East Carolina Cruises Past North Texas 40-28
East Carolina dominated North Texas 40-28 in Week 13, with the Pirates' offense putting on a decisive third-quarter performance to pull away. East Carolina quarterback Katin Houser led the visiting attack, completing 298 passing yards and connecting with Anthony Smith on a 50-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. Rahjai Harris added another third-quarter touchdown on the ground, with a 39-yard scoring run that gave East Carolina crucial momentum.
North Texas started strong, jumping out to a 14-0 first-quarter lead, but couldn't sustain the pace. The Mean Green managed only seven points in the second quarter and another seven in the third before being shut out in the fourth. Shane Porter led North Texas's rushing attack with 74 yards.
London Montgomery led East Carolina's receiving corps with eight catches. The game remained competitive throughout, with eight lead changes, though East Carolina's second-half surge proved decisive. The Pirates covered the 2.5-point spread, while the combined 68 points finished under the 73.5-point total.
AI-generated recap · Sep 2, 2026
| Team | 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | 4Q | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 East Carolina | 0 | 7 | 24 | 9 | 40 |
 North Texas | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
Scoring Timeline
Drive Chart
Box Score
| Statistic | East Carolina | North Texas |
|---|---|---|
| Passing | 16-24 | 32-48 |
| Pass Yards | 298 | 266 |
| Rush Yards | 255 | 181 |
| Total Yards | 553 | 447 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 7-15 | 7-16 |
| Penalties | 13-127 | 3-29 |
| Possession | 28:33 | 31:27 |
Player Leaders
Player Leaders
Play-by-Play
Katin Houser pass complete to Jhari Patterson for 27 yds to the UNT 48 for a 1ST down
Rahjai Harris run for 4 yds to the UNT 44
Katin Houser pass complete to Anthony Smith for 44 yds Anthony Smith fumbled, recovered by UNT Chavez Brown C. Brown return for 0 yds
Chandler Morris pass incomplete
Shane Porter run for 9 yds to the UNT 29
Shane Porter run for 4 yds to the UNT 33 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris pass complete to Shane Porter for 5 yds to the UNT 38
Chandler Morris pass complete to Blair Conwright for 4 yds to the UNT 42
Makenzie McGill II run for no gain to the UNT 42
Chandler Morris run for a loss of 2 yards to the UNT 40
East Carolina Penalty, False Start (-5 Yards) to the UNT 45
Rahjai Harris run for a loss of 1 yard to the UNT 46
Rahjai Harris run for a loss of 1 yard to the UNT 47
Katin Houser pass intercepted Quinton Hammonds return for 29 yds to the ECU 37
Shane Porter run for 20 yds to the ECU 17 for a 1ST down
Shane Porter run for 6 yds to the ECU 11
Makenzie McGill II run for 7 yds to the ECU 4 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris pass complete to Blair Conwright for 4 yds for a TD (Kali Nguma KICK)
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Katin Houser pass incomplete
East Carolina Penalty, Intentional Grounding (Katin Houser) to the ECU 17
Luke Larsen punt for 32 yds
Chandler Morris pass incomplete
Chandler Morris pass complete to Shane Porter for 12 yds to the ECU 37 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris pass incomplete
Chandler Morris pass complete to Dalton Carnes for 7 yds to the ECU 30
Chandler Morris pass complete to Landon Sides for 6 yds to the ECU 24 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris pass incomplete
Chandler Morris pass incomplete
Chandler Morris run for 17 yds to the ECU 7 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris pass complete to Miles Coleman for 7 yds for a TD (Kali Nguma KICK)
London Montgomery run for 5 yds to the ECU 30
London Montgomery run for 6 yds to the ECU 36 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Yannick Smith for 41 yds to the UNT 23 for a 1ST down
London Montgomery run for 4 yds to the UNT 19
East Carolina Penalty, Illegal Formation (-5 Yards) to the UNT 24
Katin Houser pass complete to London Montgomery for 8 yds to the UNT 16
London Montgomery run for 2 yds to the UNT 14
London Montgomery run for no gain to the UNT 14
East Carolina Penalty, Unnecessary Roughness (Devon King) to the UNT 42 for a 1ST down
Nick Rempert run for 23 yds for a 1ST down North Texas Penalty, Offensive Holding (-10 Yards) to the ECU 45 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris pass incomplete
Chandler Morris pass complete to DT Sheffield for 3 yds to the ECU 42
Chandler Morris pass complete to DT Sheffield for 11 yds to the ECU 31 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris pass complete to Blair Conwright for 4 yds to the ECU 27
Chandler Morris pass complete to Blair Conwright for 12 yds to the ECU 15 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris pass complete to Blair Conwright for 7 yds to the ECU 8
Shane Porter run for a loss of 5 yards to the ECU 13
Chandler Morris pass complete to Oscar Hammond for 2 yds to the ECU 11
Kali Nguma 29 Yard Field Goal Missed
Katin Houser pass complete to Yannick Smith for 12 yds to the ECU 32 for a 1ST down
Rahjai Harris run for 2 yds to the ECU 34
Rahjai Harris run for 4 yds to the ECU 38
Katin Houser pass complete to Yannick Smith for 3 yds to the ECU 41
Rahjai Harris run for 2 yds to the ECU 43 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Rahjai Harris run for 1 yd to the ECU 44
Katin Houser pass incomplete
East Carolina Penalty, False Start (Desirrio Riles) to the ECU 39
Luke Larsen punt for 44 yds , DT Sheffield returns for no gain to the UNT 17
Shane Porter run for 1 yd to the UNT 18
Shane Porter run for 5 yds to the UNT 23
Chandler Morris pass complete to Damon Ward Jr. for 6 yds to the UNT 29 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris pass complete to Damon Ward Jr. for 20 yds to the UNT 49 for a 1ST down
Shane Porter run for 7 yds to the ECU 44
Makenzie McGill II run for no gain to the ECU 44
Chandler Morris pass complete to Miles Coleman for 4 yds to the ECU 40 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris run for 4 yds to the ECU 36
Shane Porter run for a loss of 2 yards to the ECU 38
Chandler Morris pass complete to Damon Ward Jr. for 16 yds to the ECU 22 for a 1ST down
Shane Porter run for 7 yds to the ECU 15
Chandler Morris pass complete to DT Sheffield for 11 yds to the ECU 4 for a 1ST down
Shane Porter run for 1 yd to the ECU 3
Chandler Morris pass complete to Blair Conwright for 3 yds for a TD (Kali Nguma KICK)
Blake Ford kickoff for 32 yds , DeMarius Hines return for no gain to the ECU 33
Jhari Patterson run for 5 yds to the ECU 38
Marlon Gunn Jr. run for 4 yds to the ECU 42
Marlon Gunn Jr. run for 4 yds to the ECU 46 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Katin Houser pass complete to Marlon Gunn Jr. for 5 yds to the UNT 49
(01:32) HOUSER, Katin pass to the right incomplete intended for SMITH, Yannick thrown to the UNT37, clock 01:28. PENALTY UNT Pass Interference on NELSON II, Brian enforced 14 yards to the UNT35 and results in automatic 1ST DOWN [NHSG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
Marlon Gunn Jr. run for 3 yds to the UNT 32
Katin Houser sacked by Breylon Charles for a loss of 2 yards to the UNT 34
Katin Houser pass complete to Yannick Smith for 10 yds to the UNT 24 for a 1ST down
Marlon Gunn Jr. run for 11 yds to the UNT 13 for a 1ST down
Jhari Patterson run for 6 yds to the UNT 7
Katin Houser run for 3 yds to the UNT 4
Rahjai Harris run for 3 yds to the UNT 1 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Rahjai Harris run for 1 yd for a TD (Andrew Conrad KICK)
End of 2nd Quarter
Everett Scott kickoff for 40 yds , Brandon Young Jr. return for 15 yds to the UNT 40
Everett Scott kickoff for 60 yds , Miles Coleman return for 24 yds to the UNT 29
Shane Porter run for 3 yds to the UNT 32
Chandler Morris run for 4 yds to the UNT 36
Chandler Morris pass complete to DT Sheffield for 16 yds DT Sheffield fumbled, recovered by ECU Chad Stephens C. Stephens return for 6 yds
Rahjai Harris run for 7 yds to the UNT 39
Rahjai Harris run for 39 yds for a TD (Andrew Conrad KICK)
Everett Scott kickoff for 63 yds , Miles Coleman return for 35 yds to the UNT 37
Chandler Morris pass incomplete
Shane Porter run for 2 yds to the UNT 39
Makenzie McGill II run for 7 yds to the UNT 46
Makenzie McGill II run for a loss of 1 yard to the UNT 45
Rahjai Harris run for 2 yds to the UNT 43
Katin Houser run for 8 yds to the UNT 35 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser run for 4 yds to the UNT 31
Rahjai Harris run for 5 yds to the UNT 26
Rahjai Harris run for 1 yd to the UNT 25 for a 1ST down
London Montgomery run for 2 yds to the UNT 23
London Montgomery run for 3 yds to the UNT 20
Katin Houser pass incomplete
Andrew Conrad 38 yd FG GOOD
East Carolina Penalty, Unnecessary Roughness (Luke Holmes) to the UNT 40 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris pass incomplete
Chandler Morris pass incomplete
Chandler Morris pass complete to Wyatt Young for 5 yds to the UNT 45
Sawyer Evans punt for 55 yds for a touchback
Katin Houser pass complete to Jhari Patterson for 19 yds to the ECU 39 for a 1ST down
London Montgomery run for 9 yds to the ECU 48
London Montgomery run for 2 yds to the 50 yard line for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Anthony Smith for 50 yds for a TD (Andrew Conrad KICK)
Everett Scott kickoff for 42 yds , Miles Coleman return for 24 yds to the UNT 47
Chandler Morris run for 3 yds to the 50 yard line
(05:40) MORRIS, Chandler pass deep to the right incomplete intended for COLEMAN, Miles thrown to the ECU33; QB hurried by BARKER, Zakye, clock 05:37. PENALTY ECU Pass Interference on WILSON-LAMP, Andrew enforced at the spot of the foul for 13 yards to the ECU37 and results in automatic 1ST DOWN [NHSG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
Shane Porter run for 5 yds to the ECU 32
Shane Porter run for a loss of 1 yard to the ECU 33
Chandler Morris pass incomplete
Kali Nguma 51 Yard Field Goal Missed
Rahjai Harris run for 6 yds to the ECU 41
Rahjai Harris run for 8 yds to the ECU 49 for a 1ST down
Rahjai Harris run for 5 yds to the UNT 46
Katin Houser pass complete to Mike Edwards III for 6 yds to the UNT 40 for a 1ST down
Rahjai Harris run for 4 yds to the UNT 36
Marlon Gunn Jr. run for 4 yds to the UNT 32
Marlon Gunn Jr. run for 4 yds to the UNT 28 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Yannick Smith for 28 yds for a TD (Andrew Conrad KICK)
Chandler Morris run for 12 yds to the UNT 37 for a 1ST down
(00:57) MORRIS, Chandler sacked for a loss of 9 yards at the UNT28 (EDWARDS III, Michael;CRAIG, Ryheem), clock 00:53. PENALTY ECU Face mask on CRAIG, Ryheem enforced 15 yards from the UNT37 to the ECU48 and results in automatic 1ST DOWN [NHSG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
East Carolina Penalty, Face mask (20 yards) (Chad Stephens) to the ECU 14 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris pass complete to Blair Conwright for 7 yds to the ECU 7
Makenzie McGill II run for 7 yds for a TD (Kali Nguma KICK)
London Montgomery run for 7 yds to the ECU 32
London Montgomery run for 4 yds to the ECU 36 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Anthony Smith for 4 yds to the ECU 40
London Montgomery run for 5 yds to the ECU 45
London Montgomery run for 1 yd to the ECU 46 for a 1ST down
London Montgomery run for 7 yds to the UNT 47
London Montgomery run for 6 yds to the UNT 41 for a 1ST down
Katin Houser pass complete to Anthony Smith for 23 yds to the UNT 18 for a 1ST down
Rahjai Harris run for 2 yds to the UNT 16
Rahjai Harris run for 4 yds to the UNT 12
Rahjai Harris run for no gain to the UNT 12
Andrew Conrad 31 yd FG GOOD
Makenzie McGill II run for 2 yds to the UNT 27
Chandler Morris pass complete to Dalton Carnes for 8 yds to the UNT 35 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris pass complete to Miles Coleman for 9 yds to the UNT 44
Chandler Morris pass complete to Damon Ward Jr. for 5 yds to the UNT 49 for a 1ST down
Makenzie McGill II run for 3 yds to the ECU 48
Chandler Morris pass incomplete
Chandler Morris pass incomplete
North Texas Penalty, Delay Of Game (TEAM) to the UNT 47
punt for 40 yds, fair catch by Ja'Marley Riddle at the ECU 13
Marlon Gunn Jr. run for 5 yds to the ECU 18
East Carolina Penalty, False Start (Hampton Ergle) to the ECU 13
Jhari Patterson run for 7 yds to the ECU 20
Katin Houser pass complete to Yannick Smith for 13 yds to the ECU 33 for a 1ST down
Marlon Gunn Jr. run for 4 yds to the ECU 37
Marlon Gunn Jr. run for 3 yds to the ECU 40
East Carolina Penalty, False Start (Desirrio Riles) to the ECU 35
Katin Houser pass complete to Yannick Smith for 5 yds to the ECU 40
Luke Larsen punt for 48 yds, fair catch by DT Sheffield at the UNT 12
Chandler Morris pass incomplete
Chandler Morris pass complete to Shane Porter for 1 yd to the UNT 13
(03:06) MORRIS, Chandler pass deep to the left incomplete intended for CONWRIGHT, Blair thrown to the UNT34, clock 03:03. PENALTY ECU Pass Interference on WILSON-LAMP, Andrew enforced 15 yards to the UNT28 and results in automatic 1ST DOWN [NHSG]. NO PLAY (replay the down).
Chandler Morris run for 3 yds to the UNT 31
Shane Porter run for a loss of 1 yard to the UNT 30
Chandler Morris pass incomplete
Chandler Morris pass incomplete
Rahjai Harris run for no gain to the UNT 30
Rahjai Harris run for 23 yds to the UNT 7 for a 1ST down
Rahjai Harris run for 7 yds for a TD (Two-Point Conversion failed)
Chandler Morris pass complete to Makenzie McGill II for 11 yds to the UNT 36 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris pass complete to Damon Ward Jr. for 21 yds to the ECU 43 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris pass complete to Miles Coleman for 5 yds to the ECU 38
Chandler Morris run for 5 yds to the ECU 33 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris pass complete to Blair Conwright for 18 yds to the ECU 15 for a 1ST down
Chandler Morris pass complete to Shane Porter for 7 yds to the ECU 8
Chandler Morris sacked for a loss of 7 yards to the ECU 15 Chandler Morris fumbled, recovered by UNT Paula Vaipulu , return for 0 yards
Chandler Morris pass incomplete
Chandler Morris pass complete to Makenzie McGill II for 9 yds to the ECU 6
(00:23) [NH] Kneel down by HOUSER, Katin at ECU5 (team loss of 1), clock 00:19.