ECU Shuts Out Gardner-Webb, 44-0

Saturday, September 23

Greenville, N.C.

6:00 P.M.

East Carolina University

1-3 , 0-0

Gardner-Webb

1-3 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Gardner-Webb

East Carolina

September 23, 2023 | Football

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GREENVILLE, N.C. – Nothing like a win can change the mood of a football team and its coach.

East Carolina, desperate to put an 0-3 start in the rear-view mirror, cast a bright spot on an otherwise dreary day in eastern North Carolina by steamrolling mistake-riddled Gardner-Webb 44-0 on Saturday night. Despite Tropical Storm Ophelia dumping several inches of rain on the area Friday night and throughout Saturday and hanging around to create misty and windy conditions, a crowd of 40,589 got rewarded with the Pirates' first shutout in 23 years.

ECU dominated in practically every phase, forcing five turnovers, stuffing the Runnin' Bulldogs' potent offense and building some much-needed confidence heading into next week's conference opener at Rice.

"What a phenomenal performance by our young men," fifth-year head coach Mike Houston said. "Just really ecstatic for them; really pleased to see us go out and play a complete ball game. We talked about it all week, and then that was the big emphasis today when we met. We went through each piece of the game, playing a complete four quarters."

After being outscored 55-13 in the second half of the first three games, the Pirates made good on an emphasis to finish strong. They never allowed the Bulldogs (1-3) even a glimmer of hope in recording the first shoutout since a 38-0 season-opening win at Duke on Sept. 2, 2000.

Gardner-Webb managed just 107 total yards (30 passing) and penetrated the ECU 30 only once. Along with the five turnovers, the Bulldogs had five three-and-out series and turned the ball over twice on downs.

"It's fantastic," Houston said of the first shutout in a span of 284 games. "I'm glad I was part of it; I'm glad these kids were part of it. It's good to get. We've had a couple that were close the last couple of years, but it feels good to get it.'

Quarterback Alex Flinn welcomed the first win he has experienced as a starting quarterback. Flinn split time with Mason Garcia on Saturday, leading ECU to a 23-0 halftime lead.

"It's big," Flinn said. "You always want to get that first one. We're always talking about getting the monkey off your back. Once you get that first one, you hope they start rolling in after that."

Flinn threw the first touchdown pass of his career, finishing 8 of 18 for 94 yards. Garcia completed 9 of 12 passes for 89 yards and added 18 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

"I thought they both did some good things," Houston said. "The ball was really, really slick, so it was tough to throw it. I thought Alex did a really good job with decision-making. …. I thought Mason came in and gave us a spark. I thought he ran the offense very well. You worked all week with the things that we were doing with him tonight with the quarterback run because we thought that might be something we had to do against that defense."

ECU benefited from tremendous field position – a bonus given the wet conditions – starting seven of their 15 possessions in Gardner Webb territory.

"The defense played so well tonight," Flinn said. "It's easier to play offense when you're getting the ball in the red zone like that."

It's also easier with an effective running game. Junior Rahjai Harris, freshman Javious Bond and sophomore Kamarro Edmonds each scored and led a rushing attack that ground out 182 yards – providing a perfect complement to 184 yards through the air.

Bond finished with a team-high 65 yards on nine carries. Harris had 64 yards on 16 carries and added his first career receiving touchdown. Edmonds took advantage of his four carries, gaining 28 yards and scoring twice.

"It was from the jump that we were running the ball pretty well," Houston said. "It was really good to get the backs going, get Rahjai going, getting Javious going, and then Kamarro, I thought he gave us a spark there in the second half."

Harris credited the offensive line with paving the way for the backs to get on track.

"A big shout out to the O-Line," Harris said. "They give us so much confidence. We respect them boys so much. When you have an offensive lineman look at you and just say, 'Follow me,' I'm going to follow him. That's what they were doing all night, and we were just following them, making runs, making people miss."

Harris accounted for the first two touchdowns as ECU surged to an early 13-0 lead. After an opening three-and-out series, the Pirates scored on four straight possessions, taking advantage of a poor Gardner-Webb punt and two fumble recoveries.

Flinn found a rhythm on a six-play, 72-yard, completing all four of his passes highlighted by a 35-yard strike to Jsi Hatfield and capped off by an 11-yard toss to Rahjai Harris.

Harris found the end zone again with a 2-yard run after the Pirates took over the Bulldogs' 45 following a short punt.

J.D. Lampley set up the Pirates' next score by dropping quarterback Matthew Caldwell for a 12-yard loss while jarring the ball loose, then pouncing on it. Andrew Conrad cashed the turnover in for three points with a 44-yard field goal.

The Bulldogs muffed the ensuing kickoff, and Jonathan Jones recovered at the 14. Four plays later, Garcia ran in from the 2 for a 23-0 lead.

The Pirates then leaned on their defense and avoided mistakes to cruise through the second half.

"We met first thing this morning, and I said a few key things," Houston said. "I said, 'The conditions are going to be awful tonight. Whichever team does the best job with the ball, and not just offense: offense, special teams, defense, whoever does the best job with the ball is going to win the ballgame."