East Carolina emerged victorious over UTSA in their American Athletic Conference opener, with a final score of 30-20. Jake Garcia played a pivotal role in the Pirates’ win, throwing two touchdown passes and adding another touchdown with a run. His 3-yard rushing touchdown just before halftime narrowed the gap to 13-10. The Pirates seized the lead early in the second half when Garcia connected with Winston Wright Jr. for a 40-yard touchdown. Despite throwing two interceptions, Garcia managed to bounce back with a 53-yard touchdown pass to Anthony Smith.

In addition to Garcia’s performance, East Carolina received a significant contribution from Noah Perez, who successfully kicked three field goals during the game. Perez’s field goals included a 21-yarder to open the scoring, a 42-yarder that extended the lead to 27-13, and a final 24-yarder with 13 seconds remaining to secure the win for the Pirates. On the opposing side, the Roadrunners initially took a 13-3 lead with field goals from Chase Allen and a 5-yard touchdown pass from Owen McCowan to Oscar Cardenas. Brandon High also contributed a 66-yard scoring run for UTSA, narrowing the lead to 27-20 in the fourth quarter.

Despite a competitive effort from UTSA, the Roadrunners were unable to capitalize on opportunities in the latter part of the game. After High’s impressive scoring run, UTSA struggled to secure a first down on four consecutive possessions. Garcia completed 17 of 35 passes for 294 yards, while McCowan went 24 of 49 for 251 yards in a closely contested match.

The victory marked East Carolina’s third win of the season, improving their record to 3-2, while UTSA’s record dropped to 2-3. The game showcased moments of resilience and determination from both teams, with East Carolina ultimately emerging as the victor. Moving forward, both teams will aim to build on their performances as they progress through the American Athletic Conference.