Blake Harrell’s Major Statement Falls Flat as Head Coach
Blake Harrell’s debut as head coach of East Carolina didn’t go as planned, as the Pirates fell 34-20 to Navy in their regular season finale. The loss, which spoiled Senior Day for 22 ECU seniors, also handed Harrell his first defeat after a 4-0 stint as interim head coach. Despite this setback, ECU (7-5, 5-3 AAC) will still play in a bowl game, with their opponent to be announced on December 8.
The Pirates, coming off a four-game win streak, struggled against Navy (8-3, 6-2 AAC), a team they had hoped to outpace with their high-scoring offense. The game began with missed opportunities, as ECU failed to capitalize on a strong start. After forcing Navy to miss a field goal and turn the ball over on downs, the Pirates only managed a 3-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. They twice advanced inside the Navy 10-yard line but were unable to score, missing a field goal and turning the ball over on downs.
Navy, on the other hand, found its rhythm in the second half, scoring on five of its six possessions. The Midshipmen, led by quarterback Brandon Woodson, converted key third downs and kept drives alive, amassing 298 yards in the second half alone. Woodson ran for 125 yards and two touchdowns, while also throwing for 165 yards and a score. Navy’s strong second-half play contrasted sharply with ECU’s struggles, as the Pirates were unable to stop key third-down conversions.
Despite a solid first-half defensive effort, ECU couldn’t sustain it. Senior defensive back Omar Rogers, who recorded a career-high 14 tackles, said the defense lost focus in the second half after being on the field for extended periods. The Pirates’ offense also struggled, as quarterback Katin Houser, who had been a big-play performer, misfired on several long passes and finished with just 219 yards. ECU’s rushing attack, which had been potent during the win streak, was held to 129 yards, and the explosive plays were largely absent.
Running back Rahjai Harris, who led ECU with 88 yards, acknowledged that the missed opportunities in the first half came back to haunt them. “We missed a lot of opportunities… it definitely came back and kicked us in the tail in the second half,” Harris said.
Harrell also noted that missed chances early in the game, combined with Navy’s strong second half, were key to the Pirates’ defeat. “We just missed some opportunities early in the game that could have changed the game the other way,” he said.
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