
Pirates Roll Past Temple, 28-3
November 21, 2020 | Football
Game Book | ECU Notes | Press Conference
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Sophomore receiver and return specialist Tyler Snead posted 244 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns Saturday afternoon, propelling East Carolina to a 28-3 American Athletic Conference victory over Temple at Lincoln Financial Field.Â
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The Pirates (2-6, 2-5 AAC) defeated the Owls (1-6, 1-6 AAC) for the first time since 1995 and for the first time since joining the AAC. ECU also limited a league opponent to three points for the first time since a 41-3 victory over Connecticut Oct. 29, 2016.Â
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In addition to Snead's heroics, freshman running back Keaton Mitchell notched his second consecutive 100-yard effort – racking up 103 yards on 13 carries. Sophomore receiver C.J. Johnson paced the squad with 86 yards and a touchdown on three receptions. Tayvon Ruley compiled 48 yards on the ground to lead Temple offensively.Â
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Junior quarterback Holton Ahlers completed 11-of-22 pass attempts for 182 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Kamal Gray made his first career start at quarterback for the Owls, finishing 10-of-21 with 95 yards and two picks.Â
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The ECU defense was stifling, producing season-low opponent numbers in total offense (235) and points. Conversely, the Pirate offense tallied 447 total yards (265 rushing) and the team was flagged for just one penalty.Â
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East Carolina produced a couple of early opportunities in the kicking game to dent the scoreboard, but senior Jake Verity had a 42-yard field goal attempt blocked before missing from 35 yards away with six minutes on the clock.Â
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The Pirates eventually broke through and scored the first touchdown of the game when Johnson hauled in a 50-50 ball near the left sideline, beat his defender and ran untouched into the endzone to give ECU a 7-0 advantage.Â
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Having held a team scoreless in the first quarter for the first time this season, East Carolina kept it going as the second stanza commenced as Xavier Smith forced a fumble that Elijah Morris recovered to set the Pirates up with the ball at their own 35.Â
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ECU's ensuing drive ended after just a couple plays when Jordan Magee picked off an Ahlers pass and returned it 45 yards into Pirate territory. Rory Bell would then knock through a 28-yard field goal try to slice East Carolina's lead to four.Â
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The Pirates snatched the momentum right back on the kickoff when Snead took the ball and snaked his way 95 yards to the house to propel ECU ahead 14-3 with 11:22 remaining before the half. It was his second kick return for a touchdown of 90 more yards in as many seasons – the other a 100-yard score back on Oct. 26, 2019 against USF.Â
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The teams traded possessions back and forth for much of the quarter until late. Following a Mitchell 34-yard scamper on first down, Ahlers hit a wide-open Snead who took it 46 yards down the middle of the field and into the endzone as East Carolina moved in front 21-3 with under a minute left.Â
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Despite the Owls possessing the football nearly 19 minutes in the first two quarters, the Pirates held the upper hand in total offense by a 250-131 margin. Each team turned the ball over twice, but ECU did not commit a penalty while Temple was flagged four times for 19 yards.Â
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Ahlers helped East Carolina stretch its lead even further a few minutes into the third quarter, breaking free for a 75 yard-run down to the Owl one-yard line. He finished the job on the next play, sneaking across the goal line to make it 28-3. That would be the only scoring in the period and in fact, the final of the game.Â
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The contest was delayed approximately 50 minutes due to additional coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing within the Temple program.Â
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East Carolina wraps up the regular season next Saturday, Nov. 28, when it welcomes AAC opponent SMU to Greenville for a noon kickoff. The game will be streamed live via ESPN+.
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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Sophomore receiver and return specialist Tyler Snead posted 244 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns Saturday afternoon, propelling East Carolina to a 28-3 American Athletic Conference victory over Temple at Lincoln Financial Field.Â
Â
The Pirates (2-6, 2-5 AAC) defeated the Owls (1-6, 1-6 AAC) for the first time since 1995 and for the first time since joining the AAC. ECU also limited a league opponent to three points for the first time since a 41-3 victory over Connecticut Oct. 29, 2016.Â
Â
In addition to Snead's heroics, freshman running back Keaton Mitchell notched his second consecutive 100-yard effort – racking up 103 yards on 13 carries. Sophomore receiver C.J. Johnson paced the squad with 86 yards and a touchdown on three receptions. Tayvon Ruley compiled 48 yards on the ground to lead Temple offensively.Â
Â
Junior quarterback Holton Ahlers completed 11-of-22 pass attempts for 182 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Kamal Gray made his first career start at quarterback for the Owls, finishing 10-of-21 with 95 yards and two picks.Â
Â
The ECU defense was stifling, producing season-low opponent numbers in total offense (235) and points. Conversely, the Pirate offense tallied 447 total yards (265 rushing) and the team was flagged for just one penalty.Â
Â
East Carolina produced a couple of early opportunities in the kicking game to dent the scoreboard, but senior Jake Verity had a 42-yard field goal attempt blocked before missing from 35 yards away with six minutes on the clock.Â
Â
The Pirates eventually broke through and scored the first touchdown of the game when Johnson hauled in a 50-50 ball near the left sideline, beat his defender and ran untouched into the endzone to give ECU a 7-0 advantage.Â
Â
Having held a team scoreless in the first quarter for the first time this season, East Carolina kept it going as the second stanza commenced as Xavier Smith forced a fumble that Elijah Morris recovered to set the Pirates up with the ball at their own 35.Â
Â
ECU's ensuing drive ended after just a couple plays when Jordan Magee picked off an Ahlers pass and returned it 45 yards into Pirate territory. Rory Bell would then knock through a 28-yard field goal try to slice East Carolina's lead to four.Â
Â
The Pirates snatched the momentum right back on the kickoff when Snead took the ball and snaked his way 95 yards to the house to propel ECU ahead 14-3 with 11:22 remaining before the half. It was his second kick return for a touchdown of 90 more yards in as many seasons – the other a 100-yard score back on Oct. 26, 2019 against USF.Â
Â
The teams traded possessions back and forth for much of the quarter until late. Following a Mitchell 34-yard scamper on first down, Ahlers hit a wide-open Snead who took it 46 yards down the middle of the field and into the endzone as East Carolina moved in front 21-3 with under a minute left.Â
Â
Despite the Owls possessing the football nearly 19 minutes in the first two quarters, the Pirates held the upper hand in total offense by a 250-131 margin. Each team turned the ball over twice, but ECU did not commit a penalty while Temple was flagged four times for 19 yards.Â
Â
Ahlers helped East Carolina stretch its lead even further a few minutes into the third quarter, breaking free for a 75 yard-run down to the Owl one-yard line. He finished the job on the next play, sneaking across the goal line to make it 28-3. That would be the only scoring in the period and in fact, the final of the game.Â
Â
The contest was delayed approximately 50 minutes due to additional coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing within the Temple program.Â
Â
East Carolina wraps up the regular season next Saturday, Nov. 28, when it welcomes AAC opponent SMU to Greenville for a noon kickoff. The game will be streamed live via ESPN+.
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Team Stats
ECU
TEMPLE
Total Yards
447
235
Pass Yards
182
95
Rushing Yards
265
140
Penalty Yards
12
59
1st Downs
16
10
3rd Downs
3
3
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
25:06
34:54
1st Quarter

ECU 7, TEMPLE 0
ECU - JOHNSON, C.J. 60 yd pass from AHLERS, Holton (VERITY, Jake kick) 1 plays, 60 yards, TOP 0:10
2nd Quarter

ECU 7, TEMPLE 3
TEMPLE - BELL,Rory 28 yd field goal 4 plays, 7 yards, TOP 1:13

ECU 14, TEMPLE 3
ECU - SNEAD, Tyler 95 yd kickoff return (VERITY, Jake kick)

ECU 21, TEMPLE 3
ECU - SNEAD, Tyler 46 yd pass from AHLERS, Holton (VERITY, Jake kick) 2 plays, 80 yards, TOP 0:16
3rd Quarter

ECU 28, TEMPLE 3
ECU - AHLERS, Holton 1 yd run (VERITY, Jake kick), 4 plays, 90 yards, TOP 1:12
Game Leaders
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