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The Pirates hold on to a slim lead of 27-24 and come away with their first C-USA Championship. Patrick Pinkney played a watertight game, but the real story is the solid performance by the Pirate defense. East Carolina headed into this ball game against one of the nations' best passing quarterbacks, David Johnson. Obviously, no one informed the Pirate secondary about this dangerous scoring threat. The first down of the game Johnson heaved a deep ball, and Dekota Marshall came up with the first of many interceptions for East Carolina. After the interception the Pirate offense came on to put together a superior drive. Pinkney spread the ball around completing four big passes to four different receivers, including a 13-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Gidrey, 7-0 Pirates.

After a 70-yard touchback kick from Ben Hartman, Tulsa took the ball from their own 20-yardline, hoping for a new drive and a fresh start for David Johnson. The Golden Hurricane put together a respectable 39-yard drive, but the Pirate secondary snared another pass from Johnson, this time it was a pick-for-six returned 72-yards by Travis Simmons. After an early flurry by the Pirates, Tulsa came back for 17 unanswered points. Senior defensive back Leon Best hammered Tulsa receiver Jesses Meyer and forced a fumble Travis Simmons recovered. East Carolina tied it up at 17 all with a 32-yard field goal by Ben Hartman to send the game tied at the half.

Both ECU and Tulsa labored hard through the second half. East Carolina tacked on another touchdown when Norman Whitley trotted into the end zone on a 69-yard rush; the Pirates went up 24-17. Tulsa attempted to even the score with another solid drive, but the Pirates defensive stronghold never gave up, David Johnson was sacked in the back three times forcing Tulsa to punt the ball away. The Golden Hurricane held ECU to fourth and long. Ben Hartman missed a 39-yard field goal attempt to keep Tulsa within a touchdown of East Carolina.

Due to some miscommunication with the sideline, Tulsa used up their last two timeouts early in the forth quarter. Johnson threw another pick into the hands of Van Eskridge, who returned the ball for 40-yards to set the Pirates up on their own 30, to hopefully seal the deal. However, Tulsa's defense stayed in the game and forced the Pirates to punt. Johnson and the Golden Hurricane made a 12 play 80-yard march to the end zone ending with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Collums. With the game tied at 24-24 the Pirates ran down the clock on an 8-minute, 53-yard drive. The drive set up a 36-yard field goal for Ben Hartman, Pirate go up 27-24 with two minutes left on the clock. Tulsa looked to answer back in the last 90-seconds with no time-outs. For the last time David Johnson put up another big pass; the ball was pulled down once again by Van Eskridge and the Pirates took over for the last minute of play. The Pirates melted down the clock, bathed Skip Holtz in Gatorade and celebrated their first C-USA Championship victory, topping Tulsa 27-24.

The Pirates won their first Conference Championship since their 1976 Southern Conference victory. East Carolina forced seven turnovers and proved once again that, "the best offense is defense." Its been said often throughout the day, but the true hero through this entire season is Coach Skip Holtz. Holtz has turned this ECU program into a national contender and has held this team together through a massive plague of injuries and off-the-field conflicts. Both Skip Holtz and senior quarterback Patrick Pinkney followed in their father's footsteps with today's victory. Securing today's win the Pirates earned a Liberty Bowl berth for January 2, against an SEC opponent. The Pirates finish the season 9-2.

Personal Note: All I can say is wow! What a great year for college football, for being a freshman at East Carolina University, and for being an aspiring sports writer. I must say I take great pride in this growing football program. It has been a rollercoaster season filled with early publicity, the perseverance of coming back from injuries and a mid-season three-game losing streak. I appreciate all the work put in by every coach, player, trainer, and of course, my fellow Pirate fans. Thank you Pirates, for a great year to be birthed into the Pirate Nation. I will take one thing from the mentality of this football team, plunder all opportunities and give life no quarter.