East Carolina Pirates Look to Defeat the UNC Tar Heels Again

Many were surprised last weekend when the unranked East Carolina Pirates defeated the then No. 17 ranked Virginia Tech Hokies, but they probably shouldn't have been.

Last Saturday marked the third straight victory for the Pirates against an ACC opponent, all coming on the road. This weekend, the Pirates will get a visit from in-state rival, the North Carolina Tar Heels. 

Last season, the Pirates defeated the Tar Heels 55-31 to win their first game in Chapel Hill since 1975. ECU quarterback Shane Carden was a big part of the victory as he threw for 376 yards, three touchdown passes and ran for three scores. The Pirates offense gained 603 yards against the Tar Heels and they are fully capable of doing the same thing again this year. 

This season, Carden ranks ninth in the NCAA in total offense with 354.7 yards per game. Not only do the Tar Heels have to worry about Carden, they also have to worry about Justin Hardy and the rest of the East Carolina receivers.

Hardy has caught 289 receptions for 3,314 yards and 27 touchdowns during his career. NFLDraftScout.com has Hardy rated as their sixth-ranked senior receiver. Isaiah Jones and Cam Worthy are the other receivers who can pose problems for the Tar Heels on Saturday.

North Carolina's defense has forced nine turnovers in two games, but they have yet to see a trio of receivers like East Carolina's. The Tar Heel defense will have their hands full trying to limit Hardy, Jones and Worthy, who have all produced at least 200 yards receiving this season.

If the Pirates are going to defeat the Tar Heels, their defense will have to contain an excellent Tar Heel offense led by quarterback Marquise Williams. 

In two games in 2014, Williams has 424 passing yards and he also leads the Tar Heels in rushing with 115 yards. Junior guard Landon Turner will miss Saturday's game due to an undisclosed injury which leaves the Tar Heels with four underclassmen on their offensive line.

True freshman UNC guard Jared Cohen will make his first start against an East Carolina defense that ranks 34th in the nation in rush defense. 

When looking at the East Carolina's nonconference schedule at the beginning of the season, it looked like they could have a 1-3 record before playing their first conference game. Now the Pirates are 2-1 and are three-point favorites on Saturday according to Odds Shark. ECU could have their best season in school history, but only if they defeat the Tar Heels on Saturday.

This East Carolina team is solid on both sides of the ball, so that’s why many experts are picking them to defeat the Tar Heels.

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