Connecticut running back Arkeel Newsome, left, runs for a 90-yard touchdown as East Carolina defensive back Rocco Scarfone (10) and defensive back Domonique Lennon, right, pursue during the third quarter of an NCAA college football game, Friday, October 30, 2015, in East Hartford, Conn.
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The Huskies drove 94 yards in 12 plays to take the lead on a 2-yard carry by Newsome with 7:44 remaining in the half after a pass interference call on the Pirates’ Josh Hawkins moved the ball from the ECU 10-yard line to the Pirates 2. The 5-foot-7, 182-pound sophomore averaged 7.2 YPC in Friday’s victory.
With field position at the 49 yard line in their second drive of the second half, many were calling for a patented quarterback change that had sparked so many turnarounds this season. East Carolina scored first on a 32-yard DaShawn Benton pick six, but the Pirate offense turned the ball over four times with Jamar Summers picking off two passes for UConn.
Summers completed 12 of his 15 first-half passes, but they were primarily short tosses and amassed just 87 yards.
“We needed a few offense and wanted to give James a little bit longer look and a few longer reps, and then went with Blake”, said East Carolina coach Ruffin McNeil.
The Huskies had lost five of their last six games, but have now doubled their win total from a year ago and need just two more to become bowl eligible.
UConn wouldn’t relinquish the lead. The Huskies led 404-340 for the game.
Blake Kemp finally got his chance with the Pirates trailing by 18 points and proceeded to throw interceptions on each of his first two drives.
Matters obviously got out of hand for ECU in the second half. It was the longest run of Newsome’s career.
Kemp replaced Summers on the next series but was met with a similar fate.
Another apparent TD connection from Shirreffs to Bloom was erased by a penalty for an ineligible man downfield, forcing the Huskies to punt.
Kemp ran for a 2-yard touchdown after DeShaun Amos recovered a fumble to pull the Pirates to within 11. The Pirates didn’t score an offensive touchdown until the fourth quarter, and went 5-for-15 on third down conversions. ECU will need to win two of those three games to earn bowl eligibility.
Now the Pirates must find a way to regroup for its final three games, beginning next Saturday at home against South Florida. “We’ve got to get better”. ECU went for it three times on fourth down and was successful once.
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Portions of the content in this article may contain materials provided courtesy of the ECU Pirates athletic department.
