Charlotte travels to Greenville to renew rivalry with ECU

MATT LACZKO | THE CHARLOTTE POST

The Charlotte 49ers, who renew their rivalry with American rival East Carolina Saturday in Greenville, N.C., are 3-0 against the Pirates all-time.

The Charlotte 49ers enter rivalry week well rested.

Coming off their second off week, the 49ers (1-7, 0-5 American) travel to East Carolina (5-3, 3-1) with hopes of keeping their unbeaten streak against the Pirates alive. The 49ers are 2-0 in the in-state rivalry, winning twice under former coach Biff Poggi. The odds are stacked against Charlotte as they will enter the game as 28.5-point underdogs.

“I’ve been learning about [the rivalry with ECU] since January,” 49ers coach Tim Albin said. “I know the kids that were here last year are aware of this game. It’s circled on both teams' calendars or schedules. My experience with rivalry games, and I shared this with the team and my teams over the years… emotion will not win the game, execution will. We get all jacked up, but execution is what gets it done. Emotions and things like that, you have to channel all of that. … That is what has been our focus is the execution piece of it.”

The spread is the largest against Charlotte in the rivalry since the schools started playing in 2023. That year, the 49ers were 6.5-point underdogs and won 10-7. In 2024, the 49ers were 8.5-point underdogs and blew out the Pirates at home, 55-24. It will be much tougher this year as the Pirates have one of the best defenses in the American conference and an efficient offense as well. 

Pirates quarterback Katin Houser has thrown for 2,245 yards so far this season with a 66.9% completion rate. The senior has 12 touchdowns to five interceptions. ECU has three running backs in London Montgomery, Marlon Gunn Jr. and T.J. Engleman Jr., who all average around 5 yards per carry. So, defensively the 49ers will have to be much better if they want to pull off the upset.

“Please tell me you’re done,” Albin said with a smirk when presented ECU’s offensive stats. “Their quarterback is playing at a very high level. They play with tempo. So, hopefully we see some positives that we’ve taken from the South Florida game and the pace of that game. We were a deer in headlights in that first quarter, and we have to learn from that. North Texas plays with tempo. [ECU] I think they are averaging over 30 points per game. They are a running back by committee [team]. … I’d have to look at the numbers, but they have a pretty balanced approach with rushing and the throwing game. It will be a huge challenge for our defense.”

Albin has started to be more aggressive on fourth down, going for it instead of punting more often than earlier in the season. Against a stingy defense like East Carolina’s, Albin will have to be strategic with his play calling and game management. The Pirates have held two opponents to single digits and have a shutout win over Coastal Carolina. Similar opponents like Army and Temple, the Pirates won those games and gave up just six points to Army and 14 to Temple. 

“I feel for the flow of the game,” Albin said. “How are we playing and do we need a spark or steal a possession. A lot of those things go into that and what has worked up to that point. If we are going to go for it on fourth down, OK, are we sitting on something, are we setting something up? There are a lot of things that go into it. So, the approach of this game is if we win the toss, we are going to defer, unless weather comes in or something, and then go from there. I don’t want to be a riverboat gambler. Scared money doesn’t make money, I don’t want to be that guy, but there is a time and place for everything.”

Gametime is set for Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. on ESPN-plus. 

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