BYU vs East Carolina by BYU

Homecoming Week

BYU welcomed the Pirates of East Carolina to Lavell Edwards Stadium to cap off Homecoming Week.

Special guests

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve visited Lavell Edwards Stadium for the game. BYU also honored the 1965 Football Team on the 50th Anniversary of their WAC Conference Title.

Algie Answers

ECU jumped out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter after two costly turnovers by BYU. After a Pirate fumble recovery, ECU quarterback James Summers held the ball on fourth down and rushed for 34 yards to get the touchdown and an early 7-0 lead with 7:21 remaining in the quarter. Just two minutes later, ECU blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone to extend the lead to 14-0. The Cougars marched down the field to answer back. A couple of big receptions by Blackmon set up a 22-yard touchdown catch by Algernon Brown with 1:36 left in the first quarter.

Special teams turn the tide

Following a defensive stand, Bronson Kaufusi blocked a punt and Trey Dye recovered the ball at the 1-yard line. Algernon Brown ran it in and tied the game at 14 points.

Offensive Fireworks

The offensive onslaught continued for BYU in the second quarter. One scoring drive was kept alive after Jonny Linehan faked a punt and rushed seven yards for the first down. With 8:05 in the second quarter, Mathews caught a 13-yard reception to make it 21-14. Three double-digit yard receptions led the Cougars down the field in their next possession. Mangum found Houk for a 9-yard touchdown, the senior‘s first of the year, to double the Pirates’ score 28-14 with 2:14 in the half. ECU capped off the half by scoring a touchdown with six seconds left to cut the lead to 28-21.

Algie's Big Run

The second half began with Brown rushing up the middle for a 53-yard touchdown, extending BYU’s lead to 35-21 with 13:02 in the third quarter.

Defensive Stand

The Cougar defense forced three turnovers in a row, two fumble recoveries by Sione Takitaki and Fred Warner and an interception by Warner gave the offense more opportunities. Unfortunately, BYU was unable to convert any of those turnovers into touchdowns. With 2:25 left in the third quarter, Trevor Samson kicked a 37-yard field goal to push the lead to 38-21.

True Grit

Taking advantage of Mangum on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, the Pirates fired back in the fourth quarter with two touchdowns and one field goal to tie the game at 38-38. Beau Hoge threw an interception to set up the ECU game-tying field goal with 4:01 left in the game. Mangum came back in the game for BYU’s last drive to take the offense down the field.