ECU Handles Army 28–6, Opens Conference Play Strong

Photo Credit: James Guillory

The Pirates knew after the BYU loss that they had to respond quickly, and with Army coming to town on a short week, there wasn’t much time to dwell on mistakes. All week the talk was about starting fast and setting the tone early. When the lights came on inside Dowdy-Ficklen, Katin Houser and company did exactly that. The first drive saw Houser connect with Anthony Smith on a 41-yard pass that should have been six if not for Smith slipping just before the end zone. A couple plays later, Houser finished it off with a short rushing touchdown to put ECU in front.

The offense didn’t slow down from there. Houser went right back to Smith, hitting him for a 40-yard touchdown to make it a 14-0 lead. That connection finally showed the big-play punch Pirate fans had been waiting for. Houser wasn’t done either. On the next possession, he fired a strike to Jayvontay Conner up the seam for a 20-yard touchdown, and suddenly ECU was up 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. It was the kind of explosive start Harrell had been pushing for, and the type of quarter that can change the outlook of a game before it really gets going.

Harrell Praises Fans, Players, and Service Members

Head coach Blake Harrell wasted no time giving credit where it was due after the win.

“Shoutout to the fanbase and the students for making Dowdy a home field advantage,” Harrell said, pointing to the energy that carried over from pregame through the final whistle.

With Salute to Service night setting the backdrop, Harrell also reminded everyone of the bigger picture. “Tonight was also Salute to Service night, and thank you to all the men and women that serve our country. You are out there battling it out in football but one day those men (Army Football) will one day protect our country.”

The coach also reflected on the sudden loss of former App State head coach Shawn Clark, a friend to many in the coaching community. “We lost a really good man and coach in Shawn Clark. One of our coaches, Lance Ware, is really close to him. We really feel for Coach Clark’s family, thoughts and prayers for his family. I told our guys always tell the people close to you that you love them.”

Harrell pointed out how leadership showed itself before the game even began. “Yannick Smith was challenging guys in pre-game warmups. Big game to start 1-0 in conference play.” He also highlighted his defense’s ability to swing momentum. “We told our defense if you can get 3 and outs, it’s as good as a turnover.”

Houser’s Perspective: Fast Start and Building Momentum

Katin Houser echoed the emphasis on starting fast, saying, “We want to get that first 1st down, and we marched down and scored. We have to finish the game late.”

Houser knows this kind of win can carry weight. “This builds momentum heading into the bye week before heading to Tulane,” he said. “We have a lot of goals and not looking too far ahead, have to play what’s in front of us.”

He also credited the defense for setting the tone. “They have been lights out, we don’t have to score every drive even though we want to.”

And on finally reconnecting with Anthony Smith for a big-play touchdown: “It’s been a long time coming, glad to finally get that. A lot more of that to come.”

Houser even got in a laugh about ECU’s special teams dagger. “Man I really didn’t even know that was gonna happen. When I see Kyler holding I knew it won’t right. I looked up see his little a** run.”

Offense Still Needs to Finish Drives

For all the fireworks early, the Pirate offense hit plenty of bumps once Army adjusted. ECU’s first three drives ended in touchdowns, but the rest of the way the Pirates couldn’t finish. Houser threw an interception and was later charged with a fumble before halftime, with both turnovers coming in Army territory. Two more drives in the second half ended on downs, killing chances to extend the lead.

The raw numbers looked strong: 431 total yards, 251 through the air and 180 on the ground. ECU went 7-for-12 on third down and only punted once all night. But two turnovers, empty red zone trips, and failed fourth downs kept Army within striking distance much longer than they should have been. Houser admitted postgame that the offense slowed itself down once it crossed midfield, something he said has to change before the schedule gets tougher.

Special Teams Trickery Seals It

When Army pulled within 21-6 in the fourth quarter, the game still felt unsettled. That changed with some well-timed trickery from Harrell’s staff. Facing a fourth-and-three from the Army 32, ECU lined up for a field goal, but instead of punter Ryan Leavy holding, it was return man Kyler Pearson. Pearson took the snap and raced 32 yards for a touchdown, sprung by a block from tackle Bryce Weaver. The play gave ECU a 28-6 cushion and slammed the door shut.

It was the second time this season the Pirates have successfully pulled off a special teams fake, and this one couldn’t have come at a better moment.

Playing Cleaner Football

One of the biggest positives of the night didn’t show up in the box score. ECU entered the game as one of the most penalized teams in the country. Against Army, they were flagged just twice for five yards. It was a season-low and a sign that the Pirates can clean things up when the focus is right.

Conference Play Starts the Right Way

This wasn’t just another win — it was ECU’s first home victory over a service academy since 2004. More importantly, it gave the Pirates a 1-0 start in American Conference play, exactly what they needed with Tulane looming after the bye week.

Army was the defending league champion, and ECU handled them by 22 points. That’s the kind of win that builds confidence heading into the most important stretch of the year. If the Pirates can clean up the red-zone issues and keep the defensive standard high, the trip to New Orleans in two weeks could become one of the biggest conference games ECU has played in years.