Friday, November 1, 2019
Posted on November 1, 2019 at 07:16 PM.
THE PLAYOFF SELECTION COMMITTEE SPENT NUMEROUS HOURS DETERMINING WHICH 4 TEAMS WOULD BE MAKING IT INTO THE PLAYOFF AND THE FOLLOWING TEAMS HAVE RECEIVED A BERTH:
#1 SEED - VIRGINIA TECH - 13-0 - ACC CHAMPS
#2 SEED - TEXAS - 12-0 - BIG XII CHAMPS
# 3 SEED - ALABAMA - 12-1 - SEC CHAMPS
#4 SEED - NOTRE DAME - 11-1 - INDEPENDENT
THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE WAS SELECTED AS THE 3 SEED AND WILL PLAY THE 2 SEED TEXAS LONGHORNS. ALABAMA WAS GIVEN PREFERENCE AS SEC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS AND HIGHEST STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE OF THE 4 TEAMS TO FILL THE TWO REMAINING SLOTS. THERE WERE NO HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS AND NO COMMON OPPONENTS FOR THE CRIMSON TIDE.
NOTRE DAME WAS SELECTED AS THE 4TH AND FINAL SEED AND WILL MATCH UP AGAINST THE VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES. ALTHOUGH NOTRE DAME DID NOT WIN A CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP AND DID NOT HAVE A HIGHER STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE THAN MSU OR OSU, NOTRE DAME DID BEAT MICHIGAN STATE HEAD TO HEAD AND THEIR ONLY LOSS CAME TO MICHIGAN IN OVERTIME IN WEEK 2. GIVEN THE TIMING OF THEIR LOSS AND THE REMAINDER OF THEIR GAMES BEING WON, THE COMMITTEE FELT NOTRE DAME DESERVED THE PLAYOFF BID OVER THE THREE 2 LOSS BIG TEN TEAMS REMAINING (MICHIGAN, MICHIGAN STATE, AND OHIO STATE)
FIRST ROUND MATCHUPS:
ALL STATE SUGAR BOWL - #3 ALABAMA @ # 2 TEXAS
FIESTA BOWL - #4 NOTRE DAME @ #1 VIRGINIA TECH
C-USA - WESTERN KENTUCKY 45 - NORTH TEXAS 31
AMERICAN - CINCINNATI 38 - SMU 21
SEC - ALABAMA 49 - FLORIDA 26
MOUNTAIN WEST - UTAH STATE 35 - FRESNO STATE 18
PAC 12 - OREGON 45 - ARIZONA 38
ACC - VIRGINIA TECH 24 - FSU 17
BIG 10 - MICHIGAN STATE 31 - IOWA 10
MAC - KENT STATE 41 - TOLEDO 24
BOWL SEASON
THE EAST CAROLINA PIRATES WERE INVITED AND HAVE ACCEPTED A BOWL BID TO THE BELK BOWL IN CHARLOTTE, NC ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 27TH 6:00 PM FACING OFF AGAINST THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS!
NO SUSPENSIONS WERE HANDED OUT DURING THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK, HOWEVER IT WAS FINALS WEEK AND DUE TO POOR PERFORMANCES IN THE CLASSROOM, THE FOLLOWING PLAYERS ARE ACADEMICALLY INELIGIBLE FOR THE UPCOMING GAME AGAINST THE CARDINALS
BACKUP QB - REID HERRING
STARTING LINEBACKER - AARON RAMSEUR
(BOTH WITH 1.33 GPA'S IN THE FALL SEMESTER)
LOUISVILLE GAME PLAN:
COACH SCOTT SATTERFIELD RUNS A PISTOL OFFENSE THAT HE BROUGHT OVER FROM APPALACHIAN STATE WITH IMPACT QB JAWON PASS AT THE HELM. HE IS ONE HELL OF AN ATHLETE BUT HIS AWARENESS IS LACKING, SO WE PLAN ON CONFUSING HIM AND HOPEFULLY CAUSING SOME ILL TIMED THROWS AND INCORRECT DECISIONS BASED ON OUR DISGUISED COVERAGES. WE WILL HAVE TO SPY HIM HOWEVER TO NOT ALLOW A REPEAT OF THE UCF GAME. WHEN JAVIAN HAWKINS IS IN THE GAME, WE HAVE TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION AS HE HAS BREAKAWAY SPEED AND CAN CHANGE A GAME WITH JUST ONE TOUCH. DEZ FITZPATRICK IS JAWON'S GO TO RECEIVER AND THEIR MOST TALENTED, HOWEVER THEY HAVE A STRONG CORP OF 3 RECEIVERS THAT ARE GOING TO POSE PROBLEMS FOR THE EAST CAROLINA DEFENSE. THE OFFENSIVE LINE IS FAIRLY STRONG AND WILL BE ABLE TO CREATE LANES FOR THE RUNNING GAME AND PROTECTION FOR THE QB.
THE FRONT 7 OF THE LOUISVILLE CARDINALS 3-4 DEFENSE HAS ALL AMERICAN AND IMPACT PLAYERS COMPLIMENTED BY OTHER ROLE PLAYERS THAT IS GOING TO MAKE RUNNING THE BALL DIFFICULT. THE BACK END OF THE LOUISVILLE DEFENSE AINT TOO SHABBY EITHER, BUT ECU WILL HAVE TO PIT THEIR STRENGTH AGAINST THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS IN THE LOUISVILLE PASS DEFENSE. WE PLAN ON ATTACKING THE MIDDLE OF THE DEFENSE USING ZECH BYRD AND FARRIER AS THE SAFETIES ARE THE WEAKEST PART OF THE DEFENSIVE BACKS.
PLAYOFF SELECTION COMMITTEE:
WHAT A YEAR FOR THE PLAYOFF, THE SELECTION SURE HAS SOME TOUGH DECISIONS FOR THE 3RD AND 4TH TEAMS TO GET INVITED TO THE PLAYOFF FOR THE CULMINATION OF THE 2013-2014 YEAR.
#1 VIRGINIA TECH
RECORD - 13-0
ACC CONFERENCE CHAMPS
BEST VICTORY - #9 FSU 24-17 IN ACC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
#2 TEXAS
RECORD 12-0
DE FACTO BIG XII CHAMPS (NO CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME)
BEST VICTORY - OKLAHOMA 34-24 IN RED RIVER SHOOTOUT (OU CURRENTLY RANKED #16)
THE CASE FOR THE NEXT TWO, REALLY COMES DOWN TO THE FOLLOWING TEAMS:
NOTRE DAME, MICHIGAN, ALABAMA, MICHIGAN STATE, AND OHIO STATE
CLEMSON DID NOT WIN THEIR CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP, (VTECH ALREADY IN FROM THE ACC), UTAH DID NOT WIN THEIR CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP, (ONLY TOP 10 PAC-12 TEAM), AND CINCINNATI WON THE AMERICAN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP, (BUT STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE AND LOSS TO UCF AT HOME WHO FINISHED THE YEAR UNRANKED, TOO BIG OF A LOSS TO CONSIDER FOR THE PLAYOFF, AS REMAINDER OF SCHEDULE WAS RATHER WEAK.)
NOTRE DAME
FINISHED THE YEAR AT 11-1, WITH ONLY LOSS TO #4 RANKED MICHIGAN IN OT 29-23 WEEK 2.
NOTRE DAME ALSO BEAT #6 MICHIGAN STATE (COMMON OPPONENT OF MICHIGAN AND OHIO STATE), AND #16 OKLAHOMA (COMMON OPPONENT OF TEXAS)
WILL THE LOSS AGAINST MICHIGAN KEEP THEM OUT OF THE PLAYOFF? THAT IS THE QUESTION FACING THE PLAYOFF SELECTION COMMITTEE
MICHIGAN
WITH TWO LOSSES ON THE SEASON (10-2) WILL THIS BE THE FIRST TEAM IN PLAYOFF HISTORY TO MAKE THE PLAYOFF WITH TWO LOSSES?
MICHIGAN LOST TO AN UNRANKED PENN STATE TEAM ON THE ROAD DURING A WHITE OUT 31-24 AND AGAIN AT HOME AGAINST #6 AND EVENTUAL CONFERENCE CHAMPS MICHIGAN STATE 26-17.
MICHIGAN DID BEAT NOTRE DAME WEEK 2 AT HOME IN OVERTIME 29-23 AND WENT ON THE ROAD AND BEAT OHIO STATE ON RIVALRY WEEKEND 31-21. BUT IS THAT ENOUGH TO GIVE THE WOLVERINES THE NOD IN THE PLAYOFF SELECTION PROCESS?
ALABAMA
NOW BRINGS US TO THE SEC CHAMPS WHO ENDED THE REGULAR SEASON AT 12-1. ALABAMA'S ONLY LOSS CAME ON THE ROAD TO #11 MISSISSIPPI STATE BY A TOUCHDOWN 35-28. AFTER THAT LOSS, THE CRIMSON TIDE DID NOTHING MORE THAN BEAT #21 FLORIDA TWICE (ONCE ON THE ROAD AND ONCE IN THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME) AND THEN BEAT #15 AUBURN AT HOME IN THE IRON BOWL.
MICHIGAN STATE
RANKED #6 (11-2) AT THE END OF THE YEAR AFTER BEATING UNRANKED IOWA IN THE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME. THE TWO LOSSES WERE A WEEK 3 LOSS BY 9 TO NOTRE DAME AND A WEEK 12 LOSS 24-10 AT HOME TO OHIO STATE. MICHIGAN STATE DID BEAT THE WOLVERINES 26-17 AT THE BIG HOUSE.
WILL THE BIG TEN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP BE ENOUGH TO VAULT MSU INTO THE PLAYOFF, OR WILL THERE BE 0 BIG TEN TEAMS IN THE PLAYOFF?
OHIO STATE
FINISHING THE SEASON AT 10-2 WITH THEIR TWO LOSSES COMING AT UNRANKED PENN STATE (MICHIGAN ALSO LOST TO PENN STATE) AND AT HOME AGAINST MICHIGAN 31-21. GIVEN THESE FACTORS, WITH BOTH MICHIGAN AND THE BUCKEYES LOSING TO PENN STATE AND MICHIGAN BEATING THE BUCKEYES HEADS UP, IS THERE ENOUGH TO CONVINCE THE VOTERS?
THE BUCKEYES DID HOWEVER NOTCH A VICTORY AGAINST THE CONFERENCE CHAMPS MICHIGAN STATE 24-10 AT SPARTY'S HOME.
AS YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A LOT OF ITEMS FOR THE SELECTION COMMITTEE TO SORT OUT! NEXT WEEK, WE WILL ANNOUNCE THE PLAYOFF CONTENDERS!
OF ALL THE PLAYERS I AM PULLING FOR THIS WEEK, THE MAIN ONE IS DEMETRIUS MAUNEY. HE NEEDS A STRONG SHOWING IN THE CLASSROOM IN ORDER TO REMAIN ACADEMICALLY ELIGIBLE FOR THE BOWL GAME. LETS GO!
RECRUITING NEWS
DAN MOSS - SS OUT OF GLOUCESTER POINT, VA HAS SIGNED WITH THE PIRATES!
VICTOR YOUNG - FS - HAS UNLOCKED US OUT, SO WE MAY PURSUE HIM IN THE OFF-SEASON
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES:
WE HAVE A FULL SLATE OF GREAT MATCH UPS FOR THIS CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON!
SATURDAY DECEMBER 14TH
C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP - 12:00 PM
WESTERN KENTUCKY VS. #18 NORTH TEXAS
AMERICAN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP - 3:30 PM
SMU VS. #11 CINCINNATI
SEC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP - 3:30 PM
#14 FLORIDA VS. #5 ALABAMA
MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP - 7:30 PM
#24 FRESNO STATE VS. #13 UTAH STATE
PAC 12 CHAMPIONSHIP - 8:00 PM
#12 OREGON VS. #19 ARIZONA
ACC CHAMPIONSHIP - 8:00 PM
#9 FSU VS. #1 VIRGINIA TECH
BIG 10 CHAMPIONSHIP - 8:00 PM
IOWA VS. #6 MICHIGAN STATE
MAC CHAMPIONSHIP - 8:00 PM
KENT STATE VS. TOLEDO
LOOKING AT THE ABOVE MATCHUPS, WHAT A DAY OF FOOTBALL AND HOPEFULLY YOU HAVE A DUAL TV SETUP TO ENJOY THE 3:30 DUAL MATCHUPS AS WELL AS THE PAC-12 AND THE ACC CHAMPIONSHIP IN THE 8 O CLOCK SLOT.
**BARRING THE ABILITY TO GET THE EDITOR TO WORK FOR THE PLAYOFF, THE NEXT WEEK'S UPDATE MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE PLAYOFF SELECTION STATISTICS**
WEEK 14 RECAP FROM AROUND THE NATION:
RIVALRY WEEK RESULTS:
#1 VIRGINIA TECH 28 - #20 VIRGINIA - 21
# 7 MICHIGAN 31 - #4 OHIO STATE - 21
#13 FSU - 42 - #10 FLORIDA - 40
#5 ALABAMA - 42 - #11 AUBURN - 10
SMU - 20 - HOUSTON - 6
UCF - 20 - USF - 13
WEEK 15 NEWS
NO SUSPENSIONS DURING THE BYE WEEK, AND NO INDIVIDUALS DECLARED ACADEMICALLY INELIGIBLE FOR THE UPCOMING BOWL GAME.
RECRUITING NEWS
VICTOR YOUNG - FS - HAS LOCKED US OUT (HOPING TO GET ENOUGH COACHING XP POINTS THIS NEXT WEEK IN ORDER TO POSSIBLY UNLOCK AND GET BACK IN THE BATTLE, AS THIS RECRUIT WE HAVE WANTED SINCE DAY ONE.
LANCE GOODWIN - DT - HAS COMMITTED TO NORTHWESTERN, CITED WAS LOOKING FOR EDUCATION FIRST, AND CHOSE THE WILDCATS OF THE BIG 10
JARED NELSON - DE - HAS BECOME THE 6TH RECRUIT OF THE COACH FALK ERA, AND WAS SCOUTED AFTER COMMITTING WHICH RESULTED IN A BUST GRADE DROPPING FROM A 57 OVERALL TO A 49. IT WILL TAKE A LOT OF EXTRA WORK IN THE OFF SEASON IN ORDER FOR JARED TO MAKE AN IMPACT FOR THE 2014 PIRATES. ALL SIGNS ARE POINTING TO A RED SHIRT.
NEXT WEEK WE WILL HIGHLIGHT TEAM NEWS AS WELL AS THE UPCOMING CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES AND PREPARE FOR THE PLAYOFF SELECTION COMMITTEE RESULTS!
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Posted on October 31, 2019 at 08:26 AM.
I CANT BELIEVE HOW FAST THIS SEASON HAS GONE, ITS ALREADY WEEK 14 AND THE PIRATES ARE GETTING READY TO PLAY THEIR LAST REGULAR SEASON GAME OF THE YEAR SQUARING OFF AGAINST THE UCONN HUSKIES. TRAVELING TO UCONN WE EXPECT IT TO BE A COLD GAME HOWEVER WE EXPECT THE ACTION ON THE FIELD TO BE HOT! ALTHOUGH UCONN HAS NOT HAD THE YEAR THEY HAD HOPED FOR, WE DONT EXPECT THEM TO LAY DOWN FOR US ON SENIOR NIGHT!
FROM THE KICKOFF YOU COULD TELL THIS WASNT GOING TO BE AN EASY GAME FOR THE PIRATES. IT TOOK THE PIRATE OFFENSE MULTIPLE CONVERSIONS OF THIRD AND LONGS TO GET INTO SCORING RANGE AND FINALLY CAP OFF THE DRIVE WITH A TD. AFTER THAT FIRST DRIVE HOWEVER BOTH DEFENSES WOULD HOLD STOUT AND NO OTHER POINTS WOULD BE SCORED! LEADING 7-0 AT THE HALF WAS NOT WHAT THE OVER BETTORS HAD IN MIND FOR THIS ONE, BUT FOR COACH FALK AND THE PIRATES, IT WAS JUST FINE.
THE DEFENSES SHINED IN THE FIRST HALF AND THE PIRATES ON THE FIRST DRIVE OF THE SECOND HALF FORCED A THREE AND OUT, WITH DAMEL HICKMAN AWAITING THE PUNT FROM THE UCONN HUSKIES. DAMEL HAD FLIRTED WITH RETURNING A PUNT ALL YEAR BUT COULDN'T QUITE GET THE RIGHT RETURN SET UP, HOWEVER THIS TIME, WOULD BE A DIFFERENT STORY. NOT ANY OF HIS 4 INJURIES THIS YEAR WOULD STOP HIM FROM GETTING TO THE END ZONE THIS TIME AND GIVING THE PIRATES A 14-0 LEAD THAT THEY WOULD NOT LET GO OF.
HOLTON AHLERS AFTER A EARLY GAME INT SETTLED DOWN AND BECAME THE HOLTON WE ALL KNEW HE COULD BE, TAKING OVER THE GAME, MANAGING THE PLAYS, MAKING THE RIGHT READS AND ADDING TWO MORE TOUCHDOWNS TO THE PIRATE LEAD (1 PASSING AND 1 RUSHING). IT WAS NOW 28-0 AND THE SUBS WERE COMING IN FOR THE PIRATES ENDING UCONN'S CHANCES AT A SENIOR NIGHT WIN. RANDY EDSALL FINISHED THE SEASON AT 2-10 AND HIS SEAT COULDN'T BE HOTTER.
THE PIRATES HOWEVER FINISHED THE REGULAR SEASON 7-5 AND ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THEIR FIRST BOWL GAME UNDER THE TUTELAGE OF COACH FALK III!
INJURY NEWS:
ANOTHER OFFENSIVE LINEMAN FACED A SLEW OF INJURIES THIS GAME. C BRANDON PENA, SENIOR, STRAINED HIS ABDOMINALS IN THE FIRST HALF ONLY TO RETURN AND STRAIN HIS SHOULDER. THIS IS THE SECOND INJURY TO AN OFFENSIVE LINEMAN THIS YEAR, AND COUPLED WITH OUR ALREADY BEING DOWN THREE LINEMAN DUE TO SUSPENSIONS AND DISMISSALS, THE OLINE WAS WEARING THIN. WE ARE HOPING TO HAVE ZERO SETBACKS FOR THE BOWL GAME.
Sunday, October 27, 2019
SUSPENSION AND ACADEMIC NEWS:
ONCE AGAIN, IT IS ANOTHER SUSPENSION FREE WEEK FOR THE PIRATES. ACADEMICALLY, BOTH DEMETRIUS MAUNEY AND BRYAN GAGG (QB) ARE IN TROUBLE OF BECOMING INELIGIBLE FOR THE POSSIBLE BOWL GAME COMING UP.
INJURY REPORT:
WARREN SABA WILL RETURN TO THE FIELD THIS WEEK HOWEVER STARTING STRONG SAFETY DANIEL CHARLES HAS ENTERED CONCUSSION PROTOCOL AND WILL MISS THIS WEEK'S GAME BUT SHOULD BE FINE FOR A POTENTIAL BOWL BERTH.
RECRUITING NEWS:
BO HERRING - SIGNED WITH SMU - WE WILL BE WATCHING FOR HIM ON THE FIELD THE NEXT 4 YEARS, AND WE WILL MAKE SURE HE THINKS TWICE ABOUT THE DECISION HE JUST MADE!
SCOUTING REPORT:
DAMARCUS CANNON - TE - BUST - OVERALL 58 DROPPED TO OVERALL 53 - WE WILL STILL WORK WITH HIM IN THE OFF SEASON AND HOPEFULLY HIS WORK ETHIC RATING IS HIGHER AND HE CAN EVOLVE INTO A SITUATIONAL PLAYER FOR US DOWN THE ROAD.
SHAWN BURNETT - DE - DROPPED ONE POINT FROM 64 TO 63, OVERALL HE GRADED EXACTLY HOW WE THOUGHT HE WOULD AND WE ARE EXCITED TO GET HIM ON CAMPUS THIS SUMMER!
ZACH HILL - OLB - INCREASED BY TWO POINTS - THIS TWO STAR PROSPECT SHOWS A LOT OF PROMISE AND HAS GREAT SPEED AND AGILITY FOR A LINEBACKER WHO SHOULD SEE IMMEDIATE FIELD TIME ON SPECIAL TEAMS.
LAMARR SWAIN - CB - JUCO - THIS JUCO SIGNEE WAS OUR HIGHEST OVERALL INCREASE FROM OUR IN SEASON SIGNEES AT 71 TO A 75. HE HAS BETTER THAN ANTICIPATED ZONE COVERAGE SKILLS AND SHOULD MAKE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT AS A ROTATIONAL STARTER ON THE DEFENSE FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS!
ANTHONY STANFORD - MLB - 4 STAR PROSPECT THAT WAS LIGHTLY RECRUITED BY THE BIG BOYS AND RIGHTFULLY SO AS HE DROPPED TWO POINTS FROM A 65 TO A 63 TO START SUMMER CAMP. HE HAS THE PEDIGREE TO BECOME AN EXCITING PART OF COACH FALK III'S FIRST RECRUITING CLASS BUT WILL HAVE TO WORK HARD THIS OFF SEASON TO SEE THE FIELD IN THE FALL.
UCONN GAME PLAN:
OFFENSIVELY COACH EDSALL RUNS A MULTIPLE OFFENSE FROM HIS TIME AT MARYLAND AND WE EXPECT TO SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT LOOKS. THEIR BEST PLAYER OFFENSIVELY SEEMS TO BE THEIR RUNNING BACK AND HE RUNS BEHIND A STRONG OFFENSIVE LINE. THEIR QB IS NOT VERY STRONG MENTALLY AND WE WILL ATTACK BY SHOWING MULTIPLE LOOKS ON DEFENSE MIXING UP COVERAGES AND CONFUSING HIM WITH WHERE BLITZERS ARE COMING FROM. IT ALL STARTS WITH SHUTTING DOWN THE RUN THOUGH!
DEFENSIVELY UCONN RUNS A 3-4 HOWEVER ARE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AT ALL PHASES OF DEFENSE ESPECIALLY THEIR DEFENSIVE LINE. THIS MAY BE THE ONE GAME ALL YEAR WHERE ECU HAS AN ADVANTAGE IN THE TRENCHES AND WE WILL LOOK TO EXPLOIT THAT. ESTABLISHING THE RUN AND GETTING CHUNK PLAYS OFF OF PLAY ACTION WILL BE THE GOAL. WE WILL NOT UNDERESTIMATE THIS DEFENSE HOWEVER AS THEY WILL BE PLAYING AT HOME ON SENIOR DAY IN WHAT WE EXPECT TO BE VERY COLD WEATHER THIS THANKSGIVING WEEKEND.
HOLTON AHLERS HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF BAD PRESS THIS PAST WEEK THROWING MULTIPLE PICKS IN LAST WEEKS GAME VS UCF, HOWEVER COACH FALK HAS DECIDED THAT HE WILL REMAIN THE STARTER AND WE WOULD NOT DISCUSS THIS TOPIC AGAIN UNTIL THIS OFF SEASON. WITH ALL THE TROUBLES BRYAN GAGG AND REID HERRING ARE HAVING IN THE CLASSROOM, HE BELIEVES ITS BEST TO NOT PUT MORE PRESSURE ON THOSE KIDS.
SEASON STATS LEADERS - ECU:
QB - HOLTON AHLERS - 124.4 RATING, 225/384, 2,799 YARDS, 18 TD, 21 INT'S
HB - HUSSEIN HOWE - 89 CARRIES, 393 YARDS, 5 TD'S
WR - BLAKE PROEHL - 38 RECEPTIONS, 584 YARDS, 5 TD'S
MLB - XAVIER SMITH - 64 TACKLES, 13 TFL'S, 2 SACKS, 1 FORCED FUMBLE, 1 SAFETY
K - JAKE VERITY - 14/22 FG'S, LONG OF 51, 32/32 EXTRA POINTS
RIVALRY WEEK HIGHLIGHTED MATCH UPS:
HUNKER DOWN AFTER A HOLIDAY WEEK FILLED WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS, FOOD, AND FOOTBALL AND ENJOY THESE UPCOMING GAMES:
#20 VIRGINIA @ #1 VIRGINIA TECH - SATURDAY 12:00 PM
#7 MICHIGAN @ # 4 OHIO STATE - SATURDAY 1:00 PM
#13 FSU # 10 FLORIDA - SATURDAY 3:30 PM
#11 AUBURN @ #5 ALABAMA - SATURDAY 3:30 PM
AMERICAN CONFERENCE RIVALRY GAMES TO WATCH:
7-4 (4-4) SMU @ 7-4 (4-4) HOUSTON - FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29TH 3:30 PM
6-5 (4-4) USF @ 6-5 (4-4) UCF - FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29TH 7:00 PM
THE PIRATES END THEIR REGULAR SEASON WITH TWO STRAIGHT ROAD GAMES BEGINNING WITH THIS MATCH UP. COACH FALK AND THE PIRATES TRAVEL DOWN TO FLORIDA AND GET A CHANCE TO SHOW RECRUITS FROM THEIR PIPELINE FLORIDA EXACTLY WHAT PIRATE FOOTBALL IS ALL ABOUT!
EACH TEAM HAS BROUGHT OUT A HONORARY CAPTAIN FOR THE COIN TOSS. FOR THE HOMETOWN KNIGHTS, NONE OTHER THAN DAUNTE CULPEPPER IS OUT AT MIDFIELD HYPING THE CROWD UP! FOR THE PIRATES, THE SMALL GROUP OF PIRATE FAITHFUL THAT MADE THE TRIP DOWN GET TO ENJOY SEEING CHRIS "CJ2K" JOHNSON CALL THE COIN FLIP FOR THEM!
IT WAS A CLOUDY START TO THE GAME WITH AN UNEXPECTED FOG COVERING THE STADIUM, AND FOR THE PIRATES COVERING THEIR TEAM. AFTER A SUCCESSFUL FG ATTEMPT BY JAKE VERITY, THE PIRATES HAD NOTHING ELSE GOING IN THE FIRST HALF, UNABLE TO PIERCE THE UCF KNIGHTS DEFENSIVE ARMOR. HOWEVER, THE KNIGHTS ONLY LED BY 7 AT THE END OF THE FIRST HALF (10-3). HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR AN UNTIMELY CLIPPING PERSONAL FOUL ON THE KNIGHTS THAT CALLED BACK A 70 YARD RUN BY KILLINS JR, THE KNIGHTS WOULD HAVE BEEN UP 14.
THE SECOND HALF DID NOT START OUT GREAT FOR THE PIRATES, AS THE KNIGHTS RECEIVED THE BALL AND IN A COUPLE OF QUICK PLAYS, SCORED A TOUCHDOWN PUTTING THE KNIGHTS UP 17-3. BRANDON WIMBUSH WAS CLEARLY THE STAR OF THE GAME AND COULDN'T BE STOPPED ON THE GROUND. AFTER A TURNOVER BY THE PIRATES, 1 OF 4 INT'S BY HOLTON AHLERS, THE KNIGHTS' WIMBUSH HAD ANOTHER LONG RUN FOR A TD GIVING UCF A COMFORTABLE LEAD 24-3 IN THIS RIVALRY GAME.
THE TWO TEAMS THEN TRADED TOUCHDOWNS AND HALFWAY THROUGH THE 4TH QUARTER, THE KNIGHTS LED 31-10 WHICH WOULD BE HOW THE GAME WOULD END. BRANDON WIMBUSH, A MAN AMONGST BOYS TODAY, FINISHED WITH 241 YARDS THROUGH THE AIR ON 21/24 PASSING AND 153 YARDS ON THE GROUND FROM 21 CARRIES ACCOUNTING FOR ALL 4 OF THE UCF TOUCHDOWNS (1 PASSING, 3 RUSHING)
ONCE AGAIN THE SCRAMBLING QB HAS DECIMATED THIS PIRATE DEFENSE. IT ALSO DIDNT HELP THAT WARREN SABA, THEIR STAR DEFENSIVE PLAYER MISSED THIS GAME DUE TO A CONCUSSION IN THE PRIOR WEEK AND NOT PASSING CONCUSSION PROTOCOL. HE IS EXPECTED BACK NEXT WEEK IN OUR REGULAR SEASON FINALE AGAINST UCONN.
THERE IS A LOT OF GRUMBLINGS IN THE LOCAL PAPERS ABOUT HOLTON'S PLAY (4 INT'S THIS GAME) AND EVEN SOME CALLS TO SEE WHAT THE BACKUPS CAN DO. COACH FALK WILL HAVE TO ASSESS THIS SITUATION AND SEE WHAT THE BEST DECISION FOR THE TEAM IS WITH ONLY 1 REGULAR SEASON GAME LEFT.
THE PIRATES ARE BOWL ELIGIBLE HOWEVER HAVE NOT BEEN INVITED YET, SO A WIN AGAINST UCONN WOULD HELP STRENGTHEN OUR RESUME AND IS MUCH NEEDED FOR THE PROGRAM'S CONFIDENCE HEADING INTO NEXT SEASON.
COACH FALK III AT THE POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE NOTED HOW MUCH THIS ONE HURTS, BUT ALSO KNOWS THAT WE CANT DWELL ON THIS ONE TOO LONG. PUT THIS IN THE BANK FOR NEXT YEARS GAME AT HOME AGAINST UCF AND MOVE ON TO UCONN PREP THIS WEEK.
Friday, October 25, 2019
WE ARE PROUD TO SAY THERE ARE NO SUSPENSIONS AND NO TEAM MEMBERS WHO ARE CONSIDERED ACADEMICALLY INELIGIBLE!
RECRUITING NEWS:
T - CHASE THOMAS SIGNED WITH FAU (THE SECOND RECRUIT LOST TO FAU THIS SEASON!)
WE ADDED A HOMEGROWN TALENT OUT OF MARION, NC - 2 STAR PROSPECT AT OUTSIDE LINEBACKER MIKE VAUGHN AT 6'4, 230.
WE ARE IN TIGHT RECRUITING BATTLES FOR THE FOLLOWING PROSPECTS:
FS - VICTOR YOUNG
SS - DAN MOSS
DT - LANCE GOODWIN
TE - BRANDON BUTLER
G - ANTHONY PRINCE
INJURY REPORT:
LAST GAME DAMEL HICKMAN SUFFERED ANOTHER AILMENT WITH A BRUISED STERNUM CAUSING HIM TO MISS THE REST OF THE GAME
WARREN SABA, OUTSTANDING OUTSIDE LINEBACKER FOR THE PIRATES AND IMPACT PLAYER - ENTERED CONCUSSION PROTOCOL AND WAS STILL EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS FROM THE KNEE TO THE HEAD HE TOOK OFF OF BLAKE BARNETT'S LEG DURING A SACK LAST WEEK, AND WILL MISS THIS GAME AGAINST UCF
UCF GAME PLAN:
OFFENSIVELY, UCF DOES NOT HAVE A GLARING WEAKNESS, WITH A SENIOR AT QB IN BRANDON WIMBUSH, AN IMPACT PLAYER AT RUNNING BACK, AND A STABLE OF SPEEDY AND POSSESSION RECEIVERS AT THEIR DISPOSAL, ALONG WITH AN OFFENSIVE LINE THAT IS ONE OF THE BEST IN THE NATION. OUR MAIN GOAL IS TO FOCUS ON THE RUNNING BACK, PLAY TIGHT TO THE RECEIVERS CAUSING THE INACCURATE WIMBUSH TO HAVE TO MAKE A GOOD THROW, AND PRESS ALL RECEIVERS BUT KEEPING AN EXTRA EYE ON THE SPEEDY RECEIVERS BY SPYING THEM.
DEFENSIVELY, EASILY THE BEST DB'S WE HAVE FACED UNDER THE FIRST YEAR OF COACH FALK'S TENURE AT EAST CAROLINA. THE PIRATES WILL RUN A LOT OF SCREENS TO GET BIG LINEMAN OUT IN SPACE TO BLOCK THE SMALLER DB'S AS WELL AS ESTABLISH THE RUNNING GAME. THIS MAY BE THE FIRST TIME A RUNNING BACK GOES OVER 100 YARDS THIS GAME. EXPECT TO HEAR THE NAMES OF HOWE, CHRISTIAN, AND MAUNEY A LOT THIS SATURDAY.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
LAST TIME THE SENIORS GET TO HEAR PURPLE HAZE AS THEY RUN THROUGH THE TUNNEL BEFORE THE GAME. LAST PIRATE WALK ON THE FIELD AND THEIR LAST PURPLE AND GOLD DAY AT SCHOOL THE FRIDAY BEFORE.
THIS SENIOR NIGHT IS IMPORTANT NOT ONLY TO SEND THE SENIORS OFF THE RIGHT WAY, BUT THIS COULD ALSO BE THE GAME THAT THE PIRATES BECOME BOWL ELIGIBLE!
3:30 ON A SATURDAY, WHERE ELSE WOULD YOU WANT TO BE BESIDES DOWDY FICKLEN STADIUM!
AT KICKOFF THE CROWD WAS HYPE AS THE PIRATES WON THE TOSS AND CHOSE TO DEFER GIVING THE BALL TO BLAKE BARNETT AND THE BULLS OFFENSE. A COUPLE OF PLAYS LATER HOWEVER, BLAKE WOULD REGRET HAVING THE BALL SO SOON, AS WARREN SABA JUMPED AN OUT ROUTE AND INTERCEPTED THE BALL RESULTING IN A PICK SIX GIVING THE PIRATES A 7-0 LEAD. WARREN SABA WOULD ALSO REGISTER A SACK IN THIS GAME BEFORE HAVING TO LEAVE IN THE SECOND QUARTER WITH A CONCUSSION (HE WILL ENTER CONCUSSION PROTOCOL GOING INTO NEXT WEEKS GAME @ UCF).
THE BULLS HOWEVER WOULD NOT BE DENIED TIEING THE GAME UP AT 7 AFTER A MISSED JAKE VERITY FG GAVE THE BULLS EXCELLENT STARTING FIELD POSITION. THE FIRST HALF WAS NOT LACKING ANY SCORING AS BOTH TEAMS TRADED BLOWS AND EAST CAROLINA TAKING A 21-14 LEAD EVEN AFTER A HORRIBLE START BY HOLTON AHLERS, BEGINNING THE GAME 3/12 MISSING THREE RECEIVERS FOR LARGE GAINS.
THE SECOND HALF STARTED OFF WITH A FIRST PLAY INTERCEPTION FOR HOLTON, GIVING THE BULLS THE BALL AROUND MIDFIELD. THE BULLS DROVE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE GOAL LINE, BUT WERE STOPPED ON 3RD AND GOAL, BRINGING OUT THE FG UNIT. THE 18 YARD FG HOWEVER WAS MISSED, AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHY YOU NEVER GIVE AN INCH AND PLAY EVERY PLAY TO ITS FULLEST!
THE PIRATES NOW HAD A 28-14 LEAD AFTER A LATE ZECH BYRD TOUCHDOWN, THE OTHER TWO SENIOR TIGHT ENDS ALSO HAD A CATCH A PIECE TO FACTOR INTO THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NIGHT. THE BULLS HOWEVER WERE DRIVING AND ENDED UP SCORING ON A BLAKE BARNETT RUSHING TOUCHDOWN (HIS SECOND OF THE DAY).
THE PIRATES WERE NOW UP 28-21 WITH 3 MINUTES LEFT, AND A COUPLE OF FIRST DOWNS WOULD SEAL THEIR 6TH WIN OF THE YEAR. THE PIRATES HAD A SECOND AND ONE AND TWO STRAIGHT NEGATIVE PLAYS RESULTED IN A 4TH AND 6 CAUSING THE PIRATES TO PUNT AND GIVE THE BALL BACK TO THE BULLS. WITH LESS THAN 2 MINUTES LEFT AND 0 TIMEOUTS, THE BULLS HAD TO GET TO WORK.
BLAKE DROVE THE BULLS DOWN THE FIELD AND SCORED A TOUCHDOWN ON A TYRE MCCANTS 13 YARD SCORE. THE GAME WAS TIED WITH 50 SECONDS LEFT. ON THE ENSUING KICKOFF, TRUE FRESHMAN JSI HATFIELD RECEIVED THE KICK AT ABOUT THE 26 YARD LINE, MADE THREE GUYS MISS AND TOOK IT TO THE HOUSE FOR THE GO AHEAD TOUCHDOWN, 35-28! A TRUE FRESHMAN SAVING SENIOR NIGHT FROM AN OVERTIME VISIT!
THIS SENIOR NIGHT WILL GO DOWN AS ONE FOR THE AGES! YOU HAVE TO WATCH THIS GAME AS IT WAS AN ESPN CLASSIC AND WILL BE AIRED ON ESPN 2!
COACH FALK III COULDN'T BE PROUDER OF HIS TEAM! THE SENIORS GOT THE SEND OFF THEY DESERVE AND THE PIRATES ARE BOWL ELIGIBLE WITH TWO GAMES TO PLAY!
Sunday, October 20, 2019
NO INDIVIDUAL SUSPENSIONS FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK!
DEMETRIUS MAUNEY IS SEEING A TUTOR AGAIN DUE TO HAVING A 1.80 OVERALL GPA. DUE TO THE EXTRA STUDY TIME IN THE CLASSROOM (MAJORING IN LIBERAL STUDIES) AND NOT IN THE FILM ROOM, HIS AWARENESS POINTS WILL BE ADJUSTED DOWN 14 POINTS.
RECRUITING NEWS:
VISITS SCHEDULED FOR SENIOR NIGHT:
DT - LANCE GOODWIN, DE - JARED NELSON, TE - BRANDON BUTLER, G - ANTHONY PRINCE, SS - DAN MOSS
WE GOT A FULL SLATE OF GUYS COMING TO VISIT ON SENIOR NIGHT, AND SCHOLARSHIPS HAVE BEEN OFFERED TO ALL, HOPING TO GET SIGNATURES AFTER THE GAME!
USF GAME-PLAN
THE BULLS UNDER HEAD COACH CHARLIE STRONG RUN A SPREAD OFFENSE AND A 4-2-5 DEFENSE. BLAKE BARNETT (TRANSFER FROM ALABAMA) HAS ELITE QUICKNESS AND DECENT THROWING POWER AND ACCURACY. THE PIRATES NEED TO CONTAIN HIM AND NOT LET HIM OUTSIDE THE POCKET, AS THIS HAS BEEN THE DEFENSE'S NEMESIS ALL YEAR LONG - SEE MEMPHIS END OF GAME AS EXAMPLE! THEIR O LINE IS WEAK AND A TRUE FRESHMAN IS STARTING AT RIGHT TACKLE DUE TO AN INJURY, THEREFORE OUR PLAN IS TO CONFUSE THE OLINE TO GET BLITZERS TO THE QUARTERBACK WITH A FREE SHOT. THE PIRATES NEED TO PLAY SOUND DEFENSE AND STAY IN THEIR LANES. DUE TO BLAKE'S ATHLETICISM, WE ARE GOING TO SPY OCCASIONALLY ON WARRANTED DOWNS TO ENSURE HE DOESNT HURT US WITH HIS LEGS. OVERALL THEIR SKILL PLAYERS ARE JUST A SOLID GROUP SO WE WILL BE MIXING IN MAN AND ZONE COVERAGES IN THE BACK END OF THE DEFENSE.
OFFENSIVELY, OUR PLAN TO ATTACK THE DEFENSE IS TO BE READY TO PASS! HOLTON AHLERS GETS TO RETURN HOME FOR HIS LAST HOME GAME THIS YEAR AS HE DOES NOT PLAY PARTICULARLY WELL ON THE ROAD. WE ARE GOING TO PASS AND PASS SOME MORE. WE DO HOWEVER WANT TO WATCH OUT FOR THORPE AWARD FINALIST RONNIE HOGGINS, WHO WILL PLAY CLOSE TO THE LINE DUE TO THE 4--2-5 SCHEME. WE WILL WANT TO LOCATE HIM PRESNAP EVERY PLAY. THEIR D LINE AND LINEBACKERS ARE NOTHING TO MESS WITH, AND OUR OLINE IS UP TO A TOUGH TASK, ESPECIALLY GIVEN OUR PREVIOUS SUSPENSIONS MAKING THE LINE THIN ALREADY. WE WILL RUN TO KEEP THEM HONEST, BUT OUR MAIN FOCAL POINT WILL BE ATTACKING THE WEAKER CORNER BACKS AND FREE SAFETY.
TOP 10
#1 ALABAMA - 9-0
#2 VIRGINIA TECH - 10-0
#3 TEXAS - 9-0
#4 NOTRE DAME - 9-1
#5 MICHIGAN STATE - 8-1
#6 AUBURN - 9-1
#7 FLORIDA - 8-1
#8 OHIO STATE - 8-1
#9 OREGON - 9-1
#10 UTAH - 8-1
HEISMAN WATCH:
HB - C.J. VERDELL - OREGON
HB - NAJEE HARRIS - ALABAMA
HB - DESHAWN MCCLEASE - VIRGINIA TECH
HB - LARRY ROUNTREE III - MIZZOU
HB - TRAVIS ETIENNE - CLEMSON
THEIR ARE NO AWARD FINALISTS FOR THE EAST CAROLINA PIRATES THIS YEAR.
GOING ON THE ROAD FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 4 WEEKS, THE PIRATES WILL HAVE ONE OF THEIR TOUGHEST TESTS OF THE SEASON. COACH FALK WAS BUSINESS ALL WEEK, AND STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS GAME TO THE PLAYERS. ITS A MUST WIN FOR A SHOT AT THE AMERICAN CONFERENCE EAST DIVISION TITLE.
THE START OF THE GAME WAS BRUTAL FOR THE PIRATES OFFENSE, MISSING A 52 YARD FG, AND TURNING THE BALL OVER TWICE, HOWEVER THE DEFENSE SHINED HOLDING THE BEARCATS TO ONLY THREE FG'S BY HALFTIME TAKING ON A DEFICIT OF 9-0.
COACH FALK III HAD AN INSPIRED SPEECH AT HALFTIME TO RILE UP THE TEAM WHO WAS OUT MANNED, OUT EXECUTED, OUT HUSTLED, AND OUT PHYSICALED. THE BEARCAT OFFENSE HOWEVER WENT RIGHT DOWN THE FIELD AND SCORED A RUSHING TOUCHDOWN BY MICHAEL WARREN II, WHO WASN'T ABLE TO BE BROUGHT DOWN ALL DAY, BREAKING WHAT SEEMED TO BE EVERY TACKLE THAT WAS ATTEMPTED.
THE OFFENSE WAS INSPIRED BY COACH AND SCORED 10 UNANSWERED! THE DEFENSE THEN RETURNED THE FAVOR AND FORCED A 3 AND OUT GIVING THE BALL BACK TO THE OFFENSE WITH ABOUT 7 MINUTES LEFT TO GO IN THE FOURTH DOWN ONLY 7. HOLTON AHLERS HAD A LESS THAN STELLAR GAME BUT WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE HIS TEAM DOWN AND TIE THE BALL GAME UP ON THE ROAD. THE SOPHOMORE QB HOWEVER MADE AN INEXPERIENCED MISTAKE AND DIDN'T SEE THE SAFETY LURK INTO A THROWING LANE. PROEHL RAN A PERFECT CURL ROUTE, HOWEVER THE SAFETY INTERCEPTED THE BALL BY UNDERCUTTING THE ROUTE AND TOOK IT TO THE HOUSE.
THE PIRATES WERE NEVER ABLE TO RECOVER AND THE END SCORE WAS 24-10. THE DEFENSE PLAYED TREMENDOUSLY, HOWEVER THE BEARCAT DEFENSE WAS PROBABLY THE BEST WE HAVE SEEN ALL YEAR.
BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD FOR THE PIRATES WHO ARE STILL ONE WIN AWAY FROM BOWL ELIGIBILITY WITH ONLY 3 GAMES LEFT. NEXT GAME IS OUR LAST HOME GAME OF THE SEASON, SENIOR NIGHT! SOME OF THE SENIORS THAT DO NOT START WILL GET SOME ACTION DURING THE GAME INCLUDING TE'S ANTHONY WATLEY, AND JARAY SAMPSON, AS WELL AS DT JALEN PRICE.
Friday, October 18, 2019
NO SUSPENSIONS THIS WEEK (WHEW!) HOWEVER DEMETRIUS MAUNEY IS BACK HAVING ACADEMIC ISSUES AGAIN AND IS IN TROUBLE OF BECOMING ACADEMICALLY INELIGIBLE. HOWEVER NO TIME FOR EXTRA SCHOOLWORK THIS WEEK AS WE HAVE #24 CINCINNATI IN A MUST WIN FOR THE PIRATES IF THEY WANT A SHOT AT THE AMERICAN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR.
LAST WEEK WE LOST CHANCE PURVIS TO A BROKEN TAILBONE FOR 10 WEEKS (AKA THE REST OF THE SEASON) HOWEVER WE HAVE MOVED SENIOR KENDALL FUTRELL, TO HIS SPOT AND MOVED TRAVEON FRESHWATER TO THE BACKUP BEHIND FUTRELL.
ANTHONY STANFORD WHO VISITED DURING THE TEMPLE GAME WAS SO IMPRESSED WITH THE SHOWING AT DOWDY-FICKLEN STADIUM COULDN'T PASS UP THE OPPORTUNITY AND SIGNED HIS LETTER OF INTENT AFTER THE GAME!
LEROY HENLEY HAS MOVED BACK INTO THE STARTING ROTATION AT WIDE RECEIVER, REPLACING MYDREON VINES WHO WILL NOW BE AT WR4.
CONFERENCE STANDINGS:
AMERICAN EAST
CINCINNATI - 7-1 OVERALL, 4-1 IN CONFERENCE PLAY
EAST CAROLINA - 5-3 OVERALL, 3-2 IN CONFERENCE PLAY
TEMPLE - 5-3 OVERALL, 3-2 IN CONFERENCE PLAY
UCF - 5-3 OVERALL, 3-2 IN CONFERENCE PLAY
USF - 5-3 OVERALL, 3-2 IN CONFERENCE PLAY
UCONN - 1-7 OVERALL, 1-4 IN CONFERENCE PLAY
GAME PREP FOR CINCINNATI:
DUE TO THEIR WEAK INTERIOR LINE, OUR GAME PLAN IS TO PUT SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF PRESSURE IN THE A GAP'S AND GET IN THE FACE OF THE TALENTED QB RIDDER. WE ALSO WANT TO TRY TO BOUNCE THE RUNNING BACK TO THE OUTSIDE AND GET HATS TO THE BALL.
DEFENSIVELY, WE ARE GOING TO RUN A LOT OF 4 AND 5 WR SETS TO KEEP THEIR TALENTED LB CORP OFF OF THE FIELD. WE WANT TO AVOID THROWING TO THEIR TALENTED FS AND CB'S SIDE. WE WILL UTILIZE THE RUN TO KEEP THE DEFENSE HONEST OUT OF 4 WIDEOUT SETS TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE LINEBACKERS BEING ON THE SIDELINE.
Thursday, October 17, 2019
WITH JIMI HENDRIX'S PURPLE HAZE BLARING DURING PRE-GAME OF THIS NIGHT GAME, THE ATMOSPHERE WAS ELECTRIC!
COACH FALK III FELT VERY STRONGLY ABOUT HIS GAME PLAN AND COMING OFF OF THE LOSS AT MEMPHIS, KNEW THIS WAS JUST ABOUT AS CLOSE AS YOU COME TO A MUST WIN.
BOTH SIDES UNDERSTOOD THAT BECAUSE THIS WAS THE UGLIEST OR MOST BEAUTIFUL FIRST HALF OF FOOTBALL DEPENDING ON WHAT YOU LIKE TO SEE. THIS HOMECOMING GAME TURNED INTO A DOWNRIGHT DEFENSIVE SLOBBERKNOCKER. EACH SIDE TRADING BLOWS AND A MISSED FG AND SEVERAL TURNOVERS RESULTED IN A 3-0 LEAD BY THE PIRATES AT THE END OF THE FIRST HALF.
STARTING OFF WITH THE BALL IN THE SECOND HALF THE TEMPLE OWLS TOOK THE BALL DOWN THE FIELD AND SCORED A TOUCHDOWN TAKING THE LEAD ON A 13 YARD RUN BY THE QB.
EAST CAROLINA CAME RIGHT BACK DOWN THE FIELD AND ANTHONY WATLEY (TE) SCORED A 1 YARD TOUCHDOWN TO TAKE THE LEAD RIGHT BACK - 10-7!
THE EAST CAROLINA DEFENSE WAS THE TRUE STORY OF THE SECOND HALF, AFTER COUGHING THE BALL UP THREE TIMES (2 INT'S AND 1 FUMBLE - ALL BY HOLTON AHLERS), THE DEFENSE WAS FORCED TO RESPOND, AND DID THEY!
STOPPING THE OWLS ON MULTIPLE FOURTH DOWN OPPORTUNITIES ON OUR SIDE OF THE FIELD, THE PIRATE DEFENSE REALLY EMBODIED WHAT THE "NO QUARTERS" REPRESENTS BY NOT ALLOWING THE OWLS TO SCORE ANOTHER POINT! JAKE VERITY ADDED AN INSURANCE FG AT THE END, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT NEEDED! THE PIRATES TOOK THIS ONE 13-7 BUT THERE WILL BE SOME BAD BLOOD FOR NEXT YEARS MATCH UP I AM SURE!
NO TIME TO CELEBRATE THIS ONE HOWEVER AS THE PIRATES ARE ON THE ROAD NEXT WEEK AGAINST CINCINNATI AND WHAT SHOULD BE A VERY BRUTAL AMERICAN CONFERENCE GAME.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
RECRUITING NEWS:
LAMARR SWAIN (JUCO CB) HAS SIGNED ON AS THE 4TH RECRUIT IN COACH FALK III'S FIRST RECRUITING CLASS FOR THE UPCOMING 2014 SEASON!
SUSPENSION NEWS:
RIGHT TACKLE MATT MORGAN, WAS SUSPENDED FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR, AND WILL BE REPLACED BY JACK DOYLE. THE PIRATES ARE NOW DOWN TO ONLY ONE RIGHT TACKLE ON THE TEAM AND WILL HAVE TO SHIFT SOME PLAYERS ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS UNFORTUNATE NEWS.
TEMPLE GAME PLAN:
THEIR PRO STYLE OFFENSE IS LED BY ANTHONY RUSSO, WHO IS A DECENT QB, HOWEVER HAS LOW AWARENESS AND IS NOT THE MOST ACCURATE. WE WILL MIX COVERAGE PACKAGES DISGUISING OUR DEFENSE AND PRESSING THE WIDE RECEIVERS WHO ARE GOOD OVERALL BUT NOT FAST.
ON DEFENSE, THIS WILL BE THE BEST DEFENSE WE HAVE PLAYED ALL YEAR WITH THEIR FRONT 7 RATHER DOMINANT. THEY ARE WEAK AT THE BOUNDARY CORNER POSITION AS WELL AS AT FREE SAFETY. OUR GOALS WILL BE UTILIZING CROSSING ROUTES AS WELL AS CURLS AND OTHER ROUTES DESIGNED TO HAVE RECEIVERS FIND THE OPEN AREAS IN THE ZONE. WE WILL ALSO BE PUTTING SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE ON THE FREE SAFETY BY WORKING IN SOME DEEP SHOTS TO HIS SIDE OF THE FIELD.
Sunday, October 13, 2019
MEMPHIS IS A MUCH BETTER TEAM THAN THEIR RECORD IMPLIES AND EAST CAROLINA FOUND OUT ABOUT THAT IN THIS HARD FOUGHT BATTLE
THE MEMPHIS OFFENSE HAD NO PROBLEM MOVING DOWN THE FIELD TAKING THE FIRST DRIVE FOR A TOUCHDOWN. EAST CAROLINA THEN ANSWERED WITH A FG AND A TD OF THEIR OWN TO TAKE A 10-7 LEAD. AFTER A MISSED FG FROM EACH SIDE, ECU HAD THE BALL AT THEIR OWN 40 AND HOLTON AHLERS THREW AN ILL TIMED INTERCEPTION, LEADING TO A MEMPHIS FG TYING THE GAME AT 10 AT HALFTIME.
ECU DEFERRED WITH THE COIN TOSS AND THEREFORE WOULD RECEIVE THE OPENING KICKOFF OF THE SECOND HALF. HOWEVER, HOLTON THREW AN INT GIVING THE BALL RIGHT BACK TO MEMPHIS. THESE TWO TURNOVERS WOULD TURN OUT TO BE VERY COSTLY FOR THE PIRATES.
MEMPHIS TOOK A 20-10 LEAD WITH THEIR IMPACT RUNNING BACK PATRICK TAYLOR JR HAVING HIMSELF A DAY. HE GAINED OVER 100 YARDS ON THE GROUND LATE IN THE 3RD QUARTER. ECU HOWEVER WOULD CRAWL BACK IN THIS ONE, CUTTING THE LEAD TO 3 AT 20-17 AFTER A BLAKE PROEHL 11 YARD TOUCHDOWN.
MEMPHIS WOULD DRIVE DOWN AND KICK A FG AND WITH 5 MINUTES LEFT IN THE FOURTH, THE PIRATES WERE DOWN 6 NEEDING A TD AND EXTRA POINT TO WIN THE GAME (OR SO THEY THOUGHT)
HOLTON DRIVES DOWN THE FIELD FOR ECU CONNECTING WITH TE ZECH BYRD OVER THE MIDDLE FOR ONE OF HIS 4 CATCHES ON THE NIGHT FOR A 28 YARD GAIN. A COUPLE OF PLAYS LATER, SENIOR HB HUSSEIN HOWE TOOK THE BALL INTO THE ENDZONE FROM 4 YARDS OUT, TIEING THE GAME WITH THE TIGERS AT 23. THE ENSUING EXTRA POINT WAS GOOD, GIVING THE PIRATES THE LEAD.
QB BRADY WHITE OF THE TIGERS HAD ONE OF THE GUTSIEST 4TH QUARTER PERFORMANCES THIS SEASON. HIS 32 YARD RUN WITH ABOUT A MINUTE LEFT, SET THE TEAM UP FOR A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR A FG. 3 PLAYS LATER, DOWN TO 3 SECONDS, RILEY PATTERSON FOR MEMPHIS SENT THE BALL THROUGH THE UPRIGHTS GIVING THE TIGERS A 26-24 VICTORY.
COACH FALK III WAS UPSET HOWEVER TOLD HIS TEAM TO HOLD THEIR HEADS HIGH. "THAT WAS A GOOD TEAM OUT THERE, BUT WE HAD THEM WHERE WE WANTED, WE WILL LEARN A LOT FROM THIS LOSS AND TAKE IT FORWARD ONTO TEMPLE NEXT WEEK AND THROUGHOUT THE REST OF THE SEASON"
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