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Inaugural Papajohns Bowl pits Bulls against Pirates

Last Update: 12/21/2006 11:34:56 AM

   

In the inaugural PapaJohns.com Bowl, the East Carolina Pirates will clash with the South Florida Bulls at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

,The Bulls are a relatively young football program, but the team has found success nonetheless. Last season, USF made its first-ever bowl appearance, playing in the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Unfortunately the team suffered a 14-0 setback to NC State, but it was a step in the right direction. Some thought last year was an overachieving season for USF, but that is not the case, as the team will be making its second consecutive bowl game appearance. USF came into the season knowing it had a tough schedule, and also realizing every Big East Conference game would be a battle. Although it was a tough task, it was a task the Bulls welcomed with open arms. USF opened the 2006 campaign with three solid victories, and the seemed well on its way to another tremendous season, but back-to-back losses to Kansas (13-7) and Rutgers (22-20) knocked the Bulls back to Earth. Fortunately the Bulls were able to rebound from the losses by winning four of their next five contests. The team''s record dropped to 7-4 after the horrible, 31-8 setback to Louisville, but the Bulls closed out the regular season with a huge, 24-19 victory over Big East powerhouse West Virginia.

As for the Pirates, they will be making their eighth bowl appearance, but it is the team''s first postseason matchup since 2001. There is a distinct possibility that the Pirates are still recovering from their last bowl trip, which was a heartbreaking, 64-61 double-overtime setback to Marshall in the GMAC Bowl. The Pirates will finally have a chance to bury the past, but to do so the team must defeat USF this Saturday. ECU''s run to the postseason was not easy by any stretch of the imagination, as the team opened the season with four losses in its first six games. Despite the slow start the Pirates were able to regroup, winning five of their last six contests, including a regular-season finale victory on the road against NC State.

The Bulls were not a dangerous offensive unit this season, but the team was efficient and did just enough to produce victories. USF closed out the regular season averaging a mediocre 22.9 ppg while racking up 367.9 total ypg. The team had moderate success on the ground as through the air, as the Bulls churned out 143.2 rushing ypg, while throwing for 224.8 ypg. Quarterback Matt Grothe is the biggest asset the Bulls possess on this side of the football, as the signal caller not only led the team''s passing attack, but also paced the Bulls on the ground as well. Grothe, who completed 63.8 percent of his passes this season, threw for 2,495 yards and 14 touchdowns against 14 interceptions, while accumulating a team-high 607 rushing yards and nine scores on the ground. Grothe''s passing numbers were not tremendous, but the quarterback has shown the ability to spread the ball around, Ean Randolph was the team''s main receiving threat during the season, catching 47 passes for 479 yards and fours scores. However, after Randolph five different players finished the regular season with two touchdowns.

Defensively is where the Bulls excelled this season, as the team surrendered just 17.8 ppg, while holding the opposition to just 296.9 total yards per contest. USF was solid against the pass, holding the opposition to just 176.6 ypg through the air, but the team was even better against the run, surrendering just 120.3 ypg, while allowing just 3.4 ypc. The unit only allowed 19 touchdowns on the season and was no stranger to he big play, as the defense forced 23 turnovers and recorded 31 sacks. Ben Moffitt led the team with 106 tackles and also collected 10 TFLs. However, there is much more talent on this unit, especially in the linebacking corps, as Stephen Nichols and Chris Robinson both put forth solid seasons. Nichols recorded 96 stops this year to go along with 12 TFLs and 5.5 sacks, while Robinson added eight TFLs and a team-high six quarterback takedowns. The front line also caused trouble for opposing quarterbacks, as George Selvei and Allen Cray combined for 20 TFLs and 11 sacks. With all the pressure the Bulls put on the quarterback it is tough for teams to find success through the air. If opponents are going to have success with the pass, they should keep the ball away from Trae Williams, who finished the season with 49 tackles and seven interceptions.

Much like their counterpart, the Pirates were not an explosive offensive unit during the regular season, as the team averaged just 22.8 ppg, while collecting 350.8 total ypg. It is obvious the Pirates are a little unbalanced, as the team is passing for 230.1 ypg, while churning out only 120.7 ypg on the ground. The main reason for the lack of success in the backfield is because the Pirates do not have a clear cut option at running back. Brandon Fractious finished the regular season as the team''s top back, rushing for 675 yards and four scores. Chris Johnson added 314 yards and four touchdowns, while quarterback James Pinkney contributed 225 yards and also found the end zone four times on the ground. While Pinkney was helpful in the ground attack, the quarterback was the main source of production in the aerial assault, completing 60.2 percent of his passes. Pinkney threw for 2,658 yards on the season, but the signal caller only tossed 11 touchdowns passes against 10 interceptions. Aundrae Allison was the main target for Pinkney, as the receiver hauled in 59 passes for 684 yards and four scores. Phillip Henry is a solid number option for ECU, as the wide out collected 34 catches for 484 yards and two touchdowns.

While the Pirates were a bit inconsistent offensively, the team was much better on the defensive side of the ball, as ECU surrendered just 20.5 ppg, while holding the opposition to just 332.9 total ypg. The unit had some issues against the run, surrendering 144.2 ypg on the ground, but fortunately the team had much more success against the pass, allowing just 188.7 ypg through the air. A big reason for the defense''s success was its ability to make big plays, as ECU forced 26 turnovers this season, 16 of which were interceptions. However, the unit did have trouble putting pressure on opposing QBs, as the Pirates collected just 17 sacks in 12 games. Quentin Cotton was the spark plug for this unit all season, as the linebacker collected a team-high 68 tackles to go along with eight TFLs. Since the Pirates struggled to put pressure on the quarterback this season, the team used its solid defensive backfield to frustrate opponents. Pierre Parker and Kasey Ross were a terror for opposing quarterbacks, as both players recorded four interceptions on the season.

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