From East Carolina University Athletics / ecupirates.com
East Carolina’s hopes for a big day in the “Big House” took an ominous turn early Saturday and never recovered.
Michigan, coming off its first-ever 13-win season and ranked second nationally, converted an early interception into a touchdown then rode the hot hand of junior quarterback J.J. McCarthy to a decisive 30-3 win in the 2023 opener for both teams on a warm and sunny day at Michigan Stadium.
Andrew Conrad’s 33-yard field goal on the game’s final play provided the Pirates’ lone points and extended a streak of 313 consecutive games without being blanked while also denying the Wolverines their first season-opening shutout since 1978 (31-0 over Illinois).
ECU, which finished with 235 total yards, managed only two other legitimate threats against a stout Michigan defense. Conrad hooked a 51-yard field goal left of the upright just before halftime, then the Pirates came up short on fourth down after reaching the Wolverines’ 14 in the final seven minutes.
The Pirates’ defense held Michigan’s vaunted running attack in check, allowing 2 yards or less on 10 of 12 first-half attempts and 122 yards overall. Consensus All-American Blake Corum, who has 12 career 100-yard games, managed 73 yards on 10 carries, highlighted by a 37-yard dash that set up a first-half touchdown.
But the steady McCarthy stole the show, connecting on 26 of his 30 passes for 280 yards and matching a career high with three touchdown passes before sitting out the fourth quarter. McCarthy completed 16 of 18 in the first half, including 15 straight as Michigan seized control.
The 6-3, 202-pound second-year starter particularly burned the Pirates on third down, hitting on 5 of 5 passes for 72 yards and two scores.
ECU, meanwhile, tested a pair of quarterbacks as it moves on from record-setting Holton Ahlers. Redshirt sophomore Mason Garcia made his second start but first since 2020, completing 11 of 18 passes for 80 yards and rushing for a team-high 36 yards on eight carries.
Garcia exited after being picked off by Mike Sainristil on the Pirates’ second series but returned for the entire fourth quarter and looked more at ease. ECU led the nation in fewest turnovers last season, finishing the season on a seven-game streak without coughing the ball up.
Redshirt junior Alex Flinn stepped in for Garcia and completed 6 of 11 passes for 52 yards and netted 14 yards on three carries.
A first-half pass initially ruled an interception was overturned by replay.
Replay also played a factor in several other plays. McCarthy clearly crossed the line of scrimmage on his first touchdown pass that gave Michigan a 7-0 lead, but a review deemed the play legal. Late in the third period, replay overturned a touchdown run by Donovan Edwards, then ECU stuffed a fourth-down attempt when McCarthy mishandled the ball on a fake handoff.
The Pirates did get an exceptional effort from punter Archer Trafford, whose first punt traveled 67 yards and pinned Michigan at its 2-yard line. For the day, Trafford averaged 49 yards on five punts with two planted inside the 20.
An uncharacteristic 10 penalties for 88 yards plagued the Pirates, one of the least penalized teams in the nation last year. A pair of 15-yard penalties – one for targeting and a late hit out of bounds – aided the Wolverines’ only scoring drive of the second half.
By then, Michigan already had the game in hand.
After a three-and-out from inside their 5 on the opening series, the Wolverines scored on four consecutive possessions to take a 23-0 lead to intermission. McCarthy teamed up with receiver Roman Wilson for 14 and 10 yards for two of the scores. Corum punched in from the 2 for his 32nd career touchdown, and Louisville transfer James Turner kicked a 50-yard field goal.
Michigan controlled ball 13 minutes of the third quarter, scoring on another McCarthy-to-Wilson pass, while limiting ECU to four plays for a 30-0 cushion.
ECU opens its home schedule next Saturday at 4 p.m. against Marshall in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
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