2021 East Carolina Pirates football team

The 2021 East Carolina Pirates football team represents East Carolina University in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Pirates, led by third-year head coach Mike Houston, play their home games at Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium as members of the American Athletic Conference.

2021 East Carolina Pirates football
ConferenceAmerican Athletic Conference
2021 record7–5 (5–3 The American)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorDonnie Kirkpatrick (3rd season)
Defensive coordinatorBlake Harrell (2nd season)
Home stadiumDowdy–Ficklen Stadium
(capacity: 50,000)
2021 American Athletic Conference football standings
ConfOverall
Team W L  W L 
No. 4 Cincinnati y$^  8 –0   13 –1  
No. 17 Houston y  8 –0   12 –2  
UCF  5 –3   9 –4  
East Carolina  5 –3   7 –5  
Tulsa  5 –3   7 –6  
SMU  4 –4   8 –4  
Memphis  3 –5   6 –6  
Navy  3 –5   4 –8  
Tulane  1 –7   2 –10  
South Florida  1 –7   2 –10  
Temple  1 –7   3 –9  
Championship: Cincinnati 35, Houston 20
  • ^ – College Football Playoff participant
  • $ – Conference champion
  • y – Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

After compiling a 7–5 regular season record, the Pirates received a bid to the Military Bowl,[1] where they were due to face the Boston College Eagles. On December 26, the Eagles withdrew from the game, due to COVID-19 issues; the bowl was subsequently canceled.[2]

Previous season
Main article: 2020 East Carolina Pirates football team

The Pirates finished the 2020 season 3–6, 3–5 in AAC play to finish in ninth place in the conference.

Preseason

American Athletic Conference preseason media poll

The American Athletic Conference preseason media poll was released at the virtual media day held August 4, 2021.[3] Cincinnati, who finished the 2020 season ranked No. 8 nationally, was tabbed as the preseason favorite in the 2021 preseason media poll.

Media poll
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1Cincinnati262 (22)
2UCF241 (2)
3SMU188
4Houston181
5Memphis168
6Tulsa153
7Tulane132
т-8East Carolina85
т-8Navy85
10Temple46
11South Florida43

Schedule
DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
September 27:30 p.m.vs. Appalachian State*
ESPNUL 19–3336,752
September 1112:00 p.m.South Carolina*
ESPN2L 17–2040,816
September 186:00 p.m.at Marshall*
CBSSN FacebookW 42–3824,833
September 256:00 p.m.Charleston Southern*
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPN+W 31–2839,218
October 23:30 p.m.Tulane
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPN+W 52–2933,475
October 96:00 p.m.at UCF
ESPN+L 16–2041,649
October 239:20 p.m.at Houston
ESPNews αL 24–31 OT22,925
October 287:30 p.m.South Florida
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPNW 29–1432,015
November 63:00 p.m.Temple
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ESPN+W 45–332,817
November 1311:00 a.m.at Memphis
ESPN+W 30–29 OT28,431
November 203:30 p.m.at Navy
CBSSNW 38–3528,001
November 263:30 p.m.No. 4 Cincinnati
  • Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
  • Greenville, NC
ABCL 13–3538,014
December 272:30 p.m.vs. Boston College*
  • Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
  • Annapolis, MD (Military Bowl)
ESPN Canceled_

[4]

Notes
^α This game was initially scheduled for ESPNU at 4PM ET, but moved to 9:20PM ET on ESPNews because of a rain delay.

Game summaries

vs. Appalachian State
Appalachian State vs. East Carolina
1 234Total
• Mountaineers 14 676 33
Pirates 6 0310 19
  • Date: September 2, 2021
  • Location: Bank of America Stadium
    Charlotte, NC
  • Game start: 7:33 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 23 minutes
  • Game attendance: 36,752
  • Game weather: 77 °F (25 °C) • Weather: Clear • Wind: S 8 MPH
  • TV announcers (ESPNU): Mike Couzens (play-by-play) and Dustin Fox (analyst)
      
See also: 2021 Appalachian State Mountaineers football team and Duke's Mayo Classic
Over/under
APP –9.056
StatisticsAppalachian StateEast Carolina
First downs2520
Total yards485381
Rushing yards22686
Passing yards259295
Turnovers12
Time of possession31:5528:05
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Appalachian StatePassingChase Brice20/27, 259 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
RushingNate Noel15 carries, 126 yards
ReceivingThomas Hennigan4 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD
East CarolinaPassingHolton Ahlers22/40, 295 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
RushingKeaton Mitchell4 carries, 50 yards
ReceivingKeaton Mitchell5 receptions, 79 yards, 1 TD

South Carolina
South Carolina vs. East Carolina
1 234Total
• Gamecocks 0 776 20
Pirates 7 703 17
   
See also: 2021 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
Over/under
SC –3.057
StatisticsSouth CarolinaEast Carolina
First downs1512
Total yards320268
Rushing yards106116
Passing yards214152
Turnovers32
Time of possession31:1828:42
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
South CarolinaPassingZeb Noland13/24, 214 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
RushingJuju McDowell11 carries, 71 yards
ReceivingJosh Vann5 receptions, 116 yards
East CarolinaPassingHolton Ahlers11/24, 77 yards, 2 INTs
RushingRahjai Harris14 carries, 70 yards
ReceivingJsi Hatfield2 receptions, 90 yards, 1 TD

at Marshall
East Carolina at Marshall
1 234Total
• Pirates 7 14021 42
Thundering Herd 10 14140 38
  • Date: September 18, 2021
  • Location: Joan C. Edwards Stadium
    Huntington, WV
  • Game start: 6:05 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 36 minutes
  • Game attendance: 24,833
  • Game weather: 85 °F (29 °C) • Weather: Sunny
  • Referee: Luke Richard
  • TV announcers (CBS Sports Network): Michael Grady (play–by–play), Corey Chavous (analyst), and Justin Walters (sideline reporter)
        
See also: 2021 Marshall Thundering Herd football team
Pregame line Over/under
MRSH –10.058
StatisticsEast CarolinaMarshall
First downs2724
Total yards563648
Rushing yards168215
Passing yards395433
Turnovers13
Time of possession30:1929:41
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
East CarolinaPassingHolton Ahlers30/48, 368 yards, 2 TDs
RushingKeaton Mitchell14 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingShane Calhoun8 receptions, 114 yards, 1 TD
MarshallPassingGrant Wells24/39, 433 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
RushingRasheen Ali24 carries, 189 yards, 3 TDs
ReceivingCorey Gammage8 receptions, 180 yards

Charleston Southern
Charleston Southern at East Carolina
1 234Total
Buccaneers 14 0014 28
• Pirates 0 2470 31
  • Date: September 25, 2021
  • Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
    Greenville, NC
  • Game start: 6:05 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time: 4 hours and 33 minutes
  • Game attendance: 39,218
  • Game weather: 75 °F (24 °C) • Weather: Sunny
  • Referee: Edwin Lee
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Connor Onion (play–by–play) and Stanford Routt (analyst)
     
See also: 2021 Charleston Southern Buccaneers football team
Pregame line Over/under
ECU –24.559
StatisticsCharleston SouthernEast Carolina
First downs3414
Total yards536388
Rushing yards131150
Passing yards405238
Turnovers12
Time of possession31:2728:33
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Charleston SouthernPassingJack Chambers38/61, 405 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
RushingJD Moore14 car, 58 yds, 1 TD
ReceivingGarris Schwarting8 rec, 94 yds
East CarolinaPassingHolton Ahlers17/26, 238 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
RushingKeaton Mitchell13 car, 125 yds, 1 TD
ReceivingC.J. Johnson3 rec, 95 yds, 1 TD

Tulane
Tulane at East Carolina
1 234Total
Green Wave 0 7166 29
• Pirates 17 14021 52
  • Date: October 2, 2021
  • Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
    Greenville, NC
  • Game start: 3:30 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance: 33,475
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Mark Neely and Barrett Brooks
        
See also: 2021 Tulane Green Wave football team
Pregame line Over/under
TULN –3.064.5
StatisticsTulaneEast Carolina
First downs1925
Total yards404612
Rushing yards124310
Passing yards280302
Turnovers40
Time of possession25:4134:19
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
TulanePassingMichael Pratt22/36, 268 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT
RushingCameron Carroll9 car, 80 yds, 1 TD
ReceivingDuece Watts4 rec, 79 yds
East CarolinaPassingHolton Ahlers21/32, 288 yds, 2 TD
RushingKeaton Mitchell15 car, 222 yds, 2 TD
ReceivingTyler Snead4 rec, 78 yds, 1 TD

at UCF
East Carolina at Central Florida
1 2Total
Pirates 0
Knights 0
  • Date: October 9, 2021
  • Location: Bounce House
    Orlando, FL
  • Game start: 6:00 p.m. EDT
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Courtney Lyle and Brandon Weeden
See also: 2021 UCF Knights football team
Over/under
  
StatisticsEast CarolinaUCF
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
East CarolinaPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
UCFPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

at Houston
East Carolina at Houston
1 2Total
Pirates 0
Cougars 0
  • Date: October 23, 2021
  • Location: TDECU Stadium
    Houston, TX
  • Game start: 4:00 p.m. EDT (Kicked at 9:20 p.m. – delayed 5 hours and 20 minutes to kickoff due to lightning)
  • Elapsed time: 3 hours and 27 minutes
  • Game attendance: 22,925
  • Game weather: 71 °F (22 °C) • Weather: Cloudy • Wind: SE 9 MPH
  • Referee: Edwin Lee
  • TV announcers (ESPNews): Kevin Brown (play-by-play) and Hutson Mason (analyst)
See also: 2021 Houston Cougars football team
Over/under
StatisticsEast CarolinaHouston
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
East CarolinaPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
HoustonPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

South Florida
South Florida at East Carolina
1 2Total
Bulls 0
Pirates 0
See also: 2021 South Florida Bulls football team
Over/under
  
StatisticsSouth FloridaEast Carolina
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
South FloridaPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
East CarolinaPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

Temple
Temple at East Carolina
1 2Total
Owls 0
Pirates 0
  • Date: November 6, 2021
  • Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
    Greenville, NC
  • Game start: TBD EDT
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Courtney Lyle, Brandon Weeden
See also: 2021 Temple Owls football team
Over/under
  
StatisticsTempleEast Carolina
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
TemplePassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
East CarolinaPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

at Memphis
East Carolina at Memphis
1 2Total
Pirates 0
Tigers 0
  • Date: November 13, 2021
  • Location: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
    Memphis, TN
  • Game start: TBD EST
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ESPN+): Richard Cross, Brandon Weeden
See also: 2021 Memphis Tigers football team
Over/under
  
StatisticsEast CarolinaMemphis
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
East CarolinaPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
MemphisPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

at Navy
East Carolina at Navy
1 2Total
Pirates 0
Midshipmen 0
See also: 2021 Navy Midshipmen football team
Over/under
  
StatisticsEast CarolinaNavy
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
East CarolinaPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
NavyPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

No. 4 Cincinnati
Cincinnati at East Carolina
1 2Total
No. 4 Bearcats 0
Pirates 0
  • Date: November 26, 2021
  • Location: Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium
    Greenville, NC
  • Game start: TBD EST
  • Elapsed time:  
  • Game attendance:  
  • Game weather: • Weather: TBD • Wind: TBD
  • Referee:  
  • TV announcers (ABC): Jason Benetti (play-by-play), Andre Ware (analyst) and Paul Carcaterra (sideline)
See also: 2021 Cincinnati Bearcats football team
Over/under
  
StatisticsCincinnatiEast Carolina
First downs  
Total yards  
Rushing yards  
Passing yards  
Turnovers  
Time of possession  
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
CincinnatiPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  
East CarolinaPassing  
Rushing  
Receiving  

References
  1. "East Carolina To Play In 2021 Military Bowl". ecupirates.com (Press release). November 27, 2021. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  2. Adelson, Andrea (December 26, 2021). "Military, Fenway Bowls Canceled Because of COVID-19 Issues". ESPN. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  3. "Cincinnati Chosen as Favorite in American Preseason Media Poll". theAmerican.org. Retrieved 4 August 2021.
  4. "2021 East Carolina Football Schedule". FBS Schedules. Retrieved 20 February 2021.


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