ECU Overwhelms Campbell 56-3 in Dominant Season-Opening Victory
GREENVILLE, N.C. – East Carolina University’s football team launched its season with a resounding 56-3 victory over Campbell University Saturday night, showcasing a potent offense and a stifling defense. The Pirates‘ performance marked a strong start and emphasized improvements made during the offseason, particularly in ball security.
“He’s playing with a lot of confidence right now and taking care of the football,” offensive coordinator Harrell said of quarterback Houser. “I think this is the second-straight week we didn’t have a turnover. We talked about the emphasis of that during the offseason.” The win signals a positive trajectory for ECU as they aim to build on last season’s success and compete in the american Athletic conference.
Defensively, ECU limited Campbell to a mere 151 total yards, registering nine tackles for loss and two sacks.Campbell struggled to establish a running game, finishing with negative rushing yardage for much of the night and ultimately gaining four yards on 27 attempts.
“They had negative 15 yards in the fourth quarter I believe, and we didn’t want to give them any,” said senior defensive lineman preston Carr, who recorded four tackles and recovered a fumble forced by Jasiyah Robinson. Carr highlighted the team’s focus on a fast start, stating, “It was a huge impact…That’s one thing we focused on all week, coming out fast, and that’s what we did.”
Quarterback Houser orchestrated a quick offensive surge, connecting on five consecutive passes after an initial misfire, culminating in an 18-yard touchdown pass to Riles. A 25-yard connection with Yannick Smith fueled the drive. Montgomery contributed two touchdowns,including a 1-yard plunge,while Brock Spalding electrified the crowd with a 24-yard reception and a subsequent 55-yard touchdown catch.
ECU capitalized on special teams play as well.Kyler Pearson’s 18-yard punt return positioned Parker Jenkins for a 17-yard touchdown run, his first career score. Marlon Gunn Jr. added a 4-yard touchdown with 1:22 remaining in the half,extending ECU’s lead to 35-3.
The Pirates continued thier offensive dominance in the third quarter with Montgomery scoring a 2-yard touchdown and DeJuan Lacy adding a 4-yard run. “It’s good to get that many guys in the end zone,” Montgomery said, reflecting the team’s balanced scoring effort.
