ECU started the game sluggishly, falling behind 21-0 after two touchdowns by North Texas in the first quarter. The Pirates' defense struggled to contain North Texas's offense, while the Pirates' offense was unable to generate sustained drives.
The Pirates emerged from the locker room with a renewed determination. Quarterback Holton Ahlers led the offense on a scoring drive, punching in a 1-yard touchdown to make it 21-7. The Pirates' defense also stepped up, forcing North Texas into three-and-outs and stalled drives.
The momentum swung decisively in ECU's favor in the fourth quarter. Ahlers connected with Blake Proehl for a 32-yard touchdown pass, and the Pirates recovered a North Texas fumble on the ensuing kickoff. Ahlers capitalized on the turnover with a 5-yard touchdown run to give the Pirates a 28-21 lead.
ECU's defense held strong in the final minutes, forcing North Texas to turn the ball over on downs. The Pirates then marched down the field and extended their lead when Keaton Mitchell scored on a 1-yard run. A late interception by ECU sealed the victory.
"It was a complete team effort," said ECU head coach Mike Houston. "We knew we had to dig deep, and our guys responded. This win is a testament to their character and determination."
"We made some adjustments at halftime, and our players executed them perfectly," said ECU defensive coordinator Blake Harrell. "The defensive line played great, and the secondary made some key plays."
The victory improves ECU's record to 2-2 on the season. The Pirates face South Carolina State next Saturday before opening conference play against Tulane on October 1. North Texas falls to 1-3 and will host Memphis next week.
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