GREENVILLE — For the second time in the Ruffin McNeill era, and the first time since 2010, the East Carolina football team (4-6, 2-4 American Athletic Conference) has dropped three consecutive games.

The most recent falter came at the hands of a gritty South Florida team (5-4, 3-2 AAC), 22-17, in a sloppy game that saw special teams take center stage.

ECU registered just 29 total yards in the first half while starting quarterback James Summers completed just one pass on six attempts. His lowest moment came early in the first quarter, when he was swarmed in the end zone by USF defender Demetrius Hill. Summers got the throw off, but was flagged for intentional grounding from the end zone, resulting in a safety and an early 2-0 advantage for the Bulls.

Late in the fourth, the Pirates held a narrow 17-15 advantage in a sparingly attended game at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, due to the rainy conditions. Quinton Flowers, known primarily for his ability to run the ball, found Rodney Adams deep on the right side line. Adams scampered about 35 yards after the connection before finding the end zone and putting USF up 22-17 with 4:40 left in the game.

“Disappointing loss, to say the least,” said a clearly emotional McNeill following the loss. “I thought our defense played well all night long … I know the last play but that doesn’t identify what they did. I think they played extremely well. Special teams did a great job. Offense, the message all week was do not hesitate and you saw glimpses of that in the second half.”

Glimpses they were as the Pirate offense picked up 191 yards in the second half while still completely sputtering at times. After picking up its first first down of the game on the first drive of the second half, the ECU offense stalled out. The next drive, however, anchored by a 22-yard Summers run and a pass interference that moved the Pirates down to the three yard line made the game interesting. Summers punched his second rushing touchdown with a three-yard score that made it 14-12 ECU early in the second half.

The first two drives of the fourth quarter resulted in a 39-yard field goal and a 40-yard response field goal by USF and ECU, respectively. The Pirates held the narrow 17-15 lead after the parrying field goals.

The Bulls took the ball back with 2:09 left in the game and a 22-17 lead. McNeill’s plan to punt the ball with the benefit of three timeouts remaining seemed to be working out. USF was against the ropes with a short three-yard run on first-and-15 from the five yard line. Marlon Mack (27 carries for 117 yards) stepped out of bounds and took a late hit from defensive back Josh Hawkins. McNeill called the unsportsmanlike conduct penalty “inexcusable”.

Eventually, the Pirates ran out of time as Summers was wrapped up for a sack in ECU territory as the final seconds fell off the clock. ECU will have to win it’s next two games to have a chance at a bowl game.