Overexertion might be a factor for the East Carolina defense.
The ECU football team has bent and ultimately broken in each of the last two games, thanks largely to an offense that could not sustain or even establish a consistent attack against either Temple or Connecticut. But the defense also bears some of the blame for giving up big plays late in games.
The cost of the those two losses for the Pirates (4-5, 2-3 American Athletic Conference) was a shot at playing in the first-ever AAC title game at season’s end, and also some confidence as ECU prepares to take on South Florida at home Saturday night.