East Carolina entered the 2025 Military Bowl without its offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator, starting quarterback, lead running back, top tight end and one of the most productive wide receivers from 2025.
No worries. The Pirates employed the next-man-up approach well, a freshman first-time starter directed a solid offensive effort and the defense came up with five takeaways in a 23-17 victory against Pittsburgh.
The triumph gave ECU its second Military Bowl title in as many years and helped the team finish 9-4 – the most wins for the program since 2013. That the bowl win came against an ACC foe for the second year in a row made it even sweeter.
GAME NOTES
- Yes, the Pirates missed their star offensive players like quarterback Katin Houser and receiver Yannick Smith, who opted out. Yes, they struggled to sustain drives against a stern Pitt defense. But ECU managed just enough explosiveness to prevail. Freshman quarterback Chaston Ditta threw touchdown passes of 47 and 72 yards to Anthony Smith, who finished with 156 receiving yards on the day.
- ECU overcame a mysterious inadvertent whistle in the third quarter that negated a 68-yard touchdown run from Marlon Gunn Jr. Two plays later, Pitt’s Rasheem Biles stripped the ball from Ditta, picked it up and raced for a touchdown. That gave Pitt a 14-10 lead and had the potential to be a back-breaker for the Pirates. But the Ditta-to-Smith long-distance connection followed less than a minute of game time later, and the Pirates regained the lead for good.
- Kevon Mitchell returned a fourth-quarter interception 70 yards to set a new Military Bowl record and ward off a late Pittsburgh rally.
- With all of the key opt-outs, ECU came into the game a 10-point underdog. But the Pirates, sporting throwback uniforms worn during the 1991 Peach Bowl win over NC State in Atlanta, rose to the occasion to put a pleasing bow on a stellar season. Coach Blake Harrell improved to 14-5 as the Pirates head coach over two seasons.
STAT LEADERS
- Nick Mazzie booted field goals of 42, 33 and 28 yards for East Carolina, the final two in the fourth quarter helping provide the winning cushion.
- Teagan Wilk led the Pirates in tackles with nine (six solo). Kendrick DeJour earned two sacks for negative 18 yards.
- DuJour, Jordy Lowery, Jackson Barker and JD Lampley each recovered fumbles for ECU.
- ECU quarterback Chaston Ditta finished 8-of-17 for 177 yards, 2 TDs and no interceptions.
- Ja’kyrian Turner paced Pitt’s rushing attack with 93 yards on 16 carries, while receiver Justin Holmes reached 100 yards on six catches.
- Pitt’s Rasheem Biles led all defensive players with 16 tackles. He earned five tackles-for-loss and made two sacks in addition to his strip sack/scoop-and-score play.
Bowl Scoreboard: View all North Carolina bowl games and scores →
Go Bowling Military Bowl
Matchup: East Carolina (8-4, 6-2 American) vs. Pittsburgh (8-4, 6-2 ACC)
Date: Saturday, December 27, 2025
Kickoff: 11 a.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Location: Annapolis, Maryland
Betting line: East Carolina +10
Over/Under: 56.5 (DraftKings, 12/21)
How East Carolina Got Here
In Blake Harrell’s first full season as head coach, East Carolina won eight games and tied for fourth place in the American Athletic Conference.
The Pirates posted several statement wins, including:
- 31-27 over Memphis
- 28-6 over defending American champion Army
- 38-0 shutout of Coastal Carolina
- 48-22 win over Charlotte, the program’s first victory over the 49ers in the new in-state rivalry series
This marks ECU’s second straight trip to the Military Bowl. The Pirates defeated NC State 26-21 in the 2024 edition and have won three of their last four bowl games.
👉 View the full East Carolina football schedule and results
Flashback to the last time we were in the Military Bowl 😏@MilitaryBowl pic.twitter.com/TF5Li5FXzT — ECU Football (@ECUPiratesFB) December 10, 2025
ECU Roster Changes and Bowl Outlook
Since accepting the bowl invitation, East Carolina has undergone significant change:
- OC John David Baker departed for Ole Miss
- DC Josh Aldridge accepted the same role at USF
- Three key offensive players have opted out to enter the transfer portal
ECU Known Opt-Outs (as of 12/21)
- QB Katin Houser: 3,300 passing yards, 19 TDs, 6 INTs
- WR Yannick Smith: 44 catches, 583 yards, 5 TDs
- WR Jayvontay Conner: 23 catches, 333 yards, 3 TDs
Who Starts at Quarterback for ECU?
With Houser out, East Carolina likely will turn to either freshman Chaston Ditta or redshirt senior Mike Wright.
Ditta has appeared in four games this season to preserve eligibility (4-for-7, 38 yards, 1 TD) and is viewed as the better fit to run ECU’s traditional offense, per Stephen Igoe from Hoist the Colours, a 247Sports site. Wright, a sixth-year senior, has lined up at quarterback, running back, receiver, defensive back and even punter this season and could play a versatile role in his final collegiate game.
Other QBs on the roster include freshman Cole Hodge and redshirt-sophomore Raheim Jeter. Neither player has recorded a stat this season. Jeter appeared in seven games in 2024, mostly on special teams.
ECU Players to Watch
Offense
- RB Landon Montgomery: 742 yards, 7 TDs
- RB Marlon Gunn Jr.: 532 yards, 6 TDs
- WR Anthony Smith: 897 yards, 5 TDs (1st team all-conference)
- OT Jimarion McCrimon: 1st team all-conference
Defense
- LB Ja’Marley Riddle: 70 tackles, 3 INTs (1st team all-conference)
- DL Zion Wilson: 10 TFLs, 7 sacks (1st team all-conference)
Special Teams
- K Nick Mazzie: 13-for-15 FGs, long of 50 yards, 41-for-41 PATs
How Pittsburgh Got Here
Pittsburgh finished 8-4 in a crowded ACC race, tying for second place in the conference’s 17-team standings.
Notable wins included:
- 42-28 over No. 16 Georgia Tech
- 34-31 at then-No. 25 Florida State
- 53-34 win over NC State
After a 2-2 start, the Panthers surged behind freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel, who threw for 2,098 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Pitt was still in the ACC title hunt deep into November before losses to Notre Dame and Miami closed the regular season. The Panthers lost out on the chance to play Virginia in the ACC championship game due to league’s oft-discussed tiebreaker policy.
Pittsburgh Players to Watch
Offense
- QB Mason Heintschel: 2,098 yards, 15 TDs
- RB Jakyrian Turner: 652 yards, 7 TDs
- WR Kenny Johnson: 695 yards, 5 TDs
- WR Raphael Williams Jr.: 644 yards, 6 TDs
Defense
- LB Kyle Louis: 79 tackles, 2 INTs (1st-team All-ACC, AP)
- LB Rasheem Biles: 84 tackles, 2 INTs returned for touchdowns
Special Teams
- K Trey Butkowski: 19-for-22 FGs, 2nd-team All-ACC
Western Carolina Connections
Pittsburgh features multiple ties to Western Carolina:
- OC Kade Bell, son of WCU head coach Kerwin Bell
- RB Desmond Reid, a former Catamount with more than 700 all-purpose yards
- QB Cole Gonzales, WCU’s all-conference quarterback in 2023 and 2024 serving as a backup this season (1 TD, 1 INT)
Bowl History and Series Notes
- Fifth all-time meeting between ECU and Pitt
- Series tied 2-2, with last matchup in 1992
- ECU is 11-11 all-time in bowl games
- Pitt is making its 39th postseason appearance
- Pitt’s only previous Military Bowl appearance was a 44-28 loss to Navy in 2015
Game Result (Updated After Final)
East Carolina vs. Pittsburgh – Military Bowl Final Score
This section will be updated following the game with the final score, key stats and recap.
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