ECU turns on burners in second half, handles Rice 28-12
ECU wins its third in a row, ending its American opener on a 21-3 run.
In a pivotal conference opener, East Carolina's East Carolina Pirates turned on their offensive engines in the second half to secure a 28-12 victory over FCS opponent Rice. Coach Blake Harrell's team struggled to move the ball during the season's opening three weeks after losing every starter from 2024, and their coordinator as well.
However, a change at quarterback proved decisive. Emory Williams replaced the former starter and led the Pirates to their best offensive performance against an FBS opponent this year. Williams threw for 143 yards and two touchdowns, while running back TJ Engleman Jr. rushed for a career-high 136 yards and a score, his second straight game surpassing 120 yards.
The Pirates capitalized on their special teams, beginning the contest on a 97-yard drive that stretched the length of the field. Despite a late first quarter and entire second quarter dominated by Rice, who pulled to within nine points on a 23-yard touchdown run, the Pirates stormed ahead in the early fourth quarter, with Engleman scoring first and Williams sealing the deal with another rushing touchdown.
Rice's defense, which had shut out UTSA earlier in the week, struggled against East Carolina's relentless pressure. With their loss, Rice fell to 1-5 on the season, while East Carolina climbed to 3-2. This victory marked the Pirates' third straight win and kept them on track for an 11-3 conference record.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
