2021 East Carolina Pirates football team

The 2021 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Pirates, led by third-year head coach Mike Houston, play their home games at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium as members of the American Athletic Conference.

2021 East Carolina Pirates football
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Record7–5 (5–3 The American)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDonnie Kirkpatrick (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorBlake Harrell (2nd season)
Home stadiumDowdy–Ficklen Stadium
Seasons
← 2020
2022 →
2021 American Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 4 Cincinnati y$^ 80  131 
No. 17 Houston y 80  122 
UCF 53  94 
East Carolina 53  75 
Tulsa 53  76 
SMU 44  84 
Memphis 35  66 
Navy 35  48 
Tulane 17  210 
South Florida 17  210 
Temple 17  39 
Championship: Cincinnati 35, Houston 20
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

After compiling a 7–5 regular season record, the Pirates received a bid to the Military Bowl,[1] where they were due to face the Boston College Eagles. On December 26, the Eagles withdrew from the game, due to COVID-19 issues; the bowl was subsequently canceled.[2]

Preseason

American Athletic Conference preseason media poll

The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at the virtual media day held August 4, 2021.[3] Cincinnati, who finished the 2020 season ranked No. 8 nationally, was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the 2021 preseason media poll.

Media poll
Predicted finishTeamVotes (1st place)
1Cincinnati262 (22)
2UCF241 (2)
3SMU188
4Houston181
5Memphis168
6Tulsa153
7Tulane132
т-8East Carolina85
т-8Navy85
10Temple46
11South Florida43

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 27:30 p.m.vs. Appalachian State*ESPNUL 19–3336,752
September 1112:00 p.m.South Carolina*ESPN2L 17–2040,816
September 186:00 p.m.at Marshall*CBSSN FacebookW 42–3824,833
September 256:00 p.m.Charleston Southern*
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPN+W 31–2839,218
October 23:30 p.m.Tulane
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPN+W 52–2933,475
October 96:00 p.m.at UCFESPN+L 16–2041,649
October 239:20 p.m.at HoustonESPNews αL 24–31 OT22,925
October 287:30 p.m.South Florida
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPNW 29–1432,015
November 63:00 p.m.Temple
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPN+W 45–332,817
November 1311:00 a.m.at MemphisESPN+W 30–29 OT28,431
November 203:30 p.m.at NavyCBSSNW 38–3528,001
November 263:30 p.m.No. 4 Cincinnati
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ABCL 13–3538,014
December 272:30 p.m.vs. Boston College*
  • Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
  • Annapolis, MD (Military Bowl)
ESPN Canceled_

[4]

Notes

This game was initially scheduled for ESPNU at 4PM ET, but moved to 9:20PM ET on ESPNews because of a rain delay.

Game summaries

Vs. Appalachian State

Appalachian State vs. East Carolina
1234Total
Mountaineers1467633
Pirates6031019
  • Date: September 2, 2021
  • Location: Bank of America Stadium
    Charlotte, NC
  • Game start: 7:33 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutes
  • Game attendance: 36,752
  • Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: S 8 MPH
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Mike Couzens (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst)
      
Pregame lineOver/under
APP –9.056
StatisticsAppalachian StateEast Carolina
First downs2520
Total yards485381
Rushing yards22686
Passing yards259295
Turnovers12
Time of possession31:5528:05
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Appalachian StatePassingChase Brice20/27, 259 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
RushingNate Noel15 carries, 126 yards
ReceivingThomas Hennigan4 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD
East CarolinaPassingHolton Ahlers22/40, 295 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
RushingKeaton Mitchell4 carries, 50 yards
ReceivingKeaton Mitchell5 receptions, 79 yards, 1 TD

Vs. South Carolina

Game Two – South Carolina Gamecocks (1–0) at East Carolina Pirates (0-1)
Period1234Total
South Carolina077620
East Carolina770317

at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium • Greenville, North Carolina

Game information
First quarter
  • (14:49) ECU – Jsi Hatfield 75-yard pass from Tyler Snead (Owen Daffer Kick). East Carolina 7-0. Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:11.
Second quarter
  • (11:53) ECU – Holton Ahlers 3-yard run (Owen Daffer Kick). East Carolina 14-0. Drive: 2 plays, 13 yards, 0:45.
  • (1:00) SC – Damani Staley 63-yard interception return (Parker White Kick). East Carolina 14-7.
Third quarter
  • (0:46) SC – Dakereon Joyner 13-yard pass from Zeb Noland (Parker White Kick). Tied 14-14. Drive: 5 plays, 72 yards, 1:14.
Fourth quarter
  • (8:46) ECU – Owen Daffer 26-yard field goal. East Carolina 17-14. Drive: 14 plays, 67 yards, 7:00.
  • (6:46) SC – Parker White 39-yard field goal. Tied 17-17. Drive: 5 plays, 12 yards, 2:00.
  • (0:00) SC – Parker White 36-yard field goal. South Carolina 20-17. Drive: 10 plays, 54 yards, 4:54.
StatisticsSCECU
First downs1512
Plays–yards63–32563–268
Rushes–yards100116
Passing yards225152
Passing: comp–att–int13–24–112–25–2
Time of possession18:5741:03
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
SCPassingZeb Noland13/24, 225 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingJuJu McDowell11 carries, 71 yards
ReceivingJosh Vann5 receptions, 127 yards
ECUPassingHolton Ahlers11/24, 77 yards, 2 INT
RushingRahjai Harris14 carries, 70 yards
ReceivingJsi Hatfield2 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD

At Marshall

East Carolina at Marshall
1234Total
Pirates71402142
Thundering Herd101414038
  • Date: September 18, 2021
  • Location: Joan C. Edwards Stadium
    Huntington, WV
  • Game start: 6:05 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 36 minutes
  • Game attendance: 24,833
  • Game weather: 85 °F (29 °C) • Weather: Sunny
  • Referee: Luke Richard
  • TV announcers (CBS Sports Network): Michael Grady (play–by–play), Corey Chavous (analyst), and Justin Walters (sideline reporter)
        
Pregame lineOver/under
MRSH –10.058
StatisticsEast CarolinaMarshall
First downs2724
Total yards563648
Rushing yards168215
Passing yards395433
Turnovers13
Time of possession30:1929:41
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
East CarolinaPassingHolton Ahlers30/48, 368 yards, 2 TDs
RushingKeaton Mitchell14 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingShane Calhoun8 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD
MarshallPassingGrant Wells24/39, 433 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
RushingRasheen Ali24 carries, 189 yards, 3 TDs
ReceivingCorey Gammage8 receptions, 180 yards

Charleston Southern

Charleston Southern at East Carolina
1234Total
Buccaneers14001428
Pirates0247031
  • Date: September 25, 2021
  • Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
    Greenville, NC
  • Game start: 6:05 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 4 hours and 33 minutes
  • Game attendance: 39,218
  • Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C) • Weather: Sunny
  • Referee: Edwin Lee
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Connor Onion (play–by–play) and Stanford Routt (analyst)
     
Pregame lineOver/under
ECU –24.559
StatisticsCharleston SouthernEast Carolina
First downs3414
Total yards536388
Rushing yards131150
Passing yards405238
Turnovers12
Time of possession31:2728:33
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Charleston SouthernPassingJack Chambers38/61, 405 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
RushingJD Moore14 car, 58 yds, 1 TD
ReceivingGarris Schwarting8 rec, 94 yds
East CarolinaPassingHolton Ahlers17/26, 238 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
RushingKeaton Mitchell13 car, 125 yds, 1 TD
ReceivingC. J. Johnson3 rec, 95 yds, 1 TD

Tulane

Tulane at East Carolina
1234Total
Green Wave0716629
Pirates171402152
  • Date: October 2, 2021
  • Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
    Greenville, NC
  • Game start: 3:30 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance: 33,475
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Mark Neely and Barrett Brooks
        
Pregame lineOver/under
TULN –3.064.5
StatisticsTulaneEast Carolina
First downs1925
Total yards404612
Rushing yards124310
Passing yards280302
Turnovers40
Time of possession25:4134:19
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
TulanePassingMichael Pratt22/36, 268 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT
RushingCameron Carroll9 car, 80 yds, 1 TD
ReceivingDuece Watts4 rec, 79 yds
East CarolinaPassingHolton Ahlers21/32, 288 yds, 2 TD
RushingKeaton Mitchell15 car, 222 yds, 2 TD
ReceivingTyler Snead4 rec, 78 yds, 1 TD

At UCF

East Carolina at Central Florida
1234Total
Pirates0310316
Knights0371020
  • Date: October 9, 2021
  • Location: Bounce House
    Orlando, FL
  • Game start: 6:04 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 20 minutes
  • Game attendance: 41,649
  • Game weather: 84 °F (29 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: N 9 MPH
  • Referee: Nate Black
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Courtney Lyle and Brandon Weeden
     
Pregame lineOver/under
UCF –1064.5[5]
StatisticsEast CarolinaUCF
First downs2116
Total yards360359
Rushing yards141165
Passing yards219194
Turnovers31
Time of possession32:4227:18
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
East CarolinaPassingHolton Ahlers20/32, 219 yards, TD, INT
RushingRahjai Harris13 carries, 73 yards
ReceivingTyler Snead6 receptions, 82 yards
UCFPassingMikey Keene23/35, 194 yards, INT
RushingJohnny Richardson16 carries, 104 yards, TD
ReceivingRyan O'Keefe10 receptions, 73 yards

At Houston

East Carolina at Houston
1234OTTotal
Pirates100014024
Cougars17700731
  • Date: October 23, 2021
  • Location: TDECU Stadium
    Houston, TX
  • Game start: 4:00 p.m. EDT (Kicked at 9:20 p.m. – delayed 5 hours and 20 minutes to kickoff due to lightning)
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 27 minutes
  • Game attendance: 22,925
  • Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: SE 9 MPH
  • Referee: Edwin Lee
  • TV announcers (ESPNews): Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Hutson Mason (analyst)
     
Pregame lineOver/under
HOU –13.557
StatisticsEast CarolinaHouston
First downs2016
Total yards360256
Rushing yards8287
Passing yards278169
Turnovers31
Time of possession29:1330:47
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
East CarolinaPassingHolton Ahlers23/37, 278 yards, 2 TDs
RushingKeaton Mitchell11 rushes, 38 yards
ReceivingTyler Snead7 receptions, 114 yards
HoustonPassingClayton Tune19/29, 169 yards, 2 TDs
RushingAlton McCaskill12 rushes, 60 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingChristian Trahan6 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD

South Florida

South Florida at East Carolina
1234Total
Bulls0140014
Pirates06131029
    
Pregame lineOver/under
ECU –9.555.5[6]
StatisticsSouth FloridaEast Carolina
First downs1930
Total yards391471
Rushing yards199251
Passing yards192220
Turnovers43
Time of possession21:3838:22
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
South FloridaPassingKatravis Marsh15/30, 192 yards, TD, 3 INT
RushingKelley Joiner12 carries, 103 yards
ReceivingXavier Weaver5 receptions, 91 yards, TD
East CarolinaPassingHolton Ahlers21/35, 220 yards, TD
RushingRahjai Harris22 carries, 100 yards, TD
ReceivingC. J. Johnson5 receptions, 84 yards

Temple

Temple at East Carolina
12Total
Owls0
Pirates0
  • Date: November 6, 2021
  • Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
    Greenville, NC
  • Game start: TBD EDT
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Courtney Lyle, Brandon Weeden
Over/under
  
StatisticsTempleEast Carolina
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
TemplePassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
East CarolinaPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

At Memphis

East Carolina at Memphis
12Total
Pirates0
Tigers0
  • Date: November 13, 2021
  • Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
    Memphis, TN
  • Game start: TBD EST
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Richard Cross, Brandon Weeden
Over/under
  
StatisticsEast CarolinaMemphis
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
East CarolinaPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
MemphisPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

At Navy

East Carolina at Navy
1234Total
Pirates141001438
Midshipmen71401435
  • Date: November 20, 2021
  • Location: Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
    Annapolis, MD
  • Game start: 3:30 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours, 10 minutes
  • Game attendance: 28,001
  • Game weather: 47 °F (8 °C) • Weather: Chilly, clear skies • Wind: S 10–25 MPH
  • Referee: Luke Richmond
  • TV announcers (CBSSN): John Sadak (play-by-play), Randy Cross (analyst) & Sheehan Stanwick Burch (sideline)
         
Pregame lineOver/under
ECU –3.546.5
StatisticsEast CarolinaNavy
First downs2417
Total yards563382
Rushing yards158345
Passing yards40537
Turnovers00
Time of possession32:4027:20
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
East CarolinaPassingHolton Ahlers27/32, 405 yards, 3 TD
RushingKeaton Mitchell18 carries, 94 yards, TD
ReceivingTyler Snead5 receptions, 137 yards, 2 TD
NavyPassingTai Lavatai4/4, 37 yards, 2 TD
RushingCarlinos Acie6 carries, 155 yards, TD
ReceivingMychal Copper2 receptions, 31 yards, TD

No. 4 Cincinnati

Cincinnati at East Carolina
1234Total
No. 4 Bearcats02101435
Pirates303713
  • Date: November 26, 2021
  • Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
    Greenville, NC
  • Game start: 3:50 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutes
  • Game attendance: 38,014
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: NW 20 MPH
  • Referee: Hank Johns
  • TV announcers (ABC): Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst) and Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
    
Pregame lineOver/under
−14.556.5
StatisticsCincinnatiEast Carolina
First downs2019
Total yards444282
Rushing yards14354
Passing yards301228
Time of possession27:4232:18
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
CincinnatiPassingDesmond Ridder17/28, 301 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
RushingJerome Ford20 carries, 85 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingAlec Pierce8 receptions, 136 yards, 1 TD
ECUPassingHolton Ahlers19/38, 228 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingKeaton Mitchell17 carries, 55 yards
ReceivingTyler Snead6 receptions, 91 yards

References