East Carolina Edges Memphis in Thrilling Contest: ECU 31, Memphis 27
Recap of Memphis vs East Carolina (27-31). Game highlights, key performances, and analysis.
East Carolina Edges Memphis in Thrilling Contest: ECU 31, Memphis 27
Key Individual Performances
East Carolina University (ECU) emerged victorious over the Memphis Tigers in a hard-fought contest, with a final score of 31-27. The game showcased impressive performances on both sides of the ball.
ECU quarterback Katin Houser had a stellar game, throwing for 332 yards and a touchdown while completing 23 of 34 passes. His counterpart, Memphis's Brendon Lewis, completed 32 of 42 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown, with Arrington Maiden adding another 8 passing yards.
On the ground, Sutton Smith of Memphis led all rushers with 109 yards and a touchdown on just seven carries. London Montgomery of ECU was a force, rushing for 103 yards and two touchdowns on 27 attempts.
In the receiving corps, Brock Spalding of ECU led with 88 receiving yards. Cortez Braham of Memphis contributed 79 receiving yards, while Anthony Smith, Desirrio Riles, Yannick Smith, and Payton Mangrum also had significant receiving yardage for ECU. Mangrum also caught a touchdown pass.
Defensively, Sam Brumfield of Memphis led all tacklers with 12 tackles. Everett Roussaw Jr. from Memphis added 11 tackles and a sack. Ja'Marley Riddle, Samuel Dankah, DJ Johnson Jr., and Kamari Wilson also made key defensive contributions for ECU and Memphis, respectively.
Turning Points
The game featured several pivotal plays that swung the momentum. In the 1st quarter, Katin Houser connected with Yannick Smith for a 39-yard pass, setting up a scoring opportunity for ECU.
Memphis’s Sutton Smith had a spectacular 84-yard touchdown run in the 2nd quarter, showcasing his explosive speed and skill. Also in the 2nd quarter, a 49-yard field goal by Memphis's #30 N.Mazzie added to the score, and ECU's #44 G.Spetic kicked a 44-yard field goal.
In the 3rd quarter, Katin Houser connected with Desirrio Riles for a 42-yard completion, helping ECU drive down the field.
The 4th quarter saw a critical sack by Everett Roussaw Jr. of Memphis, as well as two sacks by Z. Wilson of ECU, which limited the offensive progress of both teams.
Looking Ahead
This was a tough loss for Memphis, but the Tigers showed resilience and potential. They will need to address the sacks allowed and improve their defensive consistency moving forward. ECU will look to build on this victory, capitalizing on Katin Houser's strong performance and the rushing success of London Montgomery. Both teams have key areas to focus on as they prepare for their next opponents.