QB Shane Carden celebrates a touchdown against UNC

There’s no doubt about it. ECU’s 70-41 victory over No. 25 UNC on Saturday was one for the ages.

The Pirates displayed an offensive showcase—averaging 8.1 yards per play—in front of a record 51,082 fans inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

In a matchup reminiscent of ECU’s 55-31 thumping of the Tar Heels (2-1) in Chapel Hill last September, the Pirates (3-1) tallied a school-record 789 total yards and the most points they have ever had against a Division I opponent. It was also the most points and yards UNC has ever allowed in a game.

The country took notice of the Pirates’ fourth straight win against an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent when the national polls were announced Sunday. ECU is No. 23 in the latest AP poll and No. 24 in the USA Today Coaches Poll after being unranked for six years.

Quarterback Shane Carden showed no signs of regression following his 427-yard effort against Virginia Tech last week by completing 30 of 48 passes for 438 yards with four passing touchdowns, while rushing for two more, to earn American Athletic Conference Offensive Player-of-the-Week honors.

Senior running back Breon Allen, who picked up a career-high 233 total yards, gave the Pirates the 14-13 edge in the first quarter with an 11-yard touchdown run. Allen’s 211 rushing yards on 18 carries were the most an ECU running back has gained since Chris Johnson had 223 yards in the 2007 Hawaii Bowl.

“Somebody said we’re the little brother,” said Allen on ECU’s relationship with UNC. “Well, the little brother has been beating up on the big brother for the last two years.”

It wasn’t until freshman outside receiver Trevon Brown’s second touchdown catch—a 26-yard grab five minutes into the second quarter—that the Pirates began to distance themselves from the Tar Heels.

Their 21-20 lead was soon stretched into a 35-20 lead at halftime thanks to Allen’s 44-yard touchdown run on third and 28 and sophomore Brandon Bishop’s first career catch, which was a 19-yard touchdown that was scored with eight seconds left in the second quarter.

Junior inside linebacker Zeek Bigger had a career performance against the Tar Heels. Along with a career-best 17 tackles, Bigger picked off UNC quarterback Marquise Williams and ran it back 46 yards for a touchdown 40 seconds into the third quarter.

Bigger was named the Walter Camp Defensive Player-of-the-Week Sunday, becoming the first Pirate ever to garner such accolades.

Carden continued methodically shred the Tar Heels’ secondary in the third quarter with precise passes to Justin Hardy and Isaiah Jones, among many other receivers. Hardy finished with six receptions for 92 yards, while Jones hauled in eight catches for 116 yards and a touchdown.

In the absence of suspended senior Cam Worthy, who was suspended just before kickoff for a violation of student code of conduct policy that stemmed off a verbal dispute over the summer, true freshman Trevon Brown amassed 210 all-purpose yards in his first collegiate start with two touchdowns, including a 55-yard score three plays into the game.

“Trevon is doing a great job of learning his way and learning the skills,” said ECU Head Coach Ruffin McNeill. “I attribute that to Shane [Carden].”

Together, Tar Heel quarterbacks Williams and Mitch Trubisky converted 22 of 41 passes for 230 yards and really neither player found a way to consistently match the scoring rate of ECU’s fast-paced offense.

 Never before have the Pirates featured a 400-yard passer, a 200-yard rusher, and a 100-yard receiver in one game until Saturday.

“I thought we did a good job of relying on our team intangibles and team chemistry,” said McNeill. “When we work as one breath, one mind, one heartbeat, one spirit and one Pirate, we’ll be okay.”

After an open date this week, ECU will start conference play when Southern Methodist comes to Greenville on Oct. 4.

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