Ecu Puts Squeeze On Stanford, 19-13

East Carolina’s defense, long overshadowed by record-setting quarterback Marcus Crandell, took center stage Saturday at the Liberty Bowl.

The Pirates defense forced four turnovers and held Stanford to 211 yards total offense as East Carolina won 19-13.

“The game was just the opposite of what everybody thought it would be,” East Carolina coach Steve Logan said. “It was a very defensive game, and I’m just so proud East Carolina can win a game on defense when they have to.”

The unit entered the game giving up an average 335 yards, while Stanford (7-4-1) had been rolling up 30 points and 396 yards a game. But the Pirates picked off two Mark Butterfield passes. Butterfield was 15 of 27 for 139 yards.

“Their defense stymied us just enough,” said Stanford coach Tyrone Willingham. “We could not really get our offense on track, and I think that was the difference in the game.

“When you combine the early turnovers that we had, it just gave them a big enough cushion that we just couldn’t get back on top.”

Chad Holcomb kicked a careerhigh four field goals for East Carolina (9-4), breaking the Liberty Bowl record of three held by two others.

His second field goal, a 41-yarder, followed a Butterfield fumble that was recovered by Travis Darden. Kwame Ellis blocked a 24-yard kick by Holcomb in the third quarter.

“I haven’t been trying to kick it as hard,” said Holcomb, who was 10 of 17 on field goals this season. “I’ve been working on following through straight and making it go straight even if I hit it bad.”

His final field goal, a 34-yarder, sealed the Pirates’ victory.

East Carolina never trailed in the game but didn’t put away Stanford until Crandell directed an 11-play drive that ate up 5:13 of the clock, setting up Holcomb with 1:15 to go.

“That made them have to go down for the score. They could’ve kicked a field goal otherwise. Their kicker (Eric Abrams) was like 16-for-18 coming in, so I’m sure he would’ve made it,” Holcomb said.

Damon Dunn gave Stanford one last chance by returning the kickoff to the Cardinal 47. But Brian Manning dropped a fourth-and-1 pass inside the 20 with 11 seconds left.

East Carolina’s only touchdown came on Daren Hart’s 39-yard interception return in the first quarter.

East Carolina 19, Stanford 13

Stanford 0 7 6 0 - 13

E. Carolina 7 9 0 3 - 19

ECU - Daren Hart 39 interception return (Holcomb kick)

ECUFG - Holcomb 46

STAN - Salina 1 run (Abrams kick)

ECUFG - Holcomb 26

ECUFG - Holcomb 41

STAN - Ellis 2 blocked punt return (kick failed) - ECUFG Holcomb 34

A-47,398

STAN ECU First downs 11 18 Rushes-yards 37-72 40-129 Passing 139 218 Return Yards 91 236 Comp-Att-Int 15-27-2 19-46-1 Punts 7-36 6-28 Fumbles-Lost 2-2 0-0 Penalties-Yards 3-18 4-25 Time of Possession 27:43 32:17

Individual statistics

RUSHING - Stanford, Bookman 15-46, Mitchell 8-30, Salina 5-7, Comella 2-6, Butterfield 10-(minus 17). East Carolina, McPhail 27-92, Foreman 1-23, Galloway 1-12, Jones 3-10, Nichols 1-(minus 2), Crandell 7-(minus 6).

PASSING - Stanford, Butterfield 15-27-2-139. East Carolina, Crandell 19-46-1-218.

RECEIVING - Stanford, Manning 3-43, Harris 3-37, Bookman 2-18, Clark 2-15, Mitchell 2-10, Comella 2-5, Salina 1-11. East Carolina, Richards 5-59, Galloway 4-70, Nichols 3-14, McPhail 2-25, Jones 1-26, Batson 1-8, Shannon 1-7, DeBrew 1-4, Richardson 1-5.