# 2019 East Carolina Pirates football team

The 2019 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the 2019 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Pirates, led by first-year head coach Mike Houston, played their home games at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, and were members of the East Division in the American Athletic Conference. They finished the season 4–8, 1–7 in AAC play to finish in fifth place in the East Division.

## Preseason
### AAC media poll

The AAC media poll was released on July 16, 2019, with the Pirates predicted to finish fifth in the AAC East Division.
Media poll (East) :
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
| 1 | UCF | 169 (19) |
| 2 | Cincinnati | 157 (11) |
| 3 | USF | 107 |
| 4 | Temple | 101 |
| 5 | East Carolina | 66 |
| 6 | UConn | 30 |

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 31 | 12:00 p.m. | at NC State* | Carter–Finley StadiumRaleigh, NC (rivalry) | ACCN | L 6–34 | 57,633 |
| September 7 | 6:00 p.m. | Gardner–Webb* | Dowdy–Ficklen StadiumGreenville, NC | ESPN3 | W 48–9 | 34,118 |
| September 14 | 3:30 p.m. | at Navy | Navy–Marine Corps Memorial StadiumAnnapolis, MD | CBSSN | L 10–42 | 30,707 |
| September 21 | 6:00 p.m. | William & Mary* | Dowdy–Ficklen StadiumGreenville, NC | ESPN3 | W 19–7 | 38,004 |
| September 28 | 6:00 p.m. | at Old Dominion* | S.B. Ballard StadiumNorfolk, VA | ESPN+ | W 24–21 | 18,643 |
| October 3 | 8:00 p.m. | Temple | Dowdy–Ficklen StadiumGreenville, NC | ESPN | L 17–27 | 33,253 |
| October 19 | 7:00 p.m. | at UCF | Spectrum StadiumOrlando, FL | CBSSN | L 28–41 | 42,906 |
| October 26 | 3:45 p.m. | South Florida | Dowdy–Ficklen StadiumGreenville, NC | ESPNU | L 20–45 | 33,088 |
| November 2 | 7:00 p.m. | No. 17 Cincinnati | Dowdy–Ficklen StadiumGreenville, NC | CBSSN | L 43–46 | 32,276 |
| November 9 | 12:00 p.m. | at No. 25 SMU | Gerald J. Ford StadiumDallas, TX | ESPNU | L 51–59 | 29,528 |
| November 23 | 12:00 p.m. | at UConn | Rentschler FieldEast Hartford, CT | ESPN3 | W 31–24 | 12,084 |
| November 30 | 12:00 p.m. | Tulsa | Dowdy–Ficklen StadiumGreenville, NC | ESPNU | L 24–49 | 27,978 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 5 released prior to gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Game summaries
### At NC State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Pirates | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 |
| Wolfpack | 7 | 10 | 7 | 10 | 34 |
at Carter–Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC
* Date: August 31
* Game time: 10:00 a.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny, 88 °F (31 °C)
* Game attendance: 57,633
* Referee: Adam Savoie
* TV announcers (ACC Network): Wes Durham (play-by-play), Roddy Jones (analyst), and Eric Wood (sideline)
Game information :
First quarter
NCST - Zonovan Knight 9-yard TD run, Christopher Dunn kick good, 8:34 (NCST 7-0)
ECU - Jake Verity 47-yard field goal, 6:04 (NCST 7-3)
Second quarter
NCST - Dunn 27-yard field goal, 10:01 (NCST 10-3)
NCST - Matthew McKay 4-yard TD run, Dunn kick good, 0:51 (NCST 17-3)
Third quarter
NCST - Tabari Hines 48-yard TD pass from McKay, Dunn kick good, 9:48 (NCST 24-3)
Fourth quarter
NCST - McKay 21-yard TD run, Dunn kick good, 12:21 (NCST 31-3)
NCST - Dunn 34-yard field goal, 4:14 (NCST 34-3)
ECU - Verity 31-yard field goal, 1:18 (NCST 34-6)
Top passers
NCST - Matthew McKay - 25/37, 308 yards, TD
ECU - Holton Ahlers - 22/39, 168 yards, INT
Top rushers
NCST - Zonovan Knight - 9 carries, 42 yards, TD
ECU - Darius Pinnix Jr. - 11 carries, 23 yards
Top receivers
NCST - Thayer Thomas - 6 receptions, 83 yards
ECU - Blake Proehl - 5 receptions, 45 yards :

### Gardner–Webb

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Runnin' Bulldogs | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
| Pirates | 17 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 48 |
at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, NC
* Date: September 7
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 34,118
* TV announcers (ESPN3): Matt Stewart (play-by-play) and Stan Lewter (analyst)
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
GWU -
ECU -
Top rushers
GWU -
ECU -
Top receivers
GWU -
ECU - :

### At Navy

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Pirates | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 10 |
| Midshipmen | 14 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 42 |
at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD
* Date: September 14
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Temperature: 79 °F (26 °C) • Wind: S 10-15 mph • Weather: Overcast
* Game attendance: 30,707
* Referee: Charles Lamertina
* TV announcers (CBSSN): John Sadak (play-by-play), Randy Cross (analyst), and Sheehan Stanwick-Burch (sideline)
Game information :
First quarter
(11:26) NAVY TD – Malcolm Perry 18-yard rush, Bijan Nichols kick Drive: 6 plays, 38 yards, 2:08; Navy 7–0
(05:46) NAVY TD – Malcolm Perry 11-yard rush, Bijan Nichols kick Drive: 8 plays, 65 yards, 3:54; Navy 14–0
Second quarter
(13:38) NAVY TD – CJ Williams 29-yard pass from Malcolm Perry, Bijan Nichols kick Drive: 10 plays, 85 yards, 5:08; Navy 21–0
(09:09) ECU FG – Jake Verity 23-yard field goal Drive: 11 plays, 69 yards, 4:29; Navy 21–3
(05:25) NAVY TD – Malcolm Perry 6-yard rush, Bijan Nichols kick Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards, 3:44; Navy 28–3
Third quarter
(07:53) NAVY TD – Malcolm Perry 1-yard rush, Bijan Nichols kick Drive: 14 plays, 75 yards, 7:07; Navy 35–3
(06:34) NAVY TD – CJ Williams 80-yard pass from Malcolm Perry, Bijan Nichols kick Drive: 1 play, 80 yards, 0:12; Navy 42–3
Fourth quarter
(12:30) ECU TD – Holton Ahlers 2-yard rush, Jake Verity kick Drive: 8 plays, 50 yards, 2:46; Navy 42–10
Top passers
ECU – Holton Ahlers: 11/23, 138 yards, 1 INT
NAVY – Malcolm Perry: 5/7, 151 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
ECU – Holton Ahlers: 9 carries, 36 yards, 1 TD
NAVY – Malcolm Perry: 24 carries, 156 yards, 4 TD
Top receivers
ECU – Tyler Snead: 3 receptions, 54 yards
NAVY – C.J. Williams: 3 receptions, 117 yards, 2 TD :

### William & Mary

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Tribe | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Pirates | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 19 |
at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, NC
* Date: September 21
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 38,004
* TV announcers (ESPN3): Joel Meyers (play-by-play) and Stan Lewter (analyst)
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
W&M -
ECU -
Top rushers
W&M -
ECU -
Top receivers
W&M -
ECU - :

### At Old Dominion

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Pirates | 10 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| Monarchs | 3 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 21 |
at S.B. Ballard Stadium, Norfolk, VA
* Date: September 28
* Game time: 6:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 18,643
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Ted Alexander (play-by-play), Andy Mashaw (analyst), and Doug Ripley (sideline)
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
ECU -
ODU -
Top rushers
ECU -
ODU -
Top receivers
ECU -
ODU - :

### Temple

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Owls | 0 | 17 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
| Pirates | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, NC
* Date: October 3
* Game time: 8:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 33,253
* TV announcers (ESPN): Adam Amin (play-by-play), Matt Hasselbeck, Pat McAfee (analysts), and Molly McGrath (sideline)
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
TEMP -
ECU -
Top rushers
TEMP -
ECU -
Top receivers
TEMP -
ECU - :

### At UCF

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Pirates | 0 | 6 | 16 | 6 | 28 |
| Knights | 21 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 41 |
at Spectrum Stadium, Orlando, FL
* Date: October 19
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. EST
* Game attendance: 42,906
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Ben Holden (play-by-play) and Ross Tucker (analyst)
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
ECU -
UCF -
Top rushers
ECU -
UCF -
Top receivers
ECU -
UCF - :

### South Florida

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Bulls | 14 | 21 | 3 | 7 | 45 |
| Pirates | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 | 20 |
at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, NC
* Date: October 26
* Game time: 3:45 p.m.
* Game attendance: 33,088
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Mike Corey (play-by-play) and Rene Ingoglia (analyst)
Game information :
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
USF -
ECU -
Top rushers
USF -
ECU -
Top receivers
USF -
ECU - :

### No. 17 Cincinnati

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 17 Bearcats | 21 | 0 | 7 | 18 | 46 |
| Pirates | 14 | 17 | 9 | 3 | 43 |
at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, NC
* Date: November 2
* Game time: 7:08 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: Clear, 54 °F (12 °C)
* Game attendance: 32,273
* Referee: Edwin Lee
* TV announcers (CBSSN): Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Murray (analyst), and Amanda Balionis (sideline)
Game information :
First quarter
(9:20) CIN – Michael Warren II 1-yard run, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 5 plays, 50 yards, 2:07; Cincinnati 7–0)
(9:09) ECU – C. J. Johnson 75-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick (Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:11; Tied 7–7)
(8:19) CIN – Gerrid Doaks 2-yard run, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 0:50; Cincinnati 14–7)
(3:22) ECU – Holton Ahlers 6-yard run, Jake Verity kick (Drive: 14 plays, 75 yards, 4:57; Tied 14–14)
(0:19) CIN – Michael Warren II 1-yard run, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:03; Cincinnati 21–14)
Second quarter
(5:57) ECU – Zech Byrd 3-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:42; Tied 21–21)
(3:10) ECU – Jsi Hatfield 3-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick (Drive: 7 plays, 71 yards, 1:56; East Carolina 28–21)
(0:01) ECU – Jake Verity 27-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 38 yards, 0:22; East Carolina 31–21)
Third quarter
(10:45) CIN – Michael Warren II 3-yard run, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:15; East Carolina 31–28)
(4:20) ECU – Jake Verity 20-yard field goal (Drive: 15 plays, 80 yards, 6:25; East Carolina 34–28)
(0:14) ECU – Tyler Snead 9-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Holton Ahlers pass failed (Drive: 7 plays, 81 yards, 2:32; East Carolina 40–28)
Fourth quarter
(8:37) CIN – Josiah Deguara 3-yard pass from Desmond Ridder, Sam Crosa kick (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 6:37; East Carolina 40–35)
(4:38) CIN – Sauce Gardner 62-yard interception, Josiah Deguara pass (Cincinnati 43–40)
(1:10) ECU – Jake Verity 27-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 3:28; Tied 43–43)
(0:00) CIN – Sam Crosa 32-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 50 yards, 1:10; Cincinnati 46–43)
Top passers
CIN - Desmond Ridder – 12/24, 161 yards, TD, 2 INT
ECU - Holton Ahlers – 32/52, 535 yards, 4 TD, INT
Top rushers
CIN - Desmond Ridder – 12 carries, 146 yards
ECU - Trace Christian – 9 carries, 44 yards
Top receivers
CIN - Josiah Deguara – 2 receptions, 76 yards
ECU - C. J. Johnson – 12 receptions, 283 yards :

### At SMU

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Pirates | 7 | 13 | 17 | 14 | 51 |
| No. 23 Mustangs | 14 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 59 |
at Gerald J. Ford Stadium, University Park, TX
* Date: November 9
* Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Sunny, 57 °F (14 °C)
* Game attendance: 29,528
* Referee: Henry Johns
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Mike Couzens (play-by-play) and Kirk Morrison (analyst)
Game information :
First quarter
(12:44) SMU TD – Kylen Granson 22-yard pass from Shane Buechele, Kevin Robledo kick Southern Methodist 7–0; Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 2:16
(07:20) ECU TD – Jsi Hatfield 68-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick Tied 7–7; Drive: 3 plays, 70 yards, 0:42
(03:51) SMU TD – Kylen Granson 4-yard pass from Shane Buechele, Kevin Robledo kick Southern Methodist 14–7; Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:29
Second quarter
(11:06) ECU FG – Jake Verity 38-yard field goal Southern Methodist 14–10; Drive: 9 plays, 34 yards, 3:39
(07:28) SMU TD – Xavier Jones 3-yard rush, Kevin Robledo kick Southern Methodist 21–10; Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 3:38
(04:45) SMU TD – James Proche 51-yard pass from Shane Buechele, Kevin Robledo kick Southern Methodist 28–10; Drive: 3 plays, 66 yards, 1:02
(02:04) ECU TD – Tyler Snead 36-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick Southern Methodist 28–17; Drive: 6 plays, 73 yards, 2:37
(00:00) SMU FG – Jake Verity 37-yard field goal Southern Methodist 28–20; Drive: 7 plays, 60 yards, 1:00
Third quarter
(13:53) ECU TD – Zech Byrd 45-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick Southern Methodist 28–27; Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:07
(12:01) SMU TD – Xavier Jones 35-yard rush, Kevin Robledo kick Southern Methodist 35–27; Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 1:52
(08:06) ECU TD – Tyler Snead 47-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick Southern Methodist 35–34; Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 3:55
(05:34) SMU FG – Kevin Robledo 23-yard field goal Southern Methodist 38–34; Drive: 7 plays, 47 yards, 2:22
(01:56) ECU FG – Jake Verity 41-yard field goal Southern Methodist 38–37; Drive: 10 plays, 51 yards, 3:38
(00:19) SMU TD – Xavier Jones 64-yard rush, Kevin Robledo kick Southern Methodist 45–37; Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:29
Fourth quarter
(10:58) ECU TD – Tyler Snead 57-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick Southern Methodist 45–44; Drive: 10 plays, 97 yards, 4:20
(07:25) SMU TD – Kylen Granson 31-yard pass from Shane Buechele, Kevin Robledo kick Southern Methodist 52–44; Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:40
(04:18) SMU TD – James Proche 3-yard pass from Shane Buechele, Kevin Robledo kick Southern Methodist 59–44; Drive: 6 plays, 22 yards, 3:00
(01:55) ECU TD – Audie Omotosho 22-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick Southern Methodist 59–51; Drive: 8 plays, 72 yards, 2:16
Top passers
ECU – Holton Ahlers – 32/42, 498 yards, 6 TD
SMU – Shane Buechele – 33/46, 414 yards, 5 TD, INT
Top rushers
ECU – Tay Williams – 14 carries, 61 yards
SMU – Xavier Jones – 20 carries, 157 yards, 3 TD
Top receivers
ECU – Tyler Snead – 19 receptions, 240 yards, 3 TD
SMU – James Proche – 14 receptions, 167 yards, 2 TD :

### At UConn

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Pirates | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
| Huskies | 7 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
at Rentschler Field, Hartford, CT
* Date: November 23
* Game time: 12:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 40 °F (4 °C) • Wind: 9 W • Weather: Gorgeous Fall Day
* Game attendance: 12,084
* Referee: Edwin Lee
* TV announcers (ESPN3): Robert Lee (play-by-play) and Matt Chatham (analyst)
Game information :
First quarter
UCONN • 13:07 • Cameron Ross 40 yd pass from Jack Zergiotis (Clayton Harris kick) • UCONN 7–0
ECU • 05:57 • Jake Verity 26 yd field goal • UCONN 7–3
ECU • 01:11 • Darius Pinnix 3 yd run (Jake Verity kick) • ECU 10–7
Second quarter
ECU • 01:49 • Zech Byrd 17 yd pass from Holton Ahlers (Jake Verity kick) • ECU 17–7
Third quarter
UCONN • 13:09 • Jay Rose 20 yd pass from Jack Zergiotis (Clayton Harris kick) • ECU 17–14
ECU • 10:31 • Darius Pinnix 1 yd run (Jake Verity kick) • ECU 24–14
Fourth quarter
UCONN • 14:33 • Clayton Harris 27 yd field goal • ECU 24–17
UCONN • 09:28 • Cameron Ross 94 yd pass from Jack Zergiotis (Clayton Harris kick) • TIED 24–24
ECU • 03:28 • Holton Ahlers 2 yd run (Jake Verity kick) • ECU 31–24
Top passers
ECU - Holton Ahlers – 34/50, 374 yards, TD
UCONN - Jack Zergiotis – 21/37, 418 yards, 3 TD
Top rushers
ECU - Darius Pinnix – 27 attempts, 105 yards, 2 TD
UCONN - Kevin Mensah – 20 attempts, 75 yards
Top receivers
ECU - Tyler Snead – 16 receptions, 126 yards
UCONN - Cameron Ross – 8 receptions, 169 yards, 2 TD :

### Tulsa

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Hurricane | 7 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 49 |
| Pirates | 3 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 24 |
at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, NC
* Date: November 30
* Game time: 12:02 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Cloudy with Drizzle, 48 °F (9 °C), Calm
* Game attendance: 27,978
* Referee: A. Calabrese
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Mike Couzens (play-by-play) and Kirk Morrison (analyst)
Game information :
First quarter
(1:42) ECU – Jake Verity 51-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 52 yards, 3:20; East Carolina 3–0)
(1:06) TUL – Sam Crawford Jr. 66-yard pass from Zach Smith, Jacob Rainey kick (Drive: 2 plays, 75 yards, 0:36; Tulsa 7–3)
Second quarter
(12:09) TUL – Keylon Stokes 29-yard pass from Zach Smith, Jacob Rainey kick (Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 1:52; Tulsa 14–3)
(4:45) TUL – Keenen Johnson 4-yard pass from Zach Smith, Jacob Rainey kick (Drive: 10 plays, 92 yards, 5:50; Tulsa 21–3)
Third quarter
(11:40) TUL – T. K. Wilerson 10-yard run, Jacob Rainey kick (Drive: 4 plays, 21 yards, 0:34; Tulsa 28–3)
(6:55) ECU – Blake Proehl 3-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick (Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 4:45; Tulsa 28–10)
(4:10) TUL – Shamari Brooks 2-yard pass from Zach Smith, Jacob Rainey kick (Drive: 7 plays, 58 yards, 2:45; Tulsa 35–10)
Fourth quarter
(14:31) TUL – Corey Taylor II 12-yard run, Jacob Rainey kick (Drive: 4 plays, 82 yards, 0:50; Tulsa 42–10)
(11:17) ECU – C. J. Johnson 35-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick (Drive: 9 plays, 78 yards, 3:14; Tulsa 42–17)
(6:36) TUL – Ethan Hall 39-yard pass from Zach Smith, Danny Donley kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:41; Tulsa 49–17)
(2:36) ECU – Blake Proehl 34-yard pass from Holton Ahlers, Jake Verity kick (Drive: 3 plays, 37 yards, 1:11; Tulsa 49–24)
Top passers
TUL - Zach Smith – 21/30, 331 yards, 5 TD, INT
ECU - Holton Ahlers – 27/48, 308 yards, 3 TD
Top rushers
TUL - Shamari Brooks – 16 carries, 202 yards
ECU - Holton Ahlers – 6 carries, 35 yards
Top receivers
TUL - Sam Crawford Jr. – 5 receptions, 93 yards, TD
ECU - C. J. Johnson – 6 receptions, 141 yards, TD :