East Carolina University
4-3 , 3-1
Rice (HC/HSBD)
0-7 , 0-3
East Carolina Defeats Rice, 49-13
October 17, 2009 | Football
Oct. 17, 2009
Coach Holtz Post-Game Press Conference | D. Harris Post-Game Comments | P. Pinkney Post-Game Comments | B. Jackson Post-Game Comments | R. Kass Post-Game Comments
GREENVILLE, N.C. - Dwayne Harris had two receiving touchdowns and a kickoff return for a touchdown to help lead East Carolina to a 49-13 win over Rice Saturday at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
Harris finished the game with nine receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns. His first score came just 2:45 into the first quarter on a 16-yard pass from Patrick Pinkney, capping a six play, 67 yard opening drive for the Pirates. Pinkney found Harris again in the fourth quarter for a seven-yard strike to put ECU up 42-13. Harris accumulated 264 all-purpose yards to lead the Pirates for the fifth time in seven games.
"We talked about having to get the ball to Dwayne because he is a special player. We are finding more ways to get the ball to him. He is a great young man and I am really happy with how he has competed as of late," said Coach Skip Holtz. "We got the ball to him early and often and he responded."
East Carolina (4-3, 3-1) enjoyed success on the ground as well, gaining 173 yards behind four different backs. Dominique Lindsay led the Pirates with 12 rushes for 78 yards before leaving the game with a ankle injury just a few minutes into the second quarter. He did not return. Additionally, Brandon Jackson and Giavanni Ruffin each scored a touchdown and posted long runs of 20 and 22 yards, respectively.
Patrick Pinkney 18 of his 26 passes for 231 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. He was picked in the first quarter by the Owls' Ronnie Lillard, who gave the ball right back to ECU on a fumble during the return. Pinkney redeemed himself by finding Rob Kass in the back of the endzone for a two-yard touchdown, giving the home team a 14-3 lead with 2:07 left in the first quarter. The reception was Kass' first career touchdown.
Rice (0-7, 0-3) suffered a series of first-half miscues following the fumbled interception return, including a partially blocked punt, a botched kickoff return, a shanked punt and a missed field goal.
The Owl offense did manage a quick strike before halftime when Nick Fanuzzi found Toren Dixon streaking down the right sideline for an 80-yard touchdown with 3:00 left in the half, closing the gap to 21-10.
However, Dwayne Harris answered back on the ensuing kickoff, taking it back 92 yards for a touchdown that put ECU up 28-10 right before halftime. The return was the Pirates' first kickoff return over 90 yards since Chris Johnson ripped of a 96-yarder against UCF on October 6, 2007.
"This is a fragile football team right now," Rice Coach David Baliff stated. "We have been in so many games this year tied at halftime or just behind. When bad things happen, the wheels start to come off. We had the momentum with the deep touchdown but they got the big return right after that."
East Carolina made sure the Owls could not rally, holding Rice to 341 total yards and just 78 yards rushing. The Pirates' 13 points allowed were the fewest points they've allowed this season. Dustin Lineback, Nick Johnson and Van Eskridge led all tacklers with eight each while C.J. Wilson recorded a sack, two forced fumbles and two tackles for losses.
The ECU defense didn't register its first turnover until the fourth quarter, when Dustin Lineback intercepted a Fanuzzi pass and returned it to the Owl 20-yard line. The Pirates capitalized with a Giavanni Ruffin seven-yard touchdown run that made the score 35-13 with 12:47 remaining in the game. The Pirates have now forced at least one turnover in 23-straight games.
"Dustin Lineback's interception really sparked the team in the fourth quarter," said Coach Holtz. "And then the floodgates opened."
The Ruffin touchdown marked the first time East Carolina has scored 30 points or more this season. The Pirates' previous high was in the 29-17 season-opening win against Appalachian State. The ECU offense also finished with a season-high 459 yards. Meanwhile, Rice has allowed at least 30 points in all but one of its seven losses.
With the Pirates holding a 28-13 lead entering the fourth quarter, Holtz was able to work in much of his bench. East Carolina scored three touchdowns in the final frame, the last one a two-yard run by Senior Darnell Ballard after a Josh Jordan 31-yard completion to Andrew Bodenheimer.
"There are some upperclassmen who do not get a lot of playing time that came in and did some positive things for us today," Holtz remarked. "It doesn't matter if you are a scholarship player or a walk-on. We are going to put the best players on the field regardless. It was nice to be able to reward many players with time on the field today."
The Pirates will return to action Oct. 27, traveling to Memphis for an 8 p.m. kickoff at the Liberty Bowl. The contest is slated for an ESPN2 national broadcast.
Team Stats
RICE 0, ECU 7
ECU - HARRIS, Dwayne 16 yd pass from PINKNEY, Pat (RYAN, Ben kick) 6 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:45
RICE 3, ECU 7
RICE - FANGMEIER, Clar 33 yd field goal 6 plays, 52 yards, TOP 1:33
RICE 3, ECU 14
ECU - KASS, Rob 2 yd pass from PINKNEY, Pat (RYAN, Ben kick) 5 plays, 33 yards, TOP 2:29
RICE 3, ECU 21
ECU - JACKSON, Brndn 2 yd run (RYAN, Ben kick), 7 plays, 34 yards, TOP 3:46
RICE 10, ECU 21
RICE - DIXON, Toren 80 yd pass from FANUZZI, Nick (FANGMEIER, Clar kick) 1 plays, 80 yards, TOP 0:11
RICE 10, ECU 28
ECU - HARRIS, Dwayne 92 yd kickoff return (RYAN, Ben kick)
RICE 13, ECU 28
RICE - FANGMEIER, Clar 24 yd field goal 14 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:11
RICE 13, ECU 35
ECU - RUFFIN, Giavani 7 yd run (RYAN, Ben kick), 4 plays, 20 yards, TOP 1:20
RICE 13, ECU 42
ECU - HARRIS, Dwayne 7 yd pass from PINKNEY, Pat (RYAN, Ben kick) 4 plays, 30 yards, TOP 0:52
RICE 13, ECU 49
ECU - BALLARD, Darnel 2 yd run (RYAN, Ben kick), 9 plays, 66 yards, TOP 5:18
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
