe 0 7 007
Pirates 7 3 3619

at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, NC

  • Date: September 21
  • Game time: 6:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 38,004
  • TV: ESPN3
  • [6]
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • W&M -
  • ECU -
Top rushers
  • W&M -
  • ECU -
Top receivers
  • W&M -
  • ECU -

At Old Dominion

East Carolina at Old Dominion – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Pirates 10 7 0724
Monarchs 3 0 10821

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
  • ECU -
  • ODU -
Top rushers
  • ECU -
  • ODU -
Top receivers
  • ECU -
  • ODU -

Temple

Temple at East Carolina – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Owls 0 17 7327
Pirates 7 3 0717

at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, NC

  • Date: October 3
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 33,253
  • TV: ESPN
  • [8]
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • TEMP -
  • ECU -
Top rushers
  • TEMP -
  • ECU -
Top receivers
  • TEMP -
  • ECU -

At UCF

East Carolina at UCF – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Pirates 0 6 16628
Knights 21 14 6041

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
  • ECU -
  • UCF -
Top rushers
  • ECU -
  • UCF -
Top receivers
  • ECU -
  • UCF -

South Florida

South Florida at East Carolina – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bulls 14 21 3745
Pirates 7 3 01020

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
  • USF -
  • ECU -
Top rushers
  • USF -
  • ECU -
Top receivers
  • USF -
  • ECU -

Cincinnati

Cincinnati at East Carolina – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 17 Bearcats 21 0 71846
Pirates 14 17 9343

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
  • CIN - Josiah Deguara – 2 receptions, 76 yards
  • ECU - C. J. Johnson – 12 receptions, 283 yards

At SMU

East Carolina at SMU – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Pirates 7 13 171451
No. 23 Mustangs 14 14 171459

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
Period 1 2 34Total
Pirates 10 7 7731
Huskies 7 0 71024

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
Period 1 2 34Total
Golden Hurricane 7 14 141449
Pirates 3 0 71424

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

References

  1. ^ Page, Fletcher. "Media picks UCF to win AAC, ranks UC second in East Division". Cincinnati.com. Retrieved July 16, 2019.
  2. ^ "ECU releases 2019 football schedule". 247Sports.com. Retrieved February 28, 2019.


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