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2020 East Carolina Pirates football
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
Record3–6 (3–5 AAC)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDonnie Kirkpatrick (2nd season)
Defensive coordinatorBlake Harrell (1st season)
Home stadiumDowdy–Ficklen Stadium
Seasons
← 2019
2021 →
2020 American Athletic Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 8 Cincinnati y$   6 0     9 1  
Tulsa y   6 0     6 3  
Memphis   5 3     8 3  
UCF   5 3     6 4  
SMU   4 3     7 3  
Houston   3 3     3 5  
Navy   3 4     3 7  
Tulane   3 5     6 6  
East Carolina   3 5     3 6  
Temple   1 6     1 6  
South Florida   0 7     1 8  
Championship: Cincinnati 27, Tulsa 24
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll.

The 2020 East Carolina Pirates football team represented East Carolina University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Pirates, led by second-year head coach Mike Houston, played their home games at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium as members of the American Athletic Conference.

Schedule[edit]

East Carolina had games scheduled against Marshall, Norfolk State, and South Carolina, which were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2][3]

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 2612:00 p.m. No. 13 UCFABCL 28–51305
October 312:00 p.m.at Georgia State*ESPNUL 29–493,823
October 107:00 p.m.at South FloridaESPN+W 44–246,799
October 1712:00 p.m.Navy
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPN2L 23–273,500
October 308:00 p.m.at TulsaESPN2L 30–340
November 712:00 p.m.Tulane
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPN+L 21–383,500
November 137:30 p.m.at No. 7 CincinnatiESPN2L 17–550
November 2112:00 p.m.at TempleESPN+W 28–30
November 2812:00 p.m.SMU
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPN+W 52–383,500
Schedule Source:[4][5]

Game summaries[edit]

UCF[edit]

Central Florida at East Carolina
1 234Total
No. 13 Knights 10 171410 51
Pirates 7 0714 28
         
Pregame line Over/under
UCF –27.5 77[6]
Statistics UCF East Carolina
First downs 29 25
Total yards 632 459
Rushing yards 224 244
Passing yards 408 215
Turnovers 0 4
Time of possession 26:52 33:08
Team Category Player Statistics
UCF Passing Dillon Gabriel 32/47, 408 yards, 4 TDs
Rushing Greg McCrae 16 carries, 83 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Johnny Richardson 9 receptions, 150 yards, 2 TDs
East Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 14/29, 215 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Keaton Mitchell 8 carries, 66 yards
Receiving Audie Omotosho 3 receptions, 56 yards

At Georgia State[edit]

East Carolina at Georgia State
1 234Total
Pirates 7 6313 29
Panthers 21 14014 49
  • Date: October 3, 2020
  • Location: Center Parc Stadium
    Atlanta, GA
  • Game start: 12:02 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 28 minutes
  • Game attendance: 3,823
  • Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: 6 W MPH
  • Referee: Marshall Lewis
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Mike Couzens (play–by–play) and Dustin Fox (analyst)
         
Pregame line Over/under
ECU –1.5 70[7]
Statistics East Carolina Georgia State
First downs 19 21
Total yards 286 485
Rushing yards 50 247
Passing yards 236 238
Turnovers 3 3
Time of possession 33:05 26:55
Team Category Player Statistics
East Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 29/50, 236 yards, 3 INTs
Rushing Tyler Snead 1 carry, 31 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Tyler Snead 11 receptions, 105 yards
Georgia State Passing Cornelious Brown 18/28, 238 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing Destin Coates 23 carries, 113 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Sam Pinckney 7 receptions, 134 yards, 2 TDs

At South Florida[edit]

East Carolina at South Florida
1 234Total
Pirates 17 1476 44
Bulls 7 1000 17
        
Pregame line Over/under
USF –5.5 58[8]
Statistics East Carolina South Florida
First downs 21 22
Total yards 432 398
Rushing yards 210 92
Passing yards 222 306
Turnovers 0 2
Time of possession 35:36 24:24
Team Category Player Statistics
East Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 17/26, 222 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing Rahjai Harris 19 carries, 115 yards, 1 TD
Receiving C. J. Johnson 3 receptions, 99 yards, 2 TDs
South Florida Passing Jordan McCloud 26/35, 298 yards
Rushing Johnny Ford 8 carries, 44 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Latrell Williams 8 receptions, 93 yards

Navy[edit]

Navy at East Carolina
1 234Total
Midshipmen 7 6140 27
Pirates 6 7010 23
  • Date: October 17, 2020
  • Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
    Greeville, NC
  • Game start: 12:01 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 18 minutes
  • Game attendance: 3,500
  • Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C) • Weather: Mostly Sunny • Wind: NNE 10 MPH
  • Referee: Edwin Lee
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Lincoln Rose (play–by–play) and Keith Moreland (analyst)
     
Pregame line Over/under
NAVY –3.5 55.5[9]
Statistics Navy East Carolina
First downs 17 19
Total yards 318 372
Rushing yards 288 268
Passing yards 30 104
Turnovers 2 2
Time of possession 31:29 28:31
Team Category Player Statistics
Navy Passing Dalen Morris 3/4, 30 yards, 1 INT
Rushing Nelson Smith 17 carries, 157 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Ryan Mitchell 1 reception, 14 yards
East Carolina Passing Mason Garcia 10/20, 104 yards
Rushing Rahjai Harris 22 carries, 172 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Tyler Snead 4 receptions, 39 yards

At Tulsa[edit]

East Carolina at Tulsa
1 234Total
Pirates 7 10310 30
Golden Hurricane 3 01714 34
  • Date: October 30, 2020
  • Location: Skelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium
    Tulsa, OK
  • Game start: 8:00 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3:40
  • Game attendance: 0
  • Game weather: 53 °F (12 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: SSW 5 MPH
  • Referee: A. Calabarese
  • TV announcers (ESPN2): Clay Matvick (play–by–play) Rocky Boiman (analyst)
        
Pregame line Over/under
TUL –17 59.5[10]
Statistics East Carolina Tulsa
First downs 27 25
Total yards 456 428
Rushing yards 126 175
Passing yards 330 253
Turnovers 3 3
Time of possession 35:09 24:51
Team Category Player Statistics
East Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 38/50, 330 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Rahjai Harris 21 carries, 118 yards
Receiving Tyler Snead 16 receptions, 108 yards, 1 TD
Tulsa Passing Zach Smith 19/37, 253 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing T.K. Wilkerson 18 carries, 89 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Keylon Stokes 6 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD

Tulane[edit]

Tulane at East Carolina
1 234Total
Green Wave 7 14107 38
Pirates 7 0014 21
  • Date: November 7, 2020
  • Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
    Greenville, NC
  • Game start: 12:05 a.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 11 minutes
  • Game attendance: 3,500
  • Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C) • Weather: Mostly Clear • Wind: E 5 MPH
  • Referee: Luke Richmond
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Evan Lepler (play–by–play) and Jay Sonnhalter (analyst)
     
Pregame line Over/under
TULN –3.5 63.5[11]
Statistics Tulane East Carolina
First downs 24 20
Total yards 493 386
Rushing yards 277 35
Passing yards 216 351
Turnovers 1 1
Time of possession 30:59 29:01
Team Category Player Statistics
Tulane Passing Michael Pratt 22/34, 216 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Cameron Carroll 6 carries, 129 yards, 2 TDs
Receiving Duece Watts 5 receptions, 57 yards, 2 TDs
East Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 27/43, 351 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing Rahjai Harris 13 carries, 27 yards
Receiving Blake Proehl 13 receptions, 182 yards, 2 TDs

At Cincinnati[edit]

East Carolina at Cincinnati
1 234Total
Pirates 0 1007 17
No. 7 Bearcats 7 28713 55
       
Pregame line Over/under
CIN –27.5 56.5[12]
Statistics East Carolina Cincinnati
First downs 23 29
Total yards 293 653
Rushing yards 206 299
Passing yards 87 354
Turnovers 4 1
Time of possession 29:50 30:10
Team Category Player Statistics
East Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 9/20, 87 yards, 3 INTs
Rushing Keaton Mitchell 17 carries, 124 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Keaton Mitchell 1 reception, 26 yards
Cincinnati Passing Desmond Ridder 24/31, 327 yards, 3 TDs
Rushing Desmond Ridder 8 carries, 75 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Tre Tucker 4 receptions, 69 yards, 1 TD

At Temple[edit]

East Carolina at Temple
1 234Total
Pirates 7 1470 28
Owls 0 030 3
  • Date: November 21, 2020
  • Location: Lincoln Financial Field
    Philadelphia, PA
  • Game start: 12:50 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 2 hours and 48 minutes
  • Game attendance: 100
  • Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C) • Weather: Mostly Sunny • Wind: NW 6 MPH
  • Referee: Hank Johns
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Dave Leno (play–by–play) and Ken Dunek (analyst)
  
Pregame line Over/under
ECU –7 53[13]
Statistics East Carolina Temple
First downs 16 10
Total yards 447 235
Rushing yards 265 140
Passing yards 182 95
Turnovers 2 3
Time of possession 25:06 34:54
Team Category Player Statistics
East Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 11/22, 182 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Rushing Keaton Mitchell 13 carries, 103 yards
Receiving C. J. Johnson 3 receptions, 86 yards, 1 TD
Temple Passing Kamal Gray 10/21, 95 yards, 2 INTs
Rushing Tayvon Ruley 14 carries, 48 yards
Receiving David Martin–Robinson 1 reception, 30 yards

SMU[edit]

Southern Methodist at East Carolina
1 234Total
Mustangs 7 01714 38
Pirates 21 2407 52
  • Date: November 28, 2020
  • Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
    Greeville, NC
  • Game start: 12:05 p.m. EST
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 31 minutes
  • Game attendance: 3,500
  • Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C) • Weather: Mostly Clear • Wind: Calm
  • Referee: Edwin Lee
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Lincoln Rose (play–by–play) and LaDarrin McLane (analyst)
          
Pregame line Over/under
SMU –12.0 72
Statistics SMU East Carolina
First downs 26 28
Total yards 384 493
Rushing yards 70 160
Passing yards 314 333
Turnovers 3 2
Time of possession 29:43 30:17
Team Category Player Statistics
SMU Passing Shane Buechele 35/50, 314 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing Ulysses Bentley IV 12 carries, 36 yards
Receiving Austin Upshaw 8 receptions, 78 yards
East Carolina Passing Holton Ahlers 20/29, 298 yards, 4 TDs
Rushing Keaton Mitchell 20 carries, 68 yards, 1 TD
Receiving Blake Proehl 6 receptions, 152 yards, 2 TDs

Players drafted into the NFL[edit]

Round Pick Player Position NFL Club
4 139 D'Ante Smith OT Cincinnati Bengals

References[edit]

  1. ^ "MEAC suspends all fall sports for indefinite period". ESPN.com. July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  2. ^ Talty, John. "SEC moves to conference-only 2020 schedule, pushes back start of season". AL.com. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  3. ^ "ECU-Marshall football game canceled ahead of plane crash 50th anniversary". WITN.com. November 5, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  4. ^ "2020 Football Schedule". East Carolina University Athletics. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  5. ^ "2020 East Carolina Pirates Schedule". ESPN. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  6. ^ "UCF Knights vs East Carolina Pirates". Odds Shark. Retrieved September 23, 2020.
  7. ^ "East Carolina Pirates vs Georgia State Panthers". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  8. ^ "East Carolina Pirates vs USF Bulls". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  9. ^ "Navy Midshipmen vs East Carolina Pirates". Odds Shark. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  10. ^ "East Carolina vs Tulsa Golden Hurricane". Sportsline. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  11. ^ "Tulane Green Wave vs East Carolina Pirates". Odds Shark. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  12. ^ "East Carolina Pirates vs Cincinnati Bearcats". Odds Shark. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  13. ^ "East Carolina Pirates vs Temple Owls". Odds Shark. Retrieved November 27, 2020.

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