East Carolinian

Issue date: 9/30/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Travis Bartlett

Last weekend, ECU's dreams of a BCS appearance were severely wounded. Now those aspirations are all but dead, and the Pirates are no longer in control of a wide-open Conference USA East Division title.

ECU (3-2, 1-1) had no answer for Houston's (2-3, 1-1) relentless offensive assault in the Cougars' 41-24 win this past Saturday. The visitors from Texas racked up an astronomical 621 yards on total offense and five touchdowns.

"We certainly can't do what we did tonight and think we have any kind of chance to have a good football season," said ECU coach Skip Holtz. "This is definitely a humbling experience for everyone involved."

The Pirates never led in the game, but trailed 24-17 heading into the fourth quarter when Houston quarterback Case Keenum (36-for-44, 399 yards) and receiver Kierrie Johnson took the life out of the ECU defense and a sold-out crowd at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

Keenum, who entered the contest leading the nation in total offense, appeared to be running for the sideline near the Cougars'16-yard line, but spotted and connected with a wide-open Johnson for an 84-yard touchdown.

Johnson was one of two Houston wide-outs to finish with more than 100 yards receiving on the day-but his freshman counterpart Patrick Edwards stole the show with 11 catches for 146 yards and one touchdown.

"You watch them [Houston] on film and they have not been near as efficient as they were today," Holtz said. "I think they were extremely motivated coming in here. I think they played with their backs up against the wall. I thought they played extremely well."

Quarterback Patrick Pinkney was benched at halftime in favor of Rob Kass, after Pinkney threw for just 15 yards in the first half, bringing back to life a seemingly extinct "quarterback controversy."

Kass initially provided a spark in the third quarter, leading the Pirates on 70-yard scoring drive to trim the Cougar lead to 21-17. Tailback Brandon Simmons finished the drive off when he spun and powered his way to a 4-yard touchdown.

"It seemed like something was missing in the first half," Holtz said of the quarterback situation. "I don't think this was Patrick's fault and I don't think this was Rob's fault. I think this was a team effort."

Pinkney (10-for-20, 100 yards) was re-inserted at quarterback in the fourth quarter after a Kass (5-for-8, 49 yards) interception led to a score from running back Bryce Beall, which pushed the Houston lead to 38-17.

Continued...

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