Hartman boots Herd

East Carolina claims first place in C-USA's East Division

GREENVILLE -- Sometimes it takes working longer, sometimes it takes working harder to win football games.

Once again for East Carolina, it took that Saturday, plus lots of hustle, lots of heart -- and lots of Hartman.

By booting a 27-yard field goal -- his fourth of the day -- Ben Hartman kicked the Pirates to a 19-16 overtime win against Marshall and to the top of Conference USA's East Division.

"Pretty impressive, wasn't it," said ECU coach Skip Holtz, who was almost skipping toward the locker room after acknowledging a euphoric Pirate nation dominating the crowd of 43,515. "I'm proud of this team. I keep saying it, but they keep competing."

Just last Sunday night against Central Florida, Hartman -- the kicker who likes to kid and joke before attempting game-winning field goals -- toed a 41-yarder to produce a 13-10 overtime victory.

Routine stuff, right?

Not exactly. Hartman, who also converted field goals from 31, 51 and 21 yards, pulled a potential game-deciding 43-yarder left of the goal post at the end of regulation.

Given a second chance after Marshall's Tyler Warner missed a field-goal try in the OT, Hartman made his Kick of Redemption and then got mobbed by teammates.

With its third straight victory, ECU (6-3, 4-1 C-USA) ascended to first place in the East Division ahead of Marshall (4-5, 3-2).

The Thundering Herd had threatened to spoil ECU's title hopes for the second straight year, generating a game-tying touchdown with 1:21 left on a 34-yard pass from Mark Cann to Cody Slate.

Earlier, starting Herd placekicker Craig Ratanamorn had missed a 26-yard field goal and an extra point. That's how tenuous it was, how nerve-wracking, how close to defeat East Carolina dangled on this Homecoming of chills and thrills.

Yet the Pirates again found a way, with some helmet-rattling defense and with a perked-up passing attack that complemented Hartman's footwork.

A reborn Patrick Pinkney started at quarterback, resembling the early-season Pinkney, played the entire game and orchestrated a 387-yard offense. He also gave what had become a popgun passing attack a shotgun sound by completing 26 of 37 for 287 yards.

Meanwhile, ECU's defense generally played up to its reputation, swarming and hitting like the Pirates who lead Conference USA in fewest points allowed.

They got burned with two touchdown passes by Cann and a 123-yard rushing effort by Darius Marshall. But ECU's "D" also made key stops, picked off two passes (by Emanuel Davis), and held the Herd to 286 total yards.

"Outside those two plays [TDs], our defense played an outstanding game,'' Holtz said.

In the overtime, Marshall -- pumped emotionally after tying the game on the Cann-to-Slate pass -- came out throwing. But senior Zach Slate, a defensive mainstay along with tackle leaders Pierre Bell, Leon Best and Jeremy Chambliss, batted down two passes.

After another Cann throw fell incomplete, Warner's 26-yard field-goal try veered wide right. Moments later, after ECU's offense moved goalward, Hartman came back in and kicked the fourth game-winner of his career.

OBSERVATIONS

COVERING PASSMORE

Except for one big play, East Carolina did a blanket job covering touted Marshall end Darius Passmore, who ranked No. 9 nationally in reception yardage per game (99.9).

The Pirates limited the Herd standout to two catches and 58 yards, with one reception a 51-yard gain.

DAVIS DOUBLE TROUBLE

The two interceptions by Emanuel Davis marked the first time an ECU player has had two picks since linebacker Pierre Bell pulled the double in 2005.

It also was the second straight bandit-like performance by Davis, who had the big interception in the Pirates' overtime win over Central Florida last week.

Davis was hit with a personal foul on a Marshall fair catch early in the game, then reacted like a player on a mission of redemption.

AN EVEN MATCH

How close was the game?

"You know, they just made one more play than we did," -- Marshall coach Mark Snyder.