#RTDB
USF rolls up 267 on the ground, keeps ECU out of the endzone to finish perfect regular season
Saturday November 18, 2028 | 6:00 PM | Dowdy–Ficklen Stadium | Greenville, North Carolina
Greenville, North Carolina - USF left little doubt Saturday night, overwhelming East Carolina 49–6 in a game that was decided early, dominated throughout, and debated late.
The ninth-ranked Bulls scored on six of their first seven meaningful possessions and turned the final month of the American Conference race into a coronation, using a blistering blend of efficiency and physicality to pull away from the Pirates at Raymond James Stadium. By the time the fourth quarter arrived, the outcome was academic. By the time the clock hit zero, the conversation had shifted, again, to how USF chooses to finish games.
On the field, the performance was as comprehensive as the score suggested. USF piled up 443 yards of offense on just 59 plays, averaging 7.5 yards per snap while converting 80 percent of its third downs. The Bulls ran at will, ripping off 267 rushing yards and three touchdowns at 7.4 yards per carry, repeatedly breaking ECU’s front with zone looks, counters, and sweeps that stretched the defense beyond its limits.
The passing game was just as ruthless. USF completed 17 of 23 passes for 176 yards and four touchdowns, attacking mismatches in the red zone and capitalizing on short fields created by consistent field position. Every trip inside the ECU 20 ended in six points, six touchdowns, no field goals, a perfect red-zone night that underscored the gap between the two teams.
ECU, meanwhile, never found traction. The Pirates finished with 244 total yards, managed just 70 on the ground, and failed to score a touchdown for the entire game. Their lone points came on a pair of long field goals in the second half, moments of relief in an otherwise suffocating evening. ECU converted only three of 11 third downs and was repeatedly forced into long-yardage situations as USF’s front controlled the line of scrimmage.
Still, the final talking point arrived in familiar fashion.
For the second time in three weeks USF found the end zone late with the outcome already decided, a final touchdown that drew public criticism from ECU head coach Blake Harrell, who called the score “unnecessary” in his postgame remarks. The frustration echoed similar complaints from a Rice a couple weeks earlier, reigniting discussion around sportsmanship versus program philosophy.
USF head coach DJ Porter offered a response that was as blunt as it was brief.
“We had nine backups in, they had starters in,” Porter said. “Next question.”
It was a remark that quickly made its way across social media, reinforcing the identity USF has cultivated all season: unapologetic, depth-driven, and unconcerned with optics. For Porter, the issue wasn’t running up the score, it was finishing reps, evaluating reserves, and refusing to throttle effort simply because the scoreboard was lopsided.
And if there was any lingering doubt about how complete the Bulls’ roster has become, the numbers supported his stance. Even with reserves logging significant snaps, USF outgained ECU by nearly 150 yards, dominated time of possession, and maintained control across every phase.
The win carries implications far beyond one night, or one quote.
With the victory, USF officially secured the right to host the American Conference Championship Game, locking in home-field advantage and taking another step toward what is shaping up to be a landmark season. The Bulls now sit firmly atop the league, unbeaten and unchallenged, with momentum that feels increasingly inevitable.
Style points may continue to spark debate. Results do not.
USF's defense has now logged three straight games without allowing a touchdown, along with the second half of their win over Charlotte.
USF has outscored opponents 146-21 over the past two and a half games.
“Defense wins games this time of year.” Coach Porter said. “Coach White and the rest of the defense staff and the players have been lights out for us.”
USF has turned late-season Saturdays into statements, and Saturday’s 49–6 dismantling of East Carolina was the loudest one yet, controversy and all.
Scoring Summary
First Quarter
USF – Connor Suggs 10-yard run (Dom Bragg kick), 6:39
Second Quarter
USF – Steven Snead 4-yard pass from Locklan Hewlett (Dom Bragg kick), 7:20
USF – George Shembo 2-yard run (Dom Bragg kick), 1:29
USF – Jeremiah Stoneburner 4-yard pass from Locklan Hewlett (Dom Bragg kick), 0:59
Third Quarter
USF – Connor Suggs 19-yard run (Dom Bragg kick), 7:16
ECU – Rico Bitonio 50-yard field goal, 4:54
Fourth Quarter
USF – Jordyn Bridgewater 23-yard pass from Locklan Hewlett (Dom Bragg kick), 8:22
ECU – Rico Bitonio 46-yard field goal, 5:46
USF – Dakota Smith 8-yard pass from Joshua Brantley (Dom Bragg kick), 1:18
USF Stat Leaders
Passing
L. Hewlett – 15/20, 137 Yds, 3 TD, 0 INT, 75.0%, 6.8 YPA
Rushing
C. Suggs – 18 Car, 134 Yds, 7.4 Avg, 2 TD
G. Shembo – 10 Car, 61 Yds, 6.1 Avg, 1 TD
E. York – 3 Car, 36 Yds, 12.0 Avg
S. Snead – 5 Car, 36 Yds, 7.2 Avg
Receiving
J. Bridgewater – 5 Rec, 45 Yds, 9.0 Avg, 1 TD
C. Suggs – 3 Rec, 36 Yds, 12.0 Avg
J. Stoneburner – 3 Rec, 32 Yds, 10.6 Avg, 1 TD
H. Gregory – 1 Rec, 31 Yds, 31.0 Avg
S. Snead – 3 Rec, 18 Yds, 6.0 Avg, 1 TD
D. Smith – 1 Rec, 8 Yds, 1 TD
Defense
E. Rance – 8 Tkl (5 Solo, 3 Ast), 1 TFL
D. Felton – 5 Tkl (3 Solo, 2 Ast), 2 TFL
K. Brents – 5 Tkl (3 Solo, 2 Ast), 1 TFL, 0.5 Sack
J. Dalias – 4 Tkl (1 Solo, 3 Ast), 1 Sack
C. Keys – 4 Tkl, 1 INT (18 Yds)
Special Teams
D. Bragg – 7/7 XP
D. McSurdy – 2 Punts, 98 Yds, 49.0 Avg (1 Inside 20)
E. York – 1 KR, 23 Yds (23.0 Avg)
E. York – 2 PR, 28 Yds (14.0 Avg)
East Carolina Stat Leaders
Passing
J. Hamilton – 8/12, 89 Yds, 0 TD, 0 INT, 66.0%, 7.4 YPA
J. Hecklinski – 7/14, 85 Yds, 0 TD, 1 INT, 50.0%, 6.0 YPA
Rushing
R. Owens – 18 Car, 73 Yds, 4.0 Avg
M. Cooks – 2 Car, 7 Yds, 3.5 Avg
J. Hecklinski – 2 Car, -1 Yds, -0.5 Avg
J. Hamilton – 1 Car, -9 Yds, -9.0 Avg
Receiving
F. Robert – 3 Rec, 33 Yds, 11.0 Avg
K. Morrow – 2 Rec, 28 Yds, 14.0 Avg
K. Parker – 2 Rec, 24 Yds, 12.0 Avg
K. Dysart – 3 Rec, 24 Yds, 8.0 Avg
J. Williams – 1 Rec, 21 Yds, 21.0 Avg
Defense
F. Walker – 9 Tkl (6 Solo, 3 Ast), 1 TFL
J. Pritchett – 9 Tkl (2 Solo, 7 Ast)
K. Davis – 8 Tkl (2 Solo, 6 Ast), 2 TFL
D. Horsley – 7 Tkl (3 Solo, 4 Ast)
D. Speer – 6 Tkl (1 Solo, 5 Ast)
Special Teams
R. Bitonio – 2/2 FG, Long 50
P. Lee – 5 Punts, 211 Yds, 42.2 Avg, 2 TB
T. Peele – 2 KR, 52 Yds (26.0 Avg)
A. Taylor – 2 PR, 3 Yds (1.5 Avg)
| Category | USF | ECU |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 49 | 6 |
| First Downs | 25 | 13 |
| Total Offense | 443 | 244 |
| Total Plays | 59 | 49 |
| Yards Per Play | 7.5 | 5.0 |
| Rush | Yards | TD | 36 | 267 | 3 | 23 | 70 | 0 |
| Yards Per Rush | 7.4 | 3.0 |
| Comp | Att | TD | 17 | 23 | 4 | 15 | 26 | 0 |
| Yards Per Pass | 7.7 | 6.7 |
| Passing Yards | 176 | 174 |
| 3rd Down Conv. | 8 | 10 (80%) | 3 | 11 (27%) |
| 4th Down Conv. | 0 | 0 (0%) | 0 | 1 (0%) |
| 2 Pt Conv. | 0 | 0 (0%) | 0 | 0 (0%) |
| Red Zone TD | FG | % | 6 | 0 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Turnovers | 1 | 1 |
| Fumbles Lost | 1 | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 | 1 |
| PR Yards | 28 | 3 |
| KR Yards | 23 | 98 |
| Total Yards | 494 | 345 |
| Punts (Avg) | 1 (49.0) | 5 (42.2) |
| Penalties | 3 | 31 | 1 | 5 |
