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Can ECU repeat 2020 performance against SMU? Pirates look to revive their season

SMU visits Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium for a Thursday night ESPN showdown

Eric Lusk

Published

October 12, 2023

ECU quarterback Alex Flinn and the youthful Pirates will play in front of the home fans Thursday night. Photo courtesy ECU athletics.

The last time East Carolina hosted SMU, the Pirates owned a 2-6 record and were listed as two-touchdown underdogs as the 2020 pandemic-shortened season came, mercifully, to a close.

But ECU played out of its mind on that Saturday after Thanksgiving, scoring on all seven first-half possessions and routing the unsuspecting Mustangs 52-38. At one point, the purple and gold led 45-7. The momentum carried over into the next two seasons, where East Carolina won 15 times, qualified for two bowl games and won one (COVID canceled the other).

Pirate Nation certainly hopes their team can recreate some similar revival magic with SMU returning to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium for a Thursday night nationally televised showdown (ESPN | 7:30 p.m.).

ECU comes out of its bye week with a 1-4 record, the most recent loss at Rice epitomizing much of what 2023 has been about — youthful mistakes and missed opportunities. The Pirates outgained the Owls in most statistical categories — total yards (391-277), first downs (25-14) and rushing yards (145-37) for example — but still lost 24-17.

ECU only found the end zone once, had to settle for three field goals in the first half, threw an interception and turned the ball over on downs four times. One series ended at the Rice 1.

“We just had too many missed opportunities to win it.” ECU coach Mike Houston said after the contest. “You’re going to be able to look back at several big plays where we had a chance and couldn’t make the play, and that’s the difference in winning and losing.”

Houston said his group had a positive, energetic off-week following that game. While focusing on SMU, the team also took time for introspection.

“Obviously, you can look at some areas where we need to play better and really identify them,” he said. “You look at last week’s practice all three days, we really put the kids in competitive situations in doing the things we need to improve on. I thought it was a very positive week to come out of and (we) got a lot of great, teachable film from all the things and scenarios we addressed last week.”

Obviously, one of the top priorities is getting its offense untracked. The Pirates have struggled to move the ball and score in the post-Holton Ahlers era.

East Carolina has only scored 10 offensive touchdowns this season. The Pirates average 304.4 yards of total offense per game, which ranks 122nd in the FBS (out of 133 teams).

Houston turned to some younger players in the Rice game, and they showed promise. Freshman running back Javious Bond gained 72 yards on seven attempts. Fellow frosh Chase Sowell made seven catches for 88 yards. First-year starting quarterback Alex Flinn set personal bests in pass completions (21) and yards (246), though he had no TD passes and missed on six of his last seven throws.

SMU (3-2, 1-0 AAC) has reached at least 350 yards of total offense in every game this season and average 433.8 per game. The Mustangs under coach Rhett Lashlee also rank in the top three in the American Athletic in multiple defensive categories. SMU’s conference win came against Charlotte, 34-16 on Sept. 30. The Mustangs also had a bye last Saturday.

Like the game against SMU In 2020, the Pirates will go into Thursday’s meeting as double-digit underdogs (the latest odds say ECU +12.5).

Houston hopes the home crowd in Greenville can be a factor in turning the tide toward his team. ECU has planned a “Paint It Black” night as students return from their fall breaks.

“I think that student section down there is kind of the backbone of our program,” Houston said. “When we get a big win at home the players go straight down there to celebrate with the band and the students. You have recruits on campus, and they always talk about how energetic our student section is, so I think we’re fortunate to have that kind of support from our student body.”