East Carolina PiratesvsAlabama Crimson Tide
ECU 10/ALA 48
Things to say
Alabama routed East Carolina 48-10 at Bryant-Denny.
01
opener
Yeah, Bama handled ECU 48-10, never really close. Tide put up three scores before the Pirates woke up. Basically a tune-up game.
02
key player
Keelon Russell was the whole show — 256 through the air, 86 on the ground and a rushing score. Kid can throw it and run it.
03
hot take
Ten points is flattering for ECU. Take away that garbage-time field goal and they barely showed up.
04
deep cut
The dagger was Yhonzae Pierre taking a pick 27 yards to the house. Defense straight-up outscored ECU's offense there.
05
exit
Anyway, real test is when SEC play starts — this one told us nothing.
The recap
Alabama flexed early and never let up, hanging 48 on East Carolina behind a coming-out party from Keelon Russell, who threw for 256, ran for 86 and a score, and generally did whatever he wanted. The real backbreaker came when Yhonzae Pierre jumped a Mitch Griffis throw and took it 27 yards to the house, blowing a 24-7 game wide open before halftime.
Daniel Hill punched in two short touchdowns and the ground game just wore ECU down at the line of scrimmage. The Pirates' lone score was garbage-time noise in a game that was over before the third quarter kicked off.