In a dominant American Athletic Conference (AAC) performance, East Carolina quarterback Katin Houser delivered an electric display on Thursday night, leading the Pirates to a resounding 49-14 victory over Florida Atlantic. Houser showcased impressive efficiency, completing 17 of 22 passes for 343 yards, throwing five touchdown passes, and adding a rushing score as ECU stormed past FAU.
The game’s explosive start set the tone early, as Houser connected with Chase Sowell for a 50-yard touchdown down the right sideline on just the second play from scrimmage. The strike ignited ECU’s offense and immediately put FAU on the back foot. After a quick three-and-out from FAU, the Pirates capitalized once again, with running back Rahjai Harris gaining 31 yards on three consecutive runs. Houser followed up by finding Winston Wright Jr. for a 47-yard touchdown pass, making it 14-0 just four and a half minutes into the game.
As ECU’s offensive momentum continued, Houser connected with Wright for an 8-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 21-0 by the end of the first quarter. Wright finished the game with three catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns, further complementing Houser’s prolific passing performance. Anthony Smith added to the Pirates’ receiving power, securing three receptions for 120 yards, including a long touchdown catch that contributed to ECU’s unrelenting offensive barrage.
FAU struggled to find any rhythm, and their night only worsened when starting quarterback Cam Fancher exited in the second quarter with a shoulder injury. Backup Kasen Weisman, a Colorado transfer, stepped in and completed 20 of 35 passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns. Weisman also led the team in rushing with 41 yards on six carries, displaying resilience despite the Pirates’ defensive pressure. His longest drive, a 14-play, 91-yard effort, ultimately ended in disappointment, as Gavin Gibson intercepted his pass in the end zone, keeping FAU off the scoreboard in a critical moment.
Though FAU’s offense found limited success, they did break through for two scores late in the game. Jabari Smith Jr. caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Weisman in the second quarter, putting FAU on the board. Later, CJ Campbell Jr. added another 2-yard touchdown reception, capping the scoring with just over a minute left to play.
The win was a decisive one for East Carolina, who improved to 5-4 on the season and 3-2 in AAC play. Meanwhile, FAU fell to 2-7, remaining winless in conference play with an 0-5 record. The loss marked their ninth consecutive AAC defeat, tying them with Mississippi State for the nation’s second-longest active conference losing streak, behind Kent State’s 13-game skid in the Mid-American Conference.
ECU’s dominant victory not only underscored Houser’s impressive performance but also highlighted the Pirates’ balanced offensive attack and opportunistic defense. As they inch closer to bowl eligibility, ECU will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming games, while FAU will seek answers and strive to break their conference losing streak.
