GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) -Van Eskridge believes in East Carolina coach Skip Holtz’s so-called “24-hour rule.” The goal is to savor a win or dwell on a loss the same amount of time, then move on.
The No. 23 Pirates are about to get their biggest test yet of that philosophy.
One week ago, they were one of the biggest stories of the college football season after upsets of Virginia Tech and West Virginia. But now, after an overtime loss to instate rival North Carolina State that killed all crash-the-BCS talk, East Carolina now must focus again on the goal of winning a conference championship when it plays Houston on Saturday.
“We put that behind us on Sunday and came in here and got focused on Houston,” said Eskridge, a junior safety. “That’s the only thing we’re worried about, coming in here and continuing the conference race.”
that they have forgotten last weekend’s 30-24 overtime loss at North Carolina State. Before that game, the Pirates’ fans were talking dreamily of going unbeaten and reaching a big bowl – goals that were done in by a game in which they never trailed in regulation but faltered late.
It’s hardly unfamiliar position for them. In each of the past two seasons, the Pirates have stumbled in games that would have sent them to the league championship game, only to come back the following week and win on their way to bowl appearances. This time, the Pirates will have the benefit of returning home – three of their first four games were away from Greenville – as they face the pass-happy Cougars (1-3, 0-0).
Last year, East Carolina won 37-35 in Houston when the Cougars missed field goals on their final two fourth-quarter drives.
Houston finds itself in a similar situation as East Carolina in at least one respect: the Cougars are trying to start anew as they enter the bulk of the league schedule. The Cougars have lost to Air Force and Colorado State in the past two games by three points each time. In both games, Houston trailed by a double-digit margin at halftime and failed to rally.
atter because we are now in conference play. We still have all our goals out in front of us for this year.”
The toughest matchup could come between Houston’s passing attack and the Pirates’ secondary. The Cougars’ Case Keenum has completed nearly 65 percent of his passes for 1,521 yards and 16 touchdowns with four interceptions. Receiver Mark Hafner has seven TD grabs, part of an air attack that ranks second in the league at 399 yards per game.
So far, East Carolina has stood up well against the pass. It ranks second in the conference in pass defense by allowing 176 yards per game.
“They’re going to throw it and catch it,” Holtz said. “That’s going to happen. You’re not going to stop that. You just have to make sure as soon as they catch it you get it on the ground and tackle them. I don’t think they can beat us just throwing and catching it. It’s running after they catch it.”
Add A Comment