By By BRIAN HAINES
Sports Writer
GREENVILLE — East Carolina’s 44-17 victory over Tulsa was the team’s most complete win this season, and the Pirates can duplicate that effort two more times the reining Conference USA champions will find themselves back in the title game once again.
The Pirates (6-4, 5-1) got a breakthrough performance by their offense in the first half against the Golden Hurricane as they took a 20-7 lead into halftime, then watched the defense close the door on Tulsa in the second half.
Quarterback Patrick Pinkney had one of his best games all year as he hit on 20 of his 29 pass attempts for 275 yards, two touchdowns, and most importantly no interceptions.
Sophomore WR Darryl Freeney showed big-play potential once again as he caught eight passes for a career-high 152 yards and a TD.
The backbone of the offense once again was senior running back Dominique Lindsay, who seems to be more impressive each week. Despite battling continual shoulder and ankle injuries, Lindsay stormed through the Golden Hurricane defense as he racked up 172 yards on 31 carries.
“Offensively, I thought it was the best first half I have seen since I’ve been in Greenville,” ECU coach Skip Holtz said during his weekly press conference. “I was really impressed with the focus and the way they were dialed in. … To have 400 yards in the first half, to see the way they were moving the ball, the focus of Patrick Pinkney, the determination of Dominique Lindsay … To see Darryl Freeney in there and keep evolving and climbing that ladder each and every week … Those three skill guys really did an excellent job.”
Not to be outdone by the offense, the defense, which like Lindsay seems to top itself every week, harassed Tulsa QB G.J. Kinne all game.
He completed only 23 of his 46 pass attempts for 236 yards. Defensive end C.J. Wilson sacked Kinne three times, while CB Emanuel Davis and SS Levin Neal both returned interceptions for touchdowns. Defensive tackle Jay Ross got in on the scoring as well, as he returned a Kinne fumble 49-yards to put the exclamation point on the ECU victory.
“On defense there was a lot of excitement and energy in the second half with three touchdowns being scored, since we haven’t scored a defensive touchdown all year,” Holtz said.
The Pirates brought a playoff-type effort to Tulsa and hope that effort made the plane trip back to Greenville as they prepare to play UAB (5-5, 4-2) this Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at home.
The showdown with the Blazers marks the first time ECU has played on a Saturday since Oct. 17 when it beat Rice 49-13.
Even though the Pirates have a lead over fellow C-USA East teams Southern Miss (6-4, 4-2), UCF (6-4, 4-2) and UAB (5-5, 6-4), Holtz is structuring his team to adopt a postseason mentality from here on out.
“We started it last week, and said we are in a single-elimination tournament each week,” Holtz said. “We have come this far, we have put ourselves in a great situation, but it’s all about finishing strong. Let everybody else worry about the projections, the who won and who lost and who’s in second and ‘Wow, Central Florida beat Houston.’ Well that does nothing for us, we are still where we are.”
In order for East Carolina to stay where it is, it must contain Blazers quarterback Joe Webb. The senior quarterback is the conference’s third leading rusher with 1,158 yards and averages 6.3 yards per carry.
Though he is only averaging 173 passing yards per game, he can throw the ball when need be and is third in the conference in pass efficiency rating (147.9). In UAB’s last game, a 31-21 win over Memphis, Webb was18 of 25 for 378 yards and two touchdowns, while also running for a score.
“He is a very talented player and is probably most similar to (Jarrett) Brown from West Virginia … He is big (6-4, 220) and elusive and can throw the ball … yet if you drop back and play the pass he is an excellent runner,” Holtz said.
The Pirates will have to try and defend Webb while battling the injury bug. Holtz said that Junior linebacker Dustin Lineback is likely out for the season with a knee injury, while OLB Jeremy Chambliss sustained a mild concussion. Holtz said Chambliss will be limited all week during practice but is expected to play Saturday.
Also suiting up this Saturday will be ILB Nick Johnson, despite a slew of injuries ranging from a three-year shoulder injury that Holtz estimated will require surgery in the future to knee and ankle injuries..
“Nick Johnson is a guy who every play is fighting through something, and Dominique Lindsay is in the same boat,” Holtz said. “Even with some of the problems he is having from a physical standpoint, he won’t pull himself out of the game. … He walks out of the locker everyday after practice with like eight bags of ice wrapped around him.”
The Pirates do expect to get defensive end Josh Smith and CB Darryl Reynolds to return to action after each missed time with a shoulder injury.