Homecoming at East Carolina University felt the outer edge of Hurricane Isaias, which tracked along the southern coast near Florida and Georgia. With rain forecast for the original 4:00 p.m. kickoff, the game was moved up to 1:00 p.m. in an effort to keep the festivities from getting washed out. The change disrupted plans for many fans, and the crowd fell short of the numbers typically expected for homecoming. But a smaller crowd wasn’t going to stop the Pirates from stomping the Owls.
East Carolina got off to a slow start, allowing Rice to take a 9–7 lead in the third quarter. But when the traditional “No Quarter” flag was raised between the third and fourth quarters, the Pirates began to embody its message. Before a minute had elapsed in the final quarter, TJ Engleman broke free for a 43-yard touchdown run, giving ECU some breathing room and shifting the momentum firmly in the Pirates’ favor.
Homecoming ended on a high note as the team gathered with fans to sing the alma mater and fight song after the final whistle. The rain never became an issue, and the gray skies seemed fitting for a Pirate kind of day. While the energy inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium may not have reached the usual homecoming heights, the Pirates’ third consecutive win gave fans another reason to show up, fill the stands, and help make the stadium the intimidating home-field advantage ECU is known for.
The weather may have threatened to dampen homecoming, but the Pirates made sure the celebration belonged to East Carolina.
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