East Carolina entered Saturday’s house sport in opposition to Temple after a 41-34 loss at Memphis and wanted a response. Freshman defensive again David Coleman Jr. was a part of a younger secondary making an attempt to assist ship it. As an alternative, a second between performs modified the afternoon for the Pirates.
It concerned Coleman, drew a powerful response from head coach Blake Harrell, and rapidly turned the story of the sport.
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ECU freshman David Coleman Jr. suffers leg harm in collision with referee
It occurred at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium throughout East Carolina’s house sport in opposition to Temple. An official slipped whereas transferring throughout the sector and slid straight into Coleman’s proper leg. The freshman couldn’t put any weight on it and needed to be helped off by two folks.
Dec 6, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; A view of a television digital camera and the ESPN faculty soccer emblem earlier than the sport between the Texas Tech Pink Raiders and the BYU Cougars at AT&T Stadium. Obligatory Credit score: Jerome Miron-Imagn Pictures
Coleman was taken to the hospital. After the sport, head coach Blake Harrell revealed that an X-ray at halftime confirmed a fractured fibula.
“DC obtained an X-ray at halftime, fractured his fibula there. Our ideas and prayers are with him,” Harrell informed reporters. “That is simply a kind of issues, type of wild it occurs. I’ve by no means seen that from an official — a couple of issues occur within the ballgame that I’ve by no means seen — and unlucky for DC.”
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Experiences point out the referee tried to go round Coleman, however Coleman didn’t see him and stepped into his path. The contact was unintended, and the official checked on the participant instantly. Nonetheless, the harm was carried out. ECU has not introduced a restoration timeline, and the harm places the remainder of his freshman season unsure.
Coleman entered the sport with six tackles and added one earlier than leaving, giving him seven this yr. The fan account @ECU_NoQuarter posted the clip. The publish learn, “A referee simply broke one among our gamers legs.”
The Pirates nonetheless had a sport to complete, and the way they did it mattered.
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ECU snaps skid behind Mitch Griffis and a stout protection
East Carolina went again to Mitch Griffis at quarterback after beginning Emory Williams for the previous couple of weeks. Griffis accomplished 17 of 30 passes for 130 yards with one interception, however the floor sport carried the load.
TJ Engleman Jr. ran for 107 yards and a landing, and Ashton Grey added a rating on the primary drive. Brock Spalding additionally made his season debut.
In Saturday’s Week 9 sport, the protection sealed the 17-9 win over Temple with three interceptions, two of them within the fourth quarter. Temple managed solely three subject objectives from kicker Carl Hardin and fell to 2-6.
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Harrell additionally went for it on fourth down 4 instances and transformed two. The win snapped a two-game skid, lifted ECU to 4-4, and saved bowl hopes alive.
That bowl push resumes on Friday evening. The Pirates, now 2-2 in American play, host South Florida at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2, six days after the Temple sport, and can doubtless face the Bulls with out Coleman within the secondary.
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