Spring Break
ECU Football
Addison Harvey
Issue date: 11/4/08 Section: Sports
11/03
UCF Postgame
Sunday nights' game versus UCF was an epic defensive battle between two Conference USA East foes. I know you rarely hear the words "Defensive battle" uttered after a Conference USA game.
In a league where you have the NCAA leader in points per game, Tulsa, and other high-powered offenses, there is rarely a game where the two teams combine for 23 points.
The Pirates were never able to get the offense rolling Sunday night. They tried everything including a double reverse Davon Drew pass attempt to Patrick Pinkney and using both quarterbacks, Rob Kass and Patrick Pinkney. The one bright spot offensively was the performance of sophomore running back Norman Whitley. Whitley rushed for 135 yards and he tied the game up with 1:51 left in regulation on a 2-yard touchdown run. The UCF defense struggled to figure out a way to stop the speedy back from Richmond County.
The defense played lights out for from the opening whistle Sunday night. They applied pressure to UCF quarterback Michael Greco all game and did now allow the Golden Knights to establish the run. The defensive line lead by C.J. Wilson, Linval Joesph and Jay Ross, who were constantly wreaking havoc in the UCF backfield. Linebackers Nick Johnson and Pierre Bell had huge games racking up, 14 tackles combined.
The unsung hero for the Pirates Sunday night was redshirt freshman defensive back Emmanuel Davis. Davis stripped UCF quarterback Greco with 33 seconds remaining in regulation and the ball was recovered by the Pirates setting up a potential game-winning drive. The very next play, ECU Kass threw an interception and UCF would take a knee sending the game to overtime. Emmanuel Davis would come up big again though, on the 1st play of overtime Davis intercepted Greco's pass attempt and set up the Pirates for their game winning drive.
After missing two field goals from 46 and 48 yards, kicker Ben Hartman drilled a 39-yard attempt to win the game in overtime. Hartman is now 3-for-3 on game-winning field goals, dating back to last year when he defeated hated in-state rival UNC and Boise State. Sticking with special teams, Matt Dodge had a solid performance punting for ECU. Dodge had eight punts for a 47 yard average, frequently pinning UCF inside its own 20. Dodge's onside kick in the 3rd quarter, where he rifled the kick off of UCF's Alex Thompson and was recovered by ECU's Dustin Lineback was a huge special teams' play.
UCF Postgame
Sunday nights' game versus UCF was an epic defensive battle between two Conference USA East foes. I know you rarely hear the words "Defensive battle" uttered after a Conference USA game.
In a league where you have the NCAA leader in points per game, Tulsa, and other high-powered offenses, there is rarely a game where the two teams combine for 23 points.
The Pirates were never able to get the offense rolling Sunday night. They tried everything including a double reverse Davon Drew pass attempt to Patrick Pinkney and using both quarterbacks, Rob Kass and Patrick Pinkney. The one bright spot offensively was the performance of sophomore running back Norman Whitley. Whitley rushed for 135 yards and he tied the game up with 1:51 left in regulation on a 2-yard touchdown run. The UCF defense struggled to figure out a way to stop the speedy back from Richmond County.
The defense played lights out for from the opening whistle Sunday night. They applied pressure to UCF quarterback Michael Greco all game and did now allow the Golden Knights to establish the run. The defensive line lead by C.J. Wilson, Linval Joesph and Jay Ross, who were constantly wreaking havoc in the UCF backfield. Linebackers Nick Johnson and Pierre Bell had huge games racking up, 14 tackles combined.
The unsung hero for the Pirates Sunday night was redshirt freshman defensive back Emmanuel Davis. Davis stripped UCF quarterback Greco with 33 seconds remaining in regulation and the ball was recovered by the Pirates setting up a potential game-winning drive. The very next play, ECU Kass threw an interception and UCF would take a knee sending the game to overtime. Emmanuel Davis would come up big again though, on the 1st play of overtime Davis intercepted Greco's pass attempt and set up the Pirates for their game winning drive.
After missing two field goals from 46 and 48 yards, kicker Ben Hartman drilled a 39-yard attempt to win the game in overtime. Hartman is now 3-for-3 on game-winning field goals, dating back to last year when he defeated hated in-state rival UNC and Boise State. Sticking with special teams, Matt Dodge had a solid performance punting for ECU. Dodge had eight punts for a 47 yard average, frequently pinning UCF inside its own 20. Dodge's onside kick in the 3rd quarter, where he rifled the kick off of UCF's Alex Thompson and was recovered by ECU's Dustin Lineback was a huge special teams' play.
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