East Carolina Pulls Away to Beat Rice, 28-12

Overview

• East Carolina defeated Rice 28-12 to improve to 3-2 overall and extend its win streak to three games while Rice fell to 1-5 and its losing streak reached five.
• Rice led 9-7 late in the third before ECU scored three quick touchdowns late in the third and early in the fourth to seize control of the game.
• The decisive sequence began with a 6-yard TD pass from Emory Williams to Ray Ray Joseph Jr., continued with a 43-yard rushing TD by T.J. Engleman Jr., and ended after Julien Davis intercepted Jacurri Brown and Williams ran 12 yards for a touchdown.
• Individual performances highlighted the contrast: Tyvonn Byars rushed for 111 yards on 14 carries while Rice passed for just 69 yards, and East Carolina outgained Rice 376 to 233 with Williams passing for 143 yards and Engleman rushing for 136.
• Rice returns home to host Tulsa next, a game that will test whether the Owls can shore up their passing attack and snap their skid while ECU looks to build on its conference momentum.