East Carolina Shuts Down Florida Atlantic, 22-7

Saturday, November 11

Boca Raton, Fla.

4:00 P.M.

East Carolina University

2-8 , 1-5

FAU

4-6 , 3-3

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
East Carolina	7	6	0	9	22
Fla. Atlantic	0	7	0	0	7

November 11, 2023 | Football

Box Score Game Book (PDF)Postgame Notes (PDF)

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The major goals for the season may be gone, but East Carolina proved Saturday that the desire and effort remain.

The Pirates took a major step toward a strong finish to a frustrating season, riding a stout defense and a superb performance on special teams for a 22-7 victory over Florida Atlantic at FAU Stadium. The Pirates, winning for the first time since Sept. 23 against Gardner-Webb, ended a six-game skid to move to 2-8 overall and 1-5 in the American Athletic Conference.

For fifth-year head coach Mike Houston, a post-game celebration was long overdue.
"We had a huge group of Pirate fans down in the corner of the end zone. It was a great scene on the field down there with our players and our fan base," Houston said. "It's special to have that kind of interaction between the two. And then that locker room, it was a special one."

A swarming defense that bottled up the Owls (4-6, 3-3 AAC) all day combined with a blocked punt and Andrew Conrad's school-record five field goals made it possible. For the third straight week, ECU got off to a strong start, but this time never relented.

"We talked about it yesterday and again this morning," Houston said. "We've been close, we've been close, we've been playing better, but we hadn't made it over the hump and put one away. It may have not been the pretty thing at times, but I'm telling you what, it was a vary decisive victory here tonight in Boca."

The Pirates' defense, which has shouldered its load much of the year, smothered an FAU offense that scored at least 38 points in three of the last four games and boasted the nation's leading receiver in terms of total receptions.

The Owls struggled from the outset, failing to pick up a first down until early in the second period and finishing with 172 total yards, including just 21 on the ground. ECU chalked up season highs in both tackles for loss (10) and sacks (five by five different players).

FAU's only scoring drive started at the ECU 41. The Owls turned the ball over on down on their final four possessions.

Leading receiver LaJohntey Wester, coming off a career-best 219 yards against UAB, finished with six catches for just 36 yards. The redshirt junior entered with six 100-yard games this season and 11 for his career.

Quarterback Daniel Richardson, a Central Michigan transfer under pressure all day, completed 24 of 35 passes for 151 yards. He was intercepted once.

"A lot of those guys have been playing since they were freshmen, and they've been built over a lot of tough times," Houston said of his defense. "The one thing I said coming into the season that I knew about this team is we had a tough, physical, hard-nosed defense. That's just the way those kids are built. You know what you're going to get every single week. It was as good as ever tonight against a very talented team."

Conrad was better than ever. The sophomore from Kernersville, who had converted 11 of 17 field goals this season, nailed all five of his field goals Saturday – all from at least 40 yards, including a pair of 46-yarders and two from 47. ECU kickers have booted four field goals in a game 11 times, the most recent by Jake Verity against William & Mary in 2019

"We have a lot of confidence in Andrew," Houston said. "I've trotted him out there for some long field goals. He missed a couple, but he doesn't blink, and he's a real competitor. He has talent, so that combination right there makes him a guy that go out there and be unfazed."

ECU's defense flexed its muscle in a dominant first quarter, forcing four consecutive three-and-outs. The Owls did not pick up a first down until three minutes into the second quarter, and that came with the aid of a facemask penalty that erased a third-
down sack.

The Pirates' special teams also pitched in with a huge play to set up the game's first score. Julien Davis darted in from the left side and got a hand on the punt of Logan Lupo, and Jackson Barker recovered at the 27.

Gerald Green, seeing his most extensive action of the season (15 carries, 33 yards), gained 5 yards on first down then slipped through the right side of the line on third down and raced the final 18 yards for his second touchdown of the year and ECU's longest scoring play of the season.

Conrad booted the first of his two 47-yard first-half field goals for a 10-0 lead just 52 seconds into the second quarter.

FAU cashed in excellent field position following a 28-yard punt by Luke Larsen, taking over at the Pirates' 41 and scoring in six plays to get within 10-7. Backup quarterback Michael Johnson Jr. scored from the 3 on a keeper.

Conrad's second field goal with 2:37 left in the half made it 13-7 and sent ECU to its second halftime lead of the year and first since game four against Gardner-Webb.

Conrad added a 43-yarder on the second play of the fourth quarter to extend the margin to 16-7 after the Pirates saw a couple of breaks fall their way in the third period.

On the opening series of the second half, Darius McClendon returned an apparent fumble by Jsi Hatfield for what was initially ruled a touchdown, but a review overturned it. Later in the quarter, Carter Davis missed a 36-yard field goal following a sack by Suirad Ware on a third-down play from the 11.

Conrad's fourth and fifth field goals came FAU fourth-down gambles in its own territory failed His 46-yarder with 7:05 to play put ECU up 19-7 lead, then he tacked on a 40-yarder with 3:13 left to make it 22-7.