Turnovers, Mistakes Cost Pirates Again

Turnovers, Mistakes Cost Pirates Again

09/07/2002

Box Score

Postgame Quotes

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. ? Wake Forest took advantage of five East Carolina turnovers and held off a furious second half comeback attempt to defeat the Pirates, 27-22, on Saturday night at Groves Stadium.

The Pirates suffered four interceptions and one lost fumble, while Wake had just one turnover on a mishandled punt snap. Two Pirate drives ended with interceptions in the Deacons? end zone.

The Pirates got on the board first. Terrance Copper, filling in for regular punt returner Richard Alston, brought a punt back 31 yards which set up a 50-yard field goal by Kevin Miller at the 12:30 mark of the first quarter. It was Miller?s 13th straight successful field goal attempt.

Wake Forest responded with an 80-yard touchdown drive, comsuming just two minutes, to go up 7-3. Ovie Mughelli capped the drive with a 1-yard dive with 10:23 remaining in the first quarter.

Matt Wisnosky booted a 36-yard field goal with 1:11 left in the first to put the Deacons up, 10-3.

The Pirates? streak of consecutive offensive red-zone conversions stopped at 28 when quarterback Paul Troth?s second quarter pass was intercepted in the Deacon end zone. ECU had scored in each of its trips inside an opponents? 20-yard line in each game since Oct. 13, 2001 at Army.

Wake took the momentum after the interception, driving 70 yards to set up a 27-yard field goal by Wisnosky with 1:11 left in the first which put Wake up, 13-3.

ECU lost another scoring chance inside the 20 when Art Brown fumbled at the Wake 12 in the last minute of play of the first half.

After the Pirates opened the second half with a three-and-out series, Wake took a commanding 20-3 lead on a 46-yard pass play from James McPherson to Jason Anderson. The score came just 2:03 into the second half.

ECU came back with a 72-yard drive capped by a 10-yard toss from Troth to Richard Hourigan to cut the Wake lead to 20-10 with 7:55 left in the third. The drive was highlighted by a 43-yard pass from Paul Troth to Torey Morris and included a successful fourth-and-one conversion at the Deacons? 14. The score was Hourigan?s first of his career.

The Pirates cut the lead to 20-16 with 3:15 left in the third. A four-play, 79-yard drive was capped by a five-yard TD run by Art Brown. The highlight of the drive was a 53-yard pass from Troth to Terrance Copper. On the play, Troth slipped while backpedaling, but caught himself by putting the ball on the ground, then stood up and made the long completion. Miller?s extra point attempt was blocked.

ECU came right back with a quick four-play, 60-yard drive and made it 27-22 on a 15-yard pass from Troth to Edwin Rios. Troth also had a 21-yard completion to flex end Tutu Moye in the drive. It was Rios? first career touchdown reception. The two-point conversion attempt failed as Troth passed to Townes, who was stopped short of the end zone.

Senior receiver Richard Alston did not make the trip after being diagnosed with mononucleosis earlier in the week.

Senior outside linebacker Christshawn Gilliam returned to the starting lineup after missing the season opener and most of the preseason practice with an ankle sprain.

The official attendance at tonight?s game was announced at 28,486. An estimated 10,000 of those fans were wearing purple and gold.

The Deacons dealt a serious blow to the Pirates? comeback hopes when they blocked a Jarad Preston punt with 8:59 left in the game. The ball was recovered inside the ECU 5-yard line and, two plays later, Cornelius Birgs scored on a two-yard dive to put Wake up, 27-16.

ECU opens Conference USA play next weekend by hosting Tulane in its home opener. Game time at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium is set at 7 p.m.

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