BOCA RATON, FL – East Carolina dismantled Florida Atlantic 42-3 on Saturday afternoon at Schellenberger Field, scoring all of its points in the first half to improve to 8-4 overall and 6-2 in American Conference play. The six conference victories represent the most in program history since joining the American in 2014.
Quarterback Katin Houser directed the offensive attack, completing 20 of 29 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns while adding 67 yards and two more scores on the ground. Running back Marlon Gunn Jr. rushed for 130 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, averaging 9.3 yards per attempt as East Carolina finished with 524 total yards of offense.
The Pirates needed just 4:33 to score on their opening possession, driving 75 yards on 13 plays before Gunn Jr. plunged in from one yard out with 10:27 remaining in the first quarter. On the ensuing kickoff, Florida Atlantic fumbled the ball away after a short reception by Easton Messer. Linebacker Jordy Lowery forced the fumble and defensive back Jasiyah Robinson recovered at the FAU 27-yard line.
One play later, Houser hit Desirrio Riles for a 27-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-0 just 17 seconds after the first score. The quick-strike sequence set the tone for a dominant first half.
East Carolina struck again following a FAU punt, marching 84 yards on six plays in 2:14. Houser connected with Brock Spalding for a 22-yard touchdown pass at the 7:04 mark, pushing the lead to 21-0. The three scoring drives consumed a total of just 7:17 of game time.
Florida Atlantic (4-8, 3-5 American) got on the board with a 33-yard field goal by Garrison Smith with one minute left in the opening quarter, but that would be the Owls' only score of the afternoon.
The second quarter brought more of the same for East Carolina. After a 14-play, 75-yard drive that took 5:06 off the clock, Houser scored on a four-yard run to extend the lead to 28-3. The Pirates converted six of six third-down attempts in the second quarter alone, keeping Florida Atlantic's defense on the field.
Defensive back Teagan Wilk intercepted FAU quarterback Caden Veltkamp in the second quarter and returned it 35 yards to the Florida Atlantic 39-yard line. The turnover led to another East Carolina touchdown drive, this one covering 61 yards on 10 plays. Running back Rion Roseborough scored from one yard out to make it 35-3 with 3:10 left in the half.
East Carolina saved its most efficient drive for last in the opening half. Starting from their own 24-yard line with 1:42 remaining, the Pirates drove 76 yards on nine plays in just 1:28. Houser capped the drive with a seven-yard touchdown run with 14 seconds left before halftime, sending the Pirates to the locker room with a 42-3 advantage.
The first-half dominance was evident in the statistics. East Carolina converted nine of 10 third-down attempts in the first 30 minutes while rushing for 197 yards on 35 carries. The Pirates controlled possession for 20:56 of the first half and built an insurmountable lead.
Riles finished with seven receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown, while Spalding caught five passes for 76 yards and a score. Running back London Montgomery added 53 yards on 17 carries as East Carolina averaged 4.8 yards per rush as a team.
The East Carolina defense forced three turnovers and recorded four sacks. Safety Ja'Marley Riddle intercepted Veltkamp twice, returning one for 10 yards in the third quarter and recovering a fumble in the fourth quarter at the ECU four-yard line to snuff out Florida Atlantic's best scoring opportunity of the second half.
Veltkamp completed 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards with two interceptions and was sacked four times. Backup quarterback Zach Gibson entered in the second half and completed 12 of 20 passes for 116 yards with one interception. The Florida Atlantic offense managed just 39 yards rushing on 22 attempts, averaging 1.8 yards per carry.
Defensive end Zion Wilson recorded two sacks for the Pirates, while linebacker Kevon Merrell led the team with eight total tackles. East Carolina held Florida Atlantic to three of 15 conversions on third down and recorded nine tackles for loss totaling 43 yards.
The second half became a formality with East Carolina's large lead. The Pirates played conservatively and did not score after halftime, instead running clock and giving playing time to reserves. Backup quarterback Mike Wright Jr. saw action and also handled punting duties.
Florida Atlantic's most sustained drive came late in the third quarter and extended into the fourth. The Owls drove from their own 26-yard line to the East Carolina four-yard line, covering 70 yards on 11 plays over nearly 14 minutes. However, Gibson fumbled on a rush from the one-yard line, and Riddle recovered to end the threat.
Messer led Florida Atlantic with 10 receptions for 86 yards, and running back Gemari Sands had 34 rushing yards on nine carries to pace the ground game. The Owls finished with 338 total yards but could not capitalize on their 34:39 time of possession advantage.
The Pirates now await their bowl destination, having secured postseason eligibility for the fourth time in the last five years. Be sure to check Carolina Gridiron’s Bowl Season page for the latest information.
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