GREENVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – No win is easy in college football, and East Carolina’s sixth of the season was certainly no exception. The Pirates pulled the game back 38-31 thanks to back-to-back touchdowns from Rahjai Harris in the 4th quarter (plus 2-point conversion) and a late-minute goal-line stop by the defense.

The win moves them to 6-4, which guarantees their spot in a bowl game, and makes interim head coach Blake Harrell 3-0 since taking over. This was also his first road win as the Pirates are now 2-3 away from Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Their last bowl game was the 2022 Birmingham Bowl where they defeated Coastal Carolina in 53

The Pirates trailed by seven early in the fourth quarter after true freshman Joseph Williams of Tulsa hauled in his third touchdown reception from Cooper Legas. At that point, Harris took over, which came out of nowhere after receiving zero handoffs in the first half.

Behind center, Katin Houser struggled with turnovers, throwing three interceptions and a touchdown on a 24-37 night for 314 yards. He also lost one of his receivers, Chase Sowell, to a hamstring injury in the second half from which he did not return.

Looking back at last year, ECU lost to Tulsa 29-27 in a heartbreaker, a loss many players remember.

Next up, the Pirates will travel back to the Central Time Zone after an extended rest period to play North Texas (5-4) on Saturday at 3:30 PM.

Copyright 2024 WHITE. All rights reserved.