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2024 WEEK 1: EAST CAROLINA @ BALL STATE

Defense was optional as the East Carolina Pirates visited the Ball State Cardinals.

The game started great for ECU, as they jumped out to a 17-3 lead at the end of the first quarter. Sophomore wide receiver James Chism opened the scoring catching a pass from two yards out from freshman quarterback Gregory Beasley to put ECU up 7-0. After a quick three and out, ECU took back over with 9:03 left in the opening quarter. The Pirates would have to settle for a field goal on the drive. Freshman Bill Rowe connected from 41 yards out to put the Pirates up 10-0. Rowe went a perfect 3-for-3 on the day with his field goals.

After a Beasly interception with 3:24 left in the quarter, Ball State took over on the ECU 40-yard line. Their drive would quickly stall but they were able to put points on the board with a 49-yard field goal by senior Dustin Pereira.

The Pirates started their next drive on their own 25-yard line and on the first play of the drive sophomore running back William Barfield broke free for a 54-yard gain. Barfield ended the game with 125 yards on 14 attempts. While senior Edward Sharp ended the game with 122 yards on 15 attempts with one touchdown that he’d get on this drive with a one-yard run with 26 seconds remaining in the first quarter.

ECU outscored Ball State 17-3 in the first quarter and Ball State completely flipped that in the second quarter to outscore ECU 17-3 and head into the locker room tied. Sophomore quarterback Phillip Sanborn scrambled for a 67-yard rushing touchdown for the first play of the second quarter. Just over four minutes later Pereira connected on his second field goal, this one from 29 yards out. The Cardinals closed out their scoring in the half with 1:36 remaining when sophomore running back Joel Renner scored from two yards out. The Pirates got their three points off the quarter with just 25 seconds remaining in the half when Rowe connected for a 35-yard field goal.

The third quarter saw each team swap score after score after score. ECU started the scoring with the defense getting a safety with 12:47 remaining to take the 22-20 lead. Ball State took the lead back with 10:38 remaining on a two-yard reception by senior wide receiver Jerry Miller. Miller led the Cardinals with 37 yards on five receptions and one touchdown.

With 8:16 remaining in the third quarter, Chism caught his second touchdown of the day this one from three yards out to put ECU back on top 28-27. The teams swapped touchdowns to end the scoring in the third quarter. Ball State took the lead back 33-28 with 8:16 left on a Renner two-yard rushing touchdown before ECU scored again on a 46-yard rushing touchdown by junior running back Jeffrey Massey to take the lead again 36-33. The Pirates finished the game with 578 total yards of offense compared to 376 for Ball State. On the ground, the Pirates had 372 yards compared to 233 for the Cardinals.

The Pirates scored 10 more points in the fourth quarter for good measure to take home the 46-33 win. In his first collegiate game, the Pirates freshman quarterback Gregory Beasley finished the game going 24-of-33 for 206 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. His counterpart on the other side of the field, sophomore Phillip Sanborn went 15-of-26 for 131 yards with one touchdown.