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2021 East Carolina Pirates football team

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2021 East Carolina Pirates football
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Record7–5 (5–3 The American)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDonnie Kirkpatrick (3rd season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorBlake Harrell (2nd season)
Base defense3–4 or 4–2–5
Home stadiumDowdy–Ficklen Stadium
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 American Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 4 Cincinnati y$^   8 0     13 1  
No. 17 Houston y   8 0     12 2  
UCF   5 3     9 4  
East Carolina   5 3     7 5  
Tulsa   5 3     7 6  
SMU   4 4     8 4  
Memphis   3 5     6 6  
Navy   3 5     4 8  
Tulane   1 7     2 10  
South Florida   1 7     2 10  
Temple   1 7     3 9  
Championship: Cincinnati 35, Houston 20
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

The 2021 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Pirates, led by third-year head coach Mike Houston, play their home games at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium as members of the American Athletic Conference.

After compiling a 7–5 regular season record, the Pirates received a bid to the Military Bowl,[1] where they were due to face the Boston College Eagles. On December 26, the Eagles withdrew from the game, due to COVID-19 issues; the bowl was subsequently canceled.[2]

Preseason

[edit]

American Athletic Conference preseason media poll

[edit]

The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at the virtual media day held August 4, 2021.[3] Cincinnati, who finished the 2020 season ranked No. 8 nationally, was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the 2021 preseason media poll.

Media poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1 Cincinnati 262 (22)
2 UCF 241 (2)
3 SMU 188
4 Houston 181
5 Memphis 168
6 Tulsa 153
7 Tulane 132
т-8 East Carolina 85
т-8 Navy 85
10 Temple 46
11 South Florida 43

Schedule

[edit]
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 27:30 p.m.vs. Appalachian State*ESPNUL 19–3336,752
September 1112:00 p.m.South Carolina*ESPN2L 17–2040,816
September 186:00 p.m.at Marshall*CBSSN FacebookW 42–3824,833
September 256:00 p.m.Charleston Southern*
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPN+W 31–2839,218
October 23:30 p.m.Tulanedagger
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPN+W 52–2933,475
October 96:00 p.m.at UCFESPN+L 16–2041,649
October 239:20 p.m.at HoustonESPNews αL 24–31 OT22,925
October 287:30 p.m.South Florida
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPNW 29–1432,015
November 63:00 p.m.Temple
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPN+W 45–332,817
November 1311:00 a.m.at MemphisESPN+W 30–29 OT28,431
November 203:30 p.m.at NavyCBSSNW 38–3528,001
November 263:30 p.m.No. 4 Cincinnati
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ABCL 13–3538,014
December 272:30 p.m.vs. Boston College*
  • Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
  • Annapolis, MD (Military Bowl)
ESPN Canceled_

[4]

Notes

[edit]
This game was initially scheduled for ESPNU at 4PM ET, but moved to 9:20PM ET on ESPNews because of a rain delay.

Game summaries

[edit]

Vs. Appalachian State

[edit]
Appalachian State vs. East Carolina
1 234Total
Mountaineers 14 676 33
Pirates 6 0310 19
  • Date: September 2, 2021
  • Location: Bank of America Stadium
    Charlotte, NC
  • Game start: 7:33 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutes
  • Game attendance: 36,752
  • Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: S 8 MPH
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Mike Couzens (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst)
      
Pregame line Over/under
APP –9.0 56
Statistics Appalachian State East Carolina
First downs 25 20
Total yards 485 381
Rushing yards 226 86
Passing yards 259 295
Turnovers 1 2
Time of possession 31:55 28:05
Team Category Player Statistics
Appalachian State Passing Chase Brice 20/27, 259 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Nate Noel 15 carries, 126 yards
Receiving Thomas Hennigan 4 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD
East Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 22/40, 295 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Keaton Mitchell 4 carries, 50 yards
Receiving Keaton Mitchell 5 receptions, 79 yards, 1 TD

Vs. South Carolina

[edit]
Game Two – South Carolina Gamecocks (1–0) at East Carolina Pirates (0-1)
Quarter 1 2 34Total
South Carolina 0 7 7620
East Carolina 7 7 0317

at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, North Carolina

Game information
First quarter
  • (14:49) ECU – Jsi Hatfield 75-yard pass from Tyler Snead (Owen Daffer Kick). East Carolina 7-0. Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:11.
Second quarter
  • (11:53) ECU – Holton Ahlers 3-yard run (Owen Daffer Kick). East Carolina 14-0. Drive: 2 plays, 13 yards, 0:45.
  • (1:00) SC – Damani Staley 63-yard interception return (Parker White Kick). East Carolina 14-7.
Third quarter
  • (0:46) SC – Dakereon Joyner 13-yard pass from Zeb Noland (Parker White Kick). Tied 14-14. Drive: 5 plays, 72 yards, 1:14.
Fourth quarter
  • (8:46) ECU – Owen Daffer 26-yard field goal. East Carolina 17-14. Drive: 14 plays, 67 yards, 7:00.
  • (6:46) SC – Parker White 39-yard field goal. Tied 17-17. Drive: 5 plays, 12 yards, 2:00.
  • (0:00) SC – Parker White 36-yard field goal. South Carolina 20-17. Drive: 10 plays, 54 yards, 4:54.
Statistics SC ECU
First downs 15 12
Plays–yards 63–325 63–268
Rushes–yards 100 116
Passing yards 225 152
Passing: compattint 13–24–1 12–25–2
Time of possession 18:57 41:03
Team Category Player Statistics
SC Passing Zeb Noland 13/24, 225 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing JuJu McDowell 11 carries, 71 yards
Receiving Josh Vann 5 receptions, 127 yards
ECU Passing Holton Ahlers 11/24, 77 yards, 2 INT
Rushing Rahjai Harris 14 carries, 70 yards
Receiving Jsi Hatfield 2 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD

At Marshall

[edit]
East Carolina at Marshall
1 234Total
Pirates 7 14021 42
Thundering Herd 10 14140 38
  • Date: September 18, 2021
  • Location: Joan C. Edwards Stadium
    Huntington, WV
  • Game start: 6:05 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 36 minutes
  • Game attendance: 24,833
  • Game weather: 85 °F (29 °C) • Weather: Sunny
  • Referee: Luke Richard
  • TV announcers (CBS Sports Network): Michael Grady (play–by–play), Corey Chavous (analyst), and Justin Walters (sideline reporter)
        
Pregame line Over/under
MRSH –10.0 58
Statistics East Carolina Marshall
First downs 27 24
Total yards 563 648
Rushing yards 168 215
Passing yards 395 433
Turnovers 1 3
Time of possession 30:19 29:41
Team Category Player Statistics
East Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 30/48, 368 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing Keaton Mitchell 14 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Shane Calhoun 8 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD
Marshall Passing Grant Wells 24/39, 433 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
Rushing Rasheen Ali 24 carries, 189 yards, 3 TDs
Receiving Corey Gammage 8 receptions, 180 yards

Charleston Southern

[edit]
Charleston Southern at East Carolina
1 234Total
Buccaneers 14 0014 28
Pirates 0 2470 31
  • Date: September 25, 2021
  • Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
    Greenville, NC
  • Game start: 6:05 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 4 hours and 33 minutes
  • Game attendance: 39,218
  • Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C) • Weather: Sunny
  • Referee: Edwin Lee
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Connor Onion (play–by–play) and Stanford Routt (analyst)
     
Pregame line Over/under
ECU –24.5 59
Statistics Charleston Southern East Carolina
First downs 34 14
Total yards 536 388
Rushing yards 131 150
Passing yards 405 238
Turnovers 1 2
Time of possession 31:27 28:33
Team Category Player Statistics
Charleston Southern Passing Jack Chambers 38/61, 405 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing JD Moore 14 car, 58 yds, 1 TD
Receiving Garris Schwarting 8 rec, 94 yds
East Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 17/26, 238 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Keaton Mitchell 13 car, 125 yds, 1 TD
Receiving C. J. Johnson 3 rec, 95 yds, 1 TD

Tulane

[edit]
Tulane at East Carolina
1 234Total
Green Wave 0 7166 29
Pirates 17 14021 52
  • Date: October 2, 2021
  • Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
    Greenville, NC
  • Game start: 3:30 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance: 33,475
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Mark Neely and Barrett Brooks
        
Pregame line Over/under
TULN –3.0 64.5
Statistics Tulane East Carolina
First downs 19 25
Total yards 404 612
Rushing yards 124 310
Passing yards 280 302
Turnovers 4 0
Time of possession 25:41 34:19
Team Category Player Statistics
Tulane Passing Michael Pratt 22/36, 268 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT
Rushing Cameron Carroll 9 car, 80 yds, 1 TD
Receiving Duece Watts 4 rec, 79 yds
East Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 21/32, 288 yds, 2 TD
Rushing Keaton Mitchell 15 car, 222 yds, 2 TD
Receiving Tyler Snead 4 rec, 78 yds, 1 TD

At UCF

[edit]
East Carolina at Central Florida
1 234Total
Pirates 0 3103 16
Knights 0 3710 20
  • Date: October 9, 2021
  • Location: Bounce House
    Orlando, FL
  • Game start: 6:04 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 20 minutes
  • Game attendance: 41,649
  • Game weather: 84 °F (29 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: N 9 MPH
  • Referee: Nate Black
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Courtney Lyle and Brandon Weeden
     
Pregame line Over/under
UCF –10 64.5[5]
Statistics East Carolina UCF
First downs 21 16
Total yards 360 359
Rushing yards 141 165
Passing yards 219 194
Turnovers 3 1
Time of possession 32:42 27:18
Team Category Player Statistics
East Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 20/32, 219 yards, TD, INT
Rushing Rahjai Harris 13 carries, 73 yards
Receiving Tyler Snead 6 receptions, 82 yards
UCF Passing Mikey Keene 23/35, 194 yards, INT
Rushing Johnny Richardson 16 carries, 104 yards, TD
Receiving Ryan O'Keefe 10 receptions, 73 yards

At Houston

[edit]
East Carolina at Houston
1 234OTTotal
Pirates 10 00140 24
Cougars 17 7007 31
  • Date: October 23, 2021
  • Location: TDECU Stadium
    Houston, TX
  • Game start: 4:00 p.m. EDT (Kicked at 9:20 p.m. – delayed 5 hours and 20 minutes to kickoff due to lightning)
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 27 minutes
  • Game attendance: 22,925
  • Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: SE 9 MPH
  • Referee: Edwin Lee
  • TV announcers (ESPNews): Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Hutson Mason (analyst)
     
Pregame line Over/under
HOU –13.5 57
Statistics East Carolina Houston
First downs 20 16
Total yards 360 256
Rushing yards 82 87
Passing yards 278 169
Turnovers 3 1
Time of possession 29:13 30:47
Team Category Player Statistics
East Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 23/37, 278 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing Keaton Mitchell 11 rushes, 38 yards
Receiving Tyler Snead 7 receptions, 114 yards
Houston Passing Clayton Tune 19/29, 169 yards, 2 TDs
Rushing Alton McCaskill 12 rushes, 60 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Christian Trahan 6 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD

South Florida

[edit]
South Florida at East Carolina
1 234Total
Bulls 0 1400 14
Pirates 0 61310 29
    
Pregame line Over/under
ECU –9.5 55.5[6]
Statistics South Florida East Carolina
First downs 19 30
Total yards 391 471
Rushing yards 199 251
Passing yards 192 220
Turnovers 4 3
Time of possession 21:38 38:22
Team Category Player Statistics
South Florida Passing Katravis Marsh 15/30, 192 yards, TD, 3 INT
Rushing Kelley Joiner 12 carries, 103 yards
Receiving Xavier Weaver 5 receptions, 91 yards, TD
East Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 21/35, 220 yards, TD
Rushing Rahjai Harris 22 carries, 100 yards, TD
Receiving C. J. Johnson 5 receptions, 84 yards

Temple

[edit]
Temple at East Carolina
1 2Total
Owls 0
Pirates 0
  • Date: November 6, 2021
  • Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
    Greenville, NC
  • Game start: TBD EDT
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Courtney Lyle, Brandon Weeden
Over/under
   
Statistics Temple East Carolina
First downs    
Total yards    
Rushing yards    
Passing yards    
Turnovers    
Time of possession    
Team Category Player Statistics
Temple Passing    
Rushing    
Receiving    
East Carolina Passing    
Rushing    
Receiving    

At Memphis

[edit]
East Carolina at Memphis
1 2Total
Pirates 0
Tigers 0
  • Date: November 13, 2021
  • Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
    Memphis, TN
  • Game start: TBD EST
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Richard Cross, Brandon Weeden
Over/under
   
Statistics East Carolina Memphis
First downs    
Total yards    
Rushing yards    
Passing yards    
Turnovers    
Time of possession    
Team Category Player Statistics
East Carolina Passing    
Rushing    
Receiving    
Memphis Passing    
Rushing    
Receiving    

At Navy

[edit]
East Carolina at Navy
1 234Total
Pirates 14 10014 38
Midshipmen 7 14014 35
  • Date: November 20, 2021
  • Location: Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
    Annapolis, MD
  • Game start: 3:30 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours, 10 minutes
  • Game attendance: 28,001
  • Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C) • Weather: Chilly, clear skies • Wind: S 10–25 MPH
  • Referee: Luke Richmond
  • TV announcers (CBSSN): John Sadak (play-by-play), Randy Cross (analyst) & Sheehan Stanwick Burch (sideline)
         
Pregame line Over/under
ECU –3.5 46.5
Statistics East Carolina Navy
First downs 24 17
Total yards 563 382
Rushing yards 158 345
Passing yards 405 37
Turnovers 0 0
Time of possession 32:40 27:20
Team Category Player Statistics
East Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 27/32, 405 yards, 3 TD
Rushing Keaton Mitchell 18 carries, 94 yards, TD
Receiving Tyler Snead 5 receptions, 137 yards, 2 TD
Navy Passing Tai Lavatai 4/4, 37 yards, 2 TD
Rushing Carlinos Acie 6 carries, 155 yards, TD
Receiving Mychal Copper 2 receptions, 31 yards, TD

No. 4 Cincinnati

[edit]
Cincinnati at East Carolina
1 234Total
No. 4 Bearcats 0 21014 35
Pirates 3 037 13
  • Date: November 26, 2021
  • Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
    Greenville, NC
  • Game start: 3:50 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutes
  • Game attendance: 38,014
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NW 20 MPH
  • Referee: Hank Johns
  • TV announcers (ABC): Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst) and Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
    
Pregame line Over/under
−14.5 56.5
Statistics Cincinnati East Carolina
First downs 20 19
Total yards 444 282
Rushing yards 143 54
Passing yards 301 228
Time of possession 27:42 32:18
Team Category Player Statistics
Cincinnati Passing Desmond Ridder 17/28, 301 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing Jerome Ford 20 carries, 85 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Alec Pierce 8 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TD
ECU Passing Holton Ahlers 19/38, 228 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing Keaton Mitchell 17 carries, 55 yards
Receiving Tyler Snead 6 receptions, 91 yards

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "East Carolina To Play In 2021 Military Bowl". ecupirates.com (Press release). November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  2. ^ Adelson, Andrea (December 26, 2021). "Military, Fenway Bowls Canceled Because of COVID-19 Issues". ESPN. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  3. ^ "Cincinnati Chosen as Favorite in American Preseason Media Poll". theAmerican.org. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  4. ^ "2021 East Carolina Football Schedule". FBS Schedules. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  5. ^ "East Carolina Pirates vs UCF Knights". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  6. ^ "USF Bulls vs East Carolina Pirates". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 28, 2021.