Broadwell's Field Goal Lifts ECU Over Tulane
October 09, 2004 | Football
GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) --- Cam Broadwell kicked a 30-yard field goal with 12 seconds left to lift East Carolina past Tulane 27-25, ending a nine-game home losing streak.
Chris Johnson ran for 158 yards and two first-half touchdowns for the Pirates (1-4, 1-2 Conference USA), who earned their first win at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in nearly two years. It also marked the first home win for second-year coach John Thompson.
Lester Ricard threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to lead the Green Wave (1-3, 0-2).
Thompson had lost all eight of his games here, earning his only win as ECU coach at Army last October. But on Saturday, that frustrating streak ended behind Johnson's excellent first-half play and a solid defensive performance throughout.
The Pirates' defense gave up only two offensive touchdowns, which allowed East Carolina to overcome two special teams gaffes that led to Tulane scores.
Then, after surrendering the lead late, the Pirates put together an eight-play, 50-yard scoring drive to earn their first home win since beating TCU in November 2002.
Trailing 25-24 in the final two minutes, the Pirates responded with the kind of efficient drive that hasn't been seen often in the Thompson era. James Pinkney completed two passes for 28 yards and scrambled for a first down near midfield, and Broadwell put the Pirates on top with the 30-yarder.
Tulane had one last chance, but Ricard's hail-Mary pass fell incomplete.
Tulane's offense managed just 56 yard in the first half, but got a boost thanks to its play on special teams. Gabe Ratcliff recovered a blocked punt for a touchdown in the first quarter, while Israel Route added a 14-yard fumble return for a score to start the second half.
Those were Tulane's only touchdowns before Ricard finally got the Green Wave's offense moving in the fourth quarter. He found Roydell Williams for a 36-yard TD pass to cut the deficit to 24-19 midway through the period.
The Green Wave went ahead with a four-play, 60-yard drive in the final 2 1/2 minutes. Ricard hit three straight passes on the drive, the last finding Chris Bush over the middle for a 24-yard TD and a 25-24 lead with 1:51 remaining.
But Ricard was sacked by Jamar Flournoy on the conversion attempt, the third failed 2-point attempt of the half for the Green Wave. Those missed attempts - along with an interception by Ricard in the end zone to end a second-half drive - proved fatal.
