East Carolina uses defense to dispatch Tulsa, 30-17

The East Carolina football team held off Tulsa 30-17 in its home American Athletic Conference opener Saturday, and in doing so won on homecoming for the 10th consecutive season.

In the last two meetings between the schools, the Pirates (4-3, 2-1) produced eight and seven touchdowns to defeat the Golden Hurricane 58-24 and 49-32, respectively. This time against Tulsa, the Pirates’ defense did not disappoint, holding Tulsa’s powerful offense scoreless for three quarters.

The Pirates gave the homecoming crowd a reason to celebrate early in the game, as Josh Hawkins intercepted Tulsa quarterback Dane Evans, returning it 100 yards for a touchdown. It was East Carolina’s first interception return for a touchdown since the last time the Pirates played Tulsa, in November 2014.

“My defense, my D-line, my linebackers, my corners, they just made all that possible,” Hawkins said. “I was a running back in high school and I just clicked into running back real quickly.”

The defense kept rolling, forcing a three-and-out in Tulsa’s next two drives.

“When we see the defense getting rowdy, making stops and making plays, it makes us (the offense) and motivates us to get out there and make plays,” said Chris Hairston, who led the team with 82 rushing yards.

East Carolina’s Blake Kemp started for the fifth time this season, completing 8-of-12 passes for 78 yards. East Carolina coach Ruffin McNeill said last week that he likes the two-quarterback system, and fans saw that system play out well. James Summers entered in the second quarter for one play, and later for good with a 10-0 lead.

“I like the way both of those guys handle the position,” McNeill said. “They do a great job of supporting one another.”

Before Summers recorded his first touchdown of the game, the wide receiver-turned-quarterback recorded his first career interception.

Tulsa’s Darrell Williams intercepted Summersto bring Tulsa’s offense back on the field. Tulsa’s Zack Langer fumbled the ball on the next play, forced by 6-foot-5, 316-pound Demage Bailey and recovered by Jordan Williams. The Pirates eventually capitalized on the Golden Hurricane’s turnover. Summers, under pressure from the defense, connected with Hairston from 12 yards out for Hairston’s first career receiving touchdown, extending the lead to 17-0.

The Pirates entered the fourth quarter with a 23-0 lead. After a pass interference call on East Carolina’s DaSaun Amos moving Tulsa to ECU’s 47, Tulsa’s Langer pushed through to the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown.

Later in the fourth, after a roughing the passer penalty against ECU, Tulsa moved inside the 10 with another opportunity to capitalize on ECU’s mistakes. Montese Overton broke up a pass by Tulsa quarterback Chad President, and ECU’s defense prevented Tulsa from scoring another touchdown as the Golden Hurricane had to settle for a field goal.

Summers later extended the lead to 30-10, after rushing 6 yards for a touchdown. Tulsa recorded another touchdown when Evans completed a 47-yard pass to Keyarris Garrett.

Davis Plowman went 3-for-3 on field goals -- including a personal-best 41-yarder -- to remain perfect on the season, his first career game with multiple field goals.

“The confidence all comes from being comfortable with my short snapper and holder,” Plowman said. “The chemistry that we have together builds all the confidence, it’s just a rhythm every single time I know it’s going to go in because I know they are going to get it there and I’m just going to swing my leg.”

Summers completed 11-of-16 passes for 127 yards, with two touchdowns -- one passing, one rushing -- and an interception. Summers and Hairston are tied for the team lead with six rushing touchdowns.

Zeek Bigger led the defense with 14 tackles and 1.5 sacks against a very talented offense. Overton recorded seven tackles and 1.5 sacks.

ECU’s Demetri McGill left the game with with an apparent injury with just under four minutes left in the game. McNeill did not have any information on the status of his nose tackle.

“Great win, great team win,” McNeill said. “I was proud of the way the team played. It takes the entire team, our sideline, offense, defense, and special teams.”

This story was originally published October 17, 2015 at 7:14 PM with the headline "East Carolina uses defense to dispatch Tulsa, 30-17."