Fast start propels ECU to halftime lead

GREENVILLE - After a fired-up East Carolina team scored 21 straight points to open the game, N.C. State recovered in the second quarter this afternoon to trail 24-21 at halftime.

East Carolina roared out to a 21-0 lead as Dominique Davis completed all 14 of his first-half pass attempts for 109 yards and two touchdowns.

The Wolfpack appeared helpless on defense as the Pirates rolled to 165 yards in the first quarter. Jon Williams ran 5 yards for a touchdown, and Davis threw scoring passes of 11 yards to Lance Lewis and 3 yards to Justin Jones.

But N.C. State changed from its traditional 4-3 look on defense to a 3-3-5, slowing the Pirates’ passing game, and got its offense moving in the second quarter.

After an apparent interception by East Carolina’s Bradley Jacobs was wiped out by a pass interference penalty, Wilson passed 49 yards to T.J. Graham for a score. Another 49-yard pass, to Owen Spencer, set up a 2-yard touchdown run by Wilson.

The Pirates added used a 41-yard pass from Davis to Dwayne Harris to set up a 35-yard field goal by Michael Barbour, and appeared ready to head into halftime with a double-digit lead when Wilson and Mustafa Greene fumbled an exchange at the Pirates’ 7-yard line.

But Nate Irving stripped Williams two plays later, and Jeff Rieskamp recovered at the East Carolina 1-yard line. Dean Haynes’ 1-yard touchdown run cut East Carolina’s lead to 24-21 going into halftime.

Ken Tysiac