Pirates Roll Past Temple, 28-3

Saturday, November 21

Philadelphia, Pa.

12 Noon

East Carolina University

2-6 , 2-5

Temple

1-6 , 1-6

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

East Carolina

Temple

November 21, 2020 | Football

Box Score

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The contest was delayed approximately 50 minutes due to additional coronavirus disease (COVID-19) testing within the Temple program.

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+.