On November 7, 2024, the East Carolina Pirates (5-4, 3-2 American) demolished the Florida Atlantic Owls (2-7, 0-5 American) 49-14 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium in Greenville, North Carolina, in a Thursday night AAC rout that showcased ECU’s explosive offense and suffocating defense. Katin Houser’s near-perfect 17/22 for 343 yards and five touchdowns—tying a school record—powered the Pirates to 581 total yards, while FAU’s Kasen Weisman threw two TDs but was intercepted twice in a lopsided affair. ECU scored on seven straight possessions, outrushing FAU 238-137 and converting 5/8 third downs (62.5%), while the Owls managed just 6/15 (40.0%) despite 36:48 of possession. The Pirates’ defense forced two INTs and held FAU to 3.1 yards per play in the first half. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of player stats and key moments, sourced from ESPN, CBS Sports, The Athletic, and NCAA.com.

Game Overview

Matchup: FAU Football vs ECU Football Match Player Stats
Final Score: East Carolina Pirates 49, Florida Atlantic Owls 14
Date: November 7, 2024
Location: Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, NC
Attendance: 37,248
Time of Game: 3 hours, 2 minutes
Weather: 72°F, partly cloudy, wind 6 MPH SSE
Umpires: HP – Edwin Lee, U – Mike Morton, LJ – Colin Gaynor, BJ – Doug Williams
Key Moment: Katin Houser’s 64-yard TD bomb to Anthony Smith with 2:15 left in Q1 ignited a 21-point first quarter, setting the tone for ECU’s 35-7 halftime lead.

East Carolina Pirates: Offensive Explosion

ECU generated 581 total yards (343 passing, 238 rushing) on 56 plays, converting 5/8 third downs (62.5%) and 1/1 on fourth (100.0%). Houser’s 15.6 YPA and five TDs—four in the first half—tied Jake Verity’s 2020 record, while the ground game averaged 7.0 YPC with two scores. Zero turnovers and 23:12 possession reflected efficiency.

Katin Houser (QB, #4): 17/22, 343 YDS, 15.6 YPA, 5 TD, 0 INT, 99.7 QBR, 5 CAR, 52 YDS, 1 TD (35-YD), +28, 23:12 MIN. Houser’s 64-yard TD to Smith (Q1) and 47-yard score to Wright (Q2) highlighted a flawless night.
Jhari Patterson (RB, #0): 3 CAR, 61 YDS, 20.3 YPC, 0 TD, long 30, 5 REC, 40 YDS. Patterson’s 30-yard burst in Q1 set up Houser’s 35-yard TD run.
Rahjai Harris (RB, #47): 8 CAR, 55 YDS, 6.9 YPC, 1 TD (19-YD), long 19, 1 REC, 8 YDS. Harris’ 19-yard TD in Q1 capped a 75-yard drive.
London Montgomery (RB, #34): 11 CAR, 28 YDS, 2.5 YPC, 0 TD, long 5, 1 REC, 10 YDS.
Marlon Gunn Jr. (RB, #21): 4 CAR, 29 YDS, 7.3 YPC, 0 TD, long 16.
Winston Wright (WR, #1): 1 CAR, 15 YDS, 15.0 YPC, 0 TD, long 15, 3 REC, 80 YDS, 2 TD (47, 26), 3 PR, 14 YDS, 4.7 AVG.
Anthony Smith (WR, #17): 3 REC, 120 YDS, 40.0 YPC, 1 TD (64-YD), long 64. Smith’s 64-yard bomb in Q1 sparked the rout.
Chase Sowell (WR, #5): 1 REC, 50 YDS, 50.0 YPC, 1 TD (50-YD), long 50. Sowell’s 50-yard TD in Q2 extended the lead to 28-0.
Tyler Savage (TE, #9): 1 REC, 25 YDS, 25.0 YPC, 0 TD, long 25.
Desirrio Riles (WR, #6): 1 REC, 8 YDS, 8.0 YPC, 0 TD, long 8.
Jayvontay Conner (WR, #8): 1 REC, 2 YDS, 2.0 YPC, 1 TD (2-YD), long 2.

ECU converted 4/6 third downs in the first half (66.7%) and went 5/7 with runners in scoring position, scoring 28 points off 2 FAU turnovers. Andrew Conrad’s 7/7 XP (0/1 FG) padded the blowout.

East Carolina Pirates: Defensive Dominance

ECU forced 2 INTs, recorded 1 sack, 8 TFLs, and 4 pass deflections, holding FAU to 399 yards and 4.3 YPC rushing. They limited the Owls to 6/15 third downs (40.0%) and 3/5 fourth downs (60.0%).

Zakye Barker (LB, #33): 8 tackles (2 solo), 1 sack, 2.5 TFL, +12. Barker’s sack on Weisman forced a three-and-out in Q2.
Ja’Marley Riddle (S, #22): 7 tackles (1 solo), 1.5 TFL, 1 INT, 8 YDS. Riddle’s INT in Q3 set up Conner’s 2-yard TD.
Gavin Gibson (CB, #5): 3 tackles (1 solo), 0.5 TFL, 1 INT, 0 YDS, 1 PD. Gibson’s pick in Q4 ended FAU’s final threat.

East Carolina Pirates: Special Teams

Andrew Conrad (K, #95): 0/1 FG, 7/7 XP, 7 PTS.
Luke Larsen (P, #1): 1 punt, 35 YDS, 35.0 AVG, 0 in 20.

Florida Atlantic Owls: Offensive Struggles

FAU managed 399 yards (262 passing, 137 rushing) on 75 plays, converting 6/15 third downs (40.0%) and 3/5 fourth downs (60.0%). Weisman’s two TDs came late, but two INTs and negative net rushing from sacks doomed drives.

Kasen Weisman (QB, #12): 20/35, 188 YDS, 5.4 YPA, 2 TD, 1 INT, 45.8 QBR, 6 CAR, 41 YDS, long 9. Weisman’s 27-yard TD to Smith Jr. (Q2) and 7-yard score to Campbell Jr. (Q4) were consolation.
Cam Fancher (QB, #1): 4/6, 68 YDS, 11.3 YPA, 0 TD, 0 INT, 35.2 QBR, 2 CAR, -2 YDS.
Tyriq Starks (QB, #8): 1/2, 6 YDS, 3.0 YPA, 0 TD, 1 INT, 9.4 QBR, 2 CAR, 16 YDS.
CJ Campbell Jr. (RB, #5): 11 CAR, 34 YDS, 3.1 YPC, 0 TD, long 10, 5 REC, 13 YDS, 1 TD (7-YD).
Xavier Terrell (RB, #25): 2 CAR, 31 YDS, 15.5 YPC, 0 TD, long 29.
Jabari Smith Jr. (WR, #82): 5 REC, 64 YDS, 12.8 YPC, 1 TD (27-YD), long 27.
Omari Hayes (WR, #10): 4 REC, 54 YDS, 13.5 YPC, 0 TD, long 20, 1 CAR, 7 YDS.
Marlyn Johnson (WR, #11): 3 REC, 42 YDS, 14.0 YPC, 0 TD, long 22.
Gemari Sands (WR, #23): 2 REC, 36 YDS, 18.0 YPC, 0 TD, long 34, 8 CAR, 10 YDS.

FAU converted 3/10 third downs in the first half (30.0%) and went 2/4 with runners in scoring position, but 2 turnovers led to 28 ECU points. Morgan Suarez’s 2/2 XP (0/0 FG) reflected no red-zone FG attempts.

Florida Atlantic Owls: Defensive Efforts

FAU recorded 1 sack, 3 TFLs, and 0 pass deflections, allowing 581 yards and 49 points. They forced no turnovers and struggled against ECU’s run (238 YDS, 7.0 YPC).

CJ Heard (S, #1): 6 tackles (4 solo), +5.
Jarrett Jerrels (LB, #44): 6 tackles (2 solo), 1 TFL.
Desmond Tisdol (LB, #9): 5 tackles (2 solo), 0.5 TFL.

Florida Atlantic Owls: Special Teams

Morgan Suarez (K, #38): 0/0 FG, 2/2 XP, 2 PTS.
Logan Lupo (P, #16): 4 punts, 178 YDS, 44.5 AVG, 1 TB, 0 in 20, long 53.
Milan Tucker (KR, #0): 3 KR, 37 YDS, 12.3 AVG, long 19; 1 FUM (recovered).

Key Moments

Q1: ECU Blitz (21-0): Harris’ 19-yard TD (10:45), Houser’s 35-yard TD run (7:12), Smith’s 64-yard TD (2:15).
Q2: Pirates Pull Away (35-7): Sowell’s 50-yard TD (12:30), Wright’s 47-yard TD (6:45), Weisman’s 27-yard TD to Smith Jr. (1:20).
Q3: Wright’s Second Score (42-7): 26-yard TD (8:50) capped a 75-yard drive.
Q4: Late TDs (49-14): Conner’s 2-yard TD (14:10), Campbell Jr.’s 7-yard TD (3:45).
Defensive Stand: ECU’s 1 sack and 8 TFLs limited FAU to 137 rush YDS; Owls’ 1 sack couldn’t stop 343 pass YDS.

Statistical Notes

Total Yards: ECU’s 581 vs. FAU’s 399; Pirates’ 15.6 YPA tripled Owls’ 6.1.
Rushing: ECU’s 34 CAR, 238 YDS (7.0 YPC) vs. FAU’s 32 CAR, 137 YDS (4.3 YPC).
Turnovers: ECU 0, FAU 2 (both INTs); Pirates scored 28 points off turnovers.
Third Downs: ECU 5/8 (62.5%) vs. FAU 6/15 (40.0%).
Penalties: FAU 4-25, ECU 3-15; Owls’ flags stalled drives.

Series Context

ECU leads the all-time series 3-1 since 2022, winning the last three (49-14 in 2024, 38-21 in 2023). The Pirates improved to 3-2 in AAC play, while FAU fell to 0-5—last in the conference. ECU’s 49 points were their most since 2021; FAU’s 14 were their lowest in an AAC game.

Injury Notes

ECU: No major injuries; full roster.
FAU: No new injuries; QB rotation reflected depth concerns.

Conclusion

The East Carolina Pirates’ 49-14 demolition of the Florida Atlantic Owls on November 7, 2024, was fueled by Katin Houser’s 343-yard, five-TD masterpiece and a 238-yard rushing attack led by Jhari Patterson (61 YDS) and Rahjai Harris (55 YDS, 1 TD). Anthony Smith’s 120 receiving yards and Winston Wright’s two scores highlighted the air raid, while FAU’s Kasen Weisman (188 PASS YDS, 2 TD) and Jabari Smith Jr. (64 REC YDS, 1 TD) offered late resistance but couldn’t overcome two INTs and 581 allowed yards. ECU’s 28 points off turnovers and 62.5% third-down efficiency secured bowl eligibility, while FAU’s 0-5 AAC record reflects ongoing struggles.

For the full box score and highlights, visit ESPN.com, CBS Sports, The Athletic, or NCAA.com.

East Carolina Pirates Crush Florida Atlantic Owls 49-14 on November 7, 2024