Tag: East Carolina

East Carolina turns five Pitt miscues into Military Bowl triumph

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Anthony Smith caught two long touchdown passes, Nick Mazzie kicked three field goals and East Carolina took advantage of five Pitt turnovers to win the Military Bowl, 23-17, on Saturday in Annapolis, Md.

Chaston Ditta, making his first start at quarterback, threw for two touchdowns among his eight completions. He accounted for 177 passing yards as the Pirates (9-4) won the Military Bowl against an Atlantic Coast Conference team for the second year in a row.

Mason Heintschel was 25-for-40 for 256 yards, one touchdown and one interception for Pitt (8-5), which lost three of its final four games. Rahseem Biles racked up 16 tackles, including five for losses, and turned one of his sacks into a fumble and touchdown.

East Carolina’s first touchdown came on its first second-half possession when Ditta threw 47 yards to Smith, who got beyond Pitt’s coverage on the left side. That gave the Pirates a 10-7 lead.

There was a huge shift in momentum later in the third quarter. East Carolina’s Marlon Gunn Jr. ripped off what appeared to be a 68-yard touchdown run on fourth down, but it was reduced to a 14-yard gain because of an inadvertent whistle just as he broke free. Two plays later, Biles hit Ditta and forced a fumble that he scooped up for a 23-yard touchdown return and a 14-10 lead.

It took just two snaps for East Carolina to regain the lead as Ditta hit Smith cutting across the middle and the receiver turned it into a 72-yard scoring play. Smith finished with four catches for 156 yards.

The Pirates got the ball back on a Pitt fumble and turned it into Mazzie’s 33-yard field goal in the opening minute of the fourth quarter for a 20-14 edge.

Pitt drove to the East Carolina 20, but Kevon Merrell’s interception and 70-yard return put the Pirates in position for Mazzie’s third field goal — a 28-yarder.

Pitt reached the East Carolina 2 before opting for Trey Butkowski’s 21-yard field goal with 1:23 remaining, but the Pirates recovered the onside kick. Following a punt, Pitt got the ball back with 57 seconds left and no timeouts.

East Carolina had the upper hand throughout the first half until Pitt went ahead with four seconds to play on Heintschel’s 22-yard pass to Raphael Williams Jr. That capped a 10-play, 77-yard drive to give Pitt a 7-3 halftime lead.

East Carolina threatened first, but Mazzie missed on a field goal from 51 yards out. He was good from 42 yards in the second quarter.

Quarterback Katin Houser, who threw for 3,300 yards while serving as East Carolina’s starter all season, missed the game with the intention to enter the transfer portal.

–Field Level Media

Departures may hurt East Carolina facing Pitt in Military Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Pitt missed out on bigger things late in the regular season, but the Panthers still can capture a nice finishing prize.

Pitt takes on East Carolina in the Military Bowl on Saturday at Annapolis, Md.

The roster for East Carolina (8-4) looks ravaged by departures, but that can’t be a concern for the Panthers.

“It really doesn’t matter. They are football players and they all got hearts,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. “It comes down to who plays with more toughness and who wants it the most.”

Pitt (8-4) entertained major bowl or College Football Playoff aspirations until the last week of the regular season, when it lost to Miami a week after winning at nationally ranked Georgia Tech. The Panthers also had a November loss to Notre Dame.

A bowl victory would put Pitt at nine or more victories for the third time in five seasons.

“It’s a celebration and it’s an opportunity to go out and play one more football game with your football team,” Narduzzi said. “This is the last time this ‘25 team will play together. Again, tradition, we try to uphold that tradition all the time.”

The depth chart is largely intact for Pitt other than linebacker Kyle Louis and running back Desmond Reid preparing for the NFL Draft.

The Panthers will look for quarterback Mason Heintschel to continue his strong production. Heintschel, who became a midseason starter with notable successes, has thrown for 15 touchdowns and rushed for two TDs.

It’s not so simple for East Carolina. The Pirates will be without quarterback Katin Houser, who’s intending to enter the transfer portal. He threw for 19 touchdowns and more than 3,000 yards during the regular season.

East Carolina coach Blake Harrell said he hopes his team’s personnel changes at least make Pitt uneasy in preparations.

“Let’s go let it rip, go have fun with it,” Harrell said. “… I’m sure that’s what Pitt’s doing right now, making some preparations for what they think might be coming.”

The Pirates will be without receivers Yannick Smith and Jayvontay Conner, who combined for more than 900 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Both entered the transfer portal.

This is further complicated by the departure of offensive coordinator John David Baker.

This puts Mike Wright (formerly of Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and Northwestern) and/or Chaston Ditta in the quarterback role for East Carolina.

“Somebody has to stand back there and take some snaps,” Harrell said. “Thankfully, we’ve had some guys do that this year. Chaston Ditta has taken some snaps back there. Mike Wright has taken some snaps back there.”

Then this week, word came that running back London Montgomery, who led East Carolina with 742 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, is skipping the bowl in advance of exiting the program.

East Carolina is trying to win the Military Bowl for the second year in a row against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent after defeating North Carolina State last December. Harrell was finishing his first partial season as head coach in that postseason game.

It’s easy this time for the Pirates to be in the underdog role.

“We’ve got 30 seniors playing their last college football game with each other and for the Pirates,” Harrell said.

Defensive coordinator Josh Aldrich also left East Carolina, heading to South Florida. Defensive line coach Roy Tesh will oversee the defense, though Harrell will return to a role as defensive play caller.

Pitt is 2-5 under Narduzzi in bowls. His first bowl with the Panthers was in the Military Bowl 10 years ago in a loss to Navy.

–Field Level Media

Sep 20, 2025; Greenville, North Carolina, USA; Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) runs for a touchdown against the East Carolina Pirates during the second half at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

Bear Bachmeier helps BYU cruise past East Carolina

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Bear Bachmeier threw for 246 yards and accounted for two touchdowns while LJ Martin ran for 101 yards and a TD as BYU triumphed over East Carolina 34-13 in Greenville, NC, to remain undefeated.

BYU (3-0) built a 13-3 halftime lead on a pair of Will Ferrin field goals (40, 23) and an Evan Johnson 4-yard interception return for a touchdown in the final minute of the first half.

The BYU offense found better footing in the second half with three touchdowns, the first on Bachmeier’s 20-yard connection with Carsen Ryan to put the Cougars up 20-3 with 6:33 left in the third.

Despite nearly matching BYU in total yards (418-404), East Carolina (2-2) could not find the end zone until Katin Houser’s 2-yard scoring run capped off a 12-play, 97-yard drive with 8:11 left to play.

That drew the Pirates within 27-13. But it came sandwiched between two BYU touchdowns, a Bachmeier 16-yard run and a Martin 41-yard run, to account for the final 34-13 margin.

Houser passed for 285 yards but was intercepted twice. Yannick Smith grabbed nine receptions for 146 yards in defeat. Nick Mazzie kicked field goals of 36 and 25 yards.

–Field Level Media

Aug 28, 2025; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren looks on during the warmups prior to the game against East Carolina Pirates at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

NC State holds strong, dispatches East Carolina to open season

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CJ Bailey ran and threw for first-half touchdowns, but North Carolina State needed a late defensive stand to secure a 24-17 victory against visiting East Carolina in Thursday night’s season opener at Raleigh, N.C.

Hollywood Smothers rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries as the Wolfpack avenged last December’s Military Bowl loss that included a late-game brawl.

Bailey was 24-for-34 for 318 yards with an interception and picked up another 21 yards on the ground. Wesley Grimes compiled 121 receiving yards on four catches with a touchdown.

East Carolina quarterback Katin Houser went 30-for-44 for 366 yards and a touchdown. NC State held the Pirates to just 30 rushing yards.

Even though East Carolina scored the game’s final 10 points, Houser’s pass on fourth-and-1 inside the NC State 10-yard line in the final minute resulted in a loss of yardage, clinching the outcome.

The Wolfpack led 17-7 halftime with a 252-132 advantage in total yards. They scored first in the second half on Smothers’ 2-yard run, completing a 10-play, 80-yard march.

East Carolina responded by going 72 yards, with Marlon Gunn Jr.’s 4-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. Then the Pirates trimmed the deficit to 24-17 on Nick Mazzie’s 34-yard field goal at the 8:32 mark.

East Carolina’s final drive chewed up more than five minutes but the Pirates couldn’t convert at the end.

Earlier, NC State’s first drive of the game consumed 15 plays and covered 64 yards, resulting in Nick Koniecznski’s 29-yard field goal.

On the next drive, Bailey ran 11 yards for the season’s first touchdown. Bailey threw 48 yards to Grimes, with the Wolfpack going up 17-0 less than four minutes into the second quarter.

Meanwhile, East Carolina began with 3-and-outs on its first four possessions. But the Pirates struck on Houser’s 79-yard touchdown pass to Jayvontay Conner with 2:21 left in the first half.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2024; Annapolis, MD, USA; East Carolina Pirates quarterback Katin Houser (4) rushe during the second half of the Go Bowling Military Bowl against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

East Carolina, NC State to renew heated in-state rivalry

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A matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State needs no extra hype.

But there’s additional fuel for this Thursday night clash in Raleigh, N.C., after the teams ended the 2024 season with a heated bowl game.

East Carolina beat the Wolfpack 26-21 in the Military Bowl, which included a late-game, on-field brawl between the teams at Annapolis, Md. Now the teams are back on home-state soil.

NC State coach Dave Doeren said he was embarrassed by his team’s behavior, but also disturbed by how the Wolfpack played that day.

“They’ve got a lot of good parts coming back,” Doeren said of the Pirates, who finished 8-5 last year.

East Carolina receiver Yannick Smith, who was one of the participants in the fight, remains on the Pirates’ roster. He made three touchdown catches last year.

Transfer quarterback Katin Houser is in his second season with the Pirates after starting in seven games last year, throwing for 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Coach Blake Harrell said there should be notable differences in Houser this season.

“Across the last eight months, he has taken a lot of ownership and leadership,” Harrell said. “Make sure he’s not just playing the quarterback position, but being a leader for our football team.”

The Pirates were 5-2 with Houser starting. He rushed for a career-high 84 yards vs. NC State.

Last year’s bowl game left NC State with a 6-7 record. The Wolfpack are bound to have some different looks with new coordinators on both sides of the ball.

“Making sure you’re prepared for anything someone can throw at you,” Harrell said of preparation for a bit of the unknown.

NC State has CJ Bailey beginning the season as the starting quarterback after he was pressed into extended duty a year ago as a true freshman.

“With CJ, you can see his maturity and experience,” Doeren said. “He’s playing football and leading now.”

Bailey said the Wolfpack can change the narrative following last year’s conclusion.

“I can’t wait to step out with my guys to see what we’re really made of,” Bailey said.

Otherwise, there won’t be lots revealed by the Wolfpack prior to the teams taking the field.

“I’m not going to give you any intel,” Doeren said of the depth chart. “Obviously that doesn’t help our team to help you with that information. But we have really good competition right now, on both sides of the football.”

NC State is 19-14 all-time against East Carolina.

–Field Level Media

New Hartford's Jake Garcia runs the ball at Don Edick Field in New Hartford, NY on Friday, November 8, 2024.

Michigan adds veteran QB Jake Garcia from East Carolina

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The Michigan football program added a depth piece to its quarterback room on Monday, according to multiple reports.

Veteran Jake Garcia committed to the Wolverines after spending the 2024 season, and playing in six games, with East Carolina. Garcia visited Ann Arbor earlier this month amid speculation that Michigan was looking to add another option behind center.

The 6-foot-3 pivot completed 109 of 181 passes (60.2%) for the Pirates last season, throwing for 1,426 yards with eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He rushed for 46 yards on 40 attempts (1.2 yards per carry) and added two scores on the ground.

After opening the season with a four-touchdown performance for ECU, Garcia thew just four touchdowns with nine picks over the next five games before losing the starting job to Katin Houser. The Pirates were 3-3 at the time of the QB change.

Prior to joining East Carolina, the Whittier, Calif., native spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons with Miami. In nine games with the Hurricanes, Garcia threw for 950 yards and seven TDs with four interceptions on 79-of-129 passing (61.2%).

The Wolverines have several players at quarterback, but no healthy options with Garcia’s experience.

In addition to former No. 1 overall prospect Bryce Underwood — a true freshman — and redshirt freshman Jadyn Davis, Michigan has Davis Warren, recovering from a torn ACL, and Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene, dealing with a shoulder injury.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Greenville, North Carolina, USA; East Carolina Pirates quarterback Jake Garcia (11) throws the ball against the Appalachian State Mountaineers during the first half at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

Report: Michigan hosts ECU transfer QB Jake Garcia

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Michigan hosted former East Carolina quarterback Jake Garcia this week, CBS Sports reported on Friday.

Garcia entered the transfer portal this spring and is looking for a fourth program to play his fifth and final season.

He passed for 1,426 yards with eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions in six games in his lone season with the Pirates in 2024.

Garcia began his career at Miami, passing for 950 yards with seven TDs and four picks in nine games from 2021-22.

The 6-foot-3, 203-pound Garcia transferred to Missouri but did not see any action there during the 2023 season.

The QB competition at Michigan includes five-star freshman Bryce Underwood, Fresno State transfer Mikey Keene and redshirt freshman Jadyn Davis.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2024; Annapolis, MD, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack wide receiver Wesley Grimes (6) is hit by East Carolina Pirates linebacker Dameon Wilson (23) and Pirates defensive back Gavin Gibson (5) during the first half of the Go Bowling Military Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

86-yard run carries East Carolina past NC State in Military Bowl

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East Carolina’s Rahjai Harris broke off a dazzling 86-yard touchdown in the final two minutes of a record-setting night, and the Pirates snapped a three-game losing streak to the North Carolina State Wolfpack with a 26-21 win in the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Md, on Saturday.

With East Carolina trailing 21-20, Harris zipped around the left end, cut back and outran the Wolfpack secondary at 1:33 to give the Pirates (8-5) their fifth win in six games.

The Pirates’ Dontavius Nash intercepted a deflected pass by quarterback CJ Bailey as the Wolfpack (6-7) attempted a rally past midfield. A short brawl broke out between the teams with 38 seconds left.

Harris, a senior, set his career high and a Military Bowl record with 220 rushing yards on 17 carries.

Quarterback Katin Houser went 18-of-29 passing for 147 yards and two interceptions. He rushed for 84 yards on 13 attempts with two touchdowns.

Bailey completed 19 of 26 passes for 230 yards with three scores and an interception, while Hollywood Smothers rushed for 139 yards on 15 carries.

Tamarcus Cooley recorded two interceptions for the Wolfpack, who lost for the third time in four games.

On third-and-6 later ECU’s opening series after stopping NC State on a fourth-and-1 at the Pirates’ 24, Houser called his own number and rumbled in untouched from 19 yards to cap a 75-yard drive for a 7-0 lead with 4:43 remaining in the first quarter.

Smothers’ 44-yard run put NC State in position for its first points, but Kanoah Vinesett pulled a 34-yard field goal wide left at 13:34 of the second.

East Carolina kicker Noah Perez answered on the next possession by drilling a 24-yard field goal with 7:17 to go for a 10-0 advantage.

The Wolfpack finally capitalized with their best drive of the half by going 78 yards in 11 plays. Bailey ended it with a pass of 8 yards to Dacari Collins with 1:58 left, but Perez booted a 42-yarder with six seconds left for a 13-7 halftime lead.

In the third, Houser kept the Pirates a perfect 4-for-4 in scoring on their possessions by dashing in from 4 yards at 9:17 for a 20-7 lead while the defense continued to hassle Bailey.

However, Bailey fired two scoring passes early in the fourth quarter, striking from 15 yards to Justin Joly on fourth-and-2, and then using a trick play to hit Smothers for a 33-yard score to take the one-point lead at the 9:49 mark.

–Field Level Media

Oct 19, 2024; West Point, New York, USA; Army Black Knights safety Max DiDomenico (6) attempts a tackle on East Carolina Pirates wide receiver Anthony Smith (17) during the second half at Michie Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Lucas Boland-Imagn Images

In-state rivals NC State, East Carolina meet in Military Bowl

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East Carolina turned its season around following an October coaching change. The Pirates became bowl-eligible, and their reward was a game against an in-state rival.

North Carolina State will meet East Carolina and new coach Blake Harrell in the Military Bowl on Saturday in Annapolis, Md.

Harrell, the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach, became the Pirates’ interim head coach on Oct. 20 when the program fired Mike Houston following a 3-4 start to his sixth year in charge.

East Carolina (7-5) proceeded to win four straight games under Harrell, who had the proverbial interim tag removed before the regular season came to a close.

The Pirates were invited to the 2021 Military Bowl but saw the game canceled when their opponent, Boston College, had to withdraw for issues related to COVID-19.

“We have 12 players on our current roster that were up there last time,” Harrell told WNCT in Greenville, N.C. “We made all those preparations, didn’t quite get to play in a game, but we’re looking forward to playing this time.”

There’s double the reason to look forward to a bowl game against a nearby rival. NC State owns a 19-13 edge in the all-time series and has won the past three meetings, though East Carolina made it hard in the 2022 season opener before the Wolfpack prevailed 21-20.

The only previous time the programs met outside the state of North Carolina was at the Peach Bowl following the 1991 season. East Carolina won, 37-34.

The Wolfpack (6-6) became bowl-eligible when they defeated another rival, North Carolina, 35-30 on the final day of the regular season. NC State trailed by a touchdown entering the fourth quarter, but quarterback C.J. Bailey led the offense to three touchdowns and a field goal as the Wolfpack turned the tables.

Bailey passed for 2,183 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions in the regular season after original starting signal-caller Grayson McCall sustained a season-ending concussion and eventually announced his retirement from football.

Bailey won’t have standout receiver KC Concepcion (53 receptions, 460 yards, six TDs), who entered the transfer portal, but most of the NC State roster is primed to play.

“We look forward to playing them,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said earlier this month. “It’s a game that goes a long way back. We don’t get to play each other very often. It’s been a while.

“I don’t know how many of our players, the way rosters change anymore, are going to remember the last time we played. They’re excited to go to a bowl game.”

NC State hasn’t won a bowl game since the 2017 season, losing in four trips since then. Meanwhile, this is East Carolina’s second bowl trip in the past decade. The Pirates won in their other appearance, the 2022 Birmingham Bowl.

Katin Houser has been in charge of the ECU offense since replacing Jake Garcia under center. He’s thrown for 1,859 yards, 18 touchdowns and nine picks. He’ll be missing wide receiver and portal entrant Chase Sowell (34 receptions, 678 yards, three TDs), but still has leading receiver Anthony Smith (767 yards, six TDs on 38 catches).

Smith had a breakout season after transferring from NC State to East Carolina. He gets to wrap up the year by facing his former team.

“It’s a fresh start, and sometimes that’s all we need as individuals to kind of spark us and get us going,” Harrell said, per the Raleigh News & Observer. “Anthony has certainly done that.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 2, 2021; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; East Carolina Pirates helmet during the first quarter against the Appalachian State Mountaineers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

ECU CB Shavon Revel Jr. declares for NFL draft

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East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel Jr., a potential first-round pick, declared for the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday.

Revel, who sustained a torn left ACL in practice in September, had one season of eligibility remaining.

“After an incredible journey at East Carolina, I am officially declaring for the 2025 NFL Draft,” the senior posted on social media.

“… Pirates nation, thank you for your unwavering energy and support every game. Representing ECU is an honor, and I look forward to continuing to do so on Sundays!”

Revel recorded two interceptions in three games this season, returning one 50 yards for a touchdown on Sept. 14 against Appalachian State.

Over three seasons with the Pirates, Revel had three interceptions, 15 passes defensed and 70 tackles in 24 games. He was a second-team All-American Athletic Conference selection last season.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranked Revel as the No. 2 cornerback and No. 23 overall prospect in the 2025 draft class.

–Field Level Media