Shortly after East Carolina and Temple kicked off Saturday in Philadelphia, there were seven teams in the American Conference with exactly one conference loss. Thus, with that many hats in the conference title
race, winning this matchup at Lincoln Financial Field was essential for two dark-horse contenders.
East Carolina (5-3, 3-1 American) left zero doubt of superiority over Temple (5-4, 3-2 American), ransacking the road environment in a 45-14 annihilation. The Pirates are now one of six American teams with exactly one loss in conference play, remaining firmly in the hunt with four weeks remaining.
It was an all-out domination by ECU which thrived on explosive offensive playmaking, producing 14 points in each of the first three quarters before coasting to victory. Quarterback Katin Houser displayed efficiency in a 19-of-24 performance, delivering 256 yards and two touchdowns, while ECU shattered its season-high with 358 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns in a concerted team effort. London Montgomery posted 84, TJ Engleman Jr. added a season-high 77, and Marlon Gunn Jr. rounded out the running back trio by also attaining a season-high 64 yards. Collectively, the Pirates averaged 7.0 yards per carry while the offensive line asserted its will on Temple’s defense.
ECU fired out to a a quick 7-0 lead, as Yannick Smith snagged the first of his two touchdowns in a 5-catch, 100-yard outing. To make it 14-0, the Pirates attained a feat no other Temple opponent managed all season long — record an interception off the Owls. Temple quarterback Evan Simon entered the contest with 21 touchdowns and zero interceptions, but free safety Ja’Marley Riddle made a diving grab off Simon in the first quarter to spoil his 8-game streak without a pick. ECU wasted no time in capitalizing on Temple’s second giveaway of the season, as wide receiver Anthony Smith handled a jet sweep and sprinted 45 yards to the end zone, assisted by a pair of excellent blocks on the boundary.
Early East Carolina mistakes prevented the Pirates from completely putting the game away before halftime. The Owls snatched their lone interception in the opening frame when Houser’s deep shot ricocheted off Anthony Smith’s helmet and into the hands of Pooh Lawton. Two drives later, Engleman coughed up the ball in ECU territory, and Temple recovered for advantageous field position. With the first one stemming from the fumble recovery, Temple punched in two rushing touchdowns — one from super senior Jay Ducker and another from true freshman Keveun Mason — knotting the score at 14-14 by the 11-minute mark of the second quarter.
East Carolina responded to Temple’s 14 unanswered with its own 14-straight to conclude the first half. Backup quarterback Mike Wright Jr. — often inserted for run-based packages — caused the entire defense to bite on a handoff on a zone read. Instead, Wright pulled the ball and took it himself for an easy 15-yard score in the second quarter. Then before halftime, Houser connected again with Yannick Smith for a 59-yard touchdown, reestablishing the two-possession advantage heading into the break.
In the second half, ECU only sustained its dominance. Montgomery rushed in a 19-yard touchdown and Gunn punched in a 1-yarder in the third quarter, effectively turning the fourth quarter into 15 minutes of garbage time. The Pirates out-gained the Owls 614-233 in Philadelphia — producing their sixth-most yards in program history on the road. Temple, which generated 27+ points in its first four conference matchups, was held to its lowest scoring total in American play in an offense struggle which featured just 11 first downs. The Owls punted seven times, booting the ball away on five-straight series spanning from the middle of the second quarter until the end of the third.
East Carolina has now allowed 14 points or fewer in four of its five wins this year, and the Pirates lie one win away from bowl eligibility under head coach Blake Harrell. Harrell, who took the reins in the middle of 2024, is now 10-4 as head coach, continuing the best start by any Pirate head coach since Clarence Stasavich produced an 11-2-1 record through 14 games.
Both the Owls and Pirates are one win away from bowl eligibility. After improving to 5-0 against Temple in the 2020s, East Carolina can win its third-straight and earn that coveted sixth win next Saturday as heavy favorites vs. Charlotte. Temple also resumes action Nov. 8, traveling roughly 140 miles up north to face the defending champion Army.
