It was another AAC bloodbath for the Bearcats last week as Houston became the 3rd straight team to get completely shut down and dominated. It brought the Bearcats record up to a perfect 6-0, although they saw their position drop a spot in the polls, I would urge the fans freaking out to remember a lot of things are still going to happen this season and that the polls are meaningless until the playoff committee meets for the first time later this month. The ECU game is Friday night this week instead of Saturday, which technically gives the Cats an extra day until the UCF game next week. Even though they should not be looking ahead or be given much of a challenge Friday night, lets go ahead and take a look at who will be on the field for ECU trying to ruin the Bearcats playoff hopes.
ECU comes in at 1-5, the lone win being South Florida and while their offense puts 29.2 points a game, their defense gives up 37.2 a game. The guy making this offense work is junior quarterback Holton Ahlers. Ahlers and the Pirates offense are primarily dominated by the passing game, some of that because the defense gives up big points and the offense is playing catch up, but Ahlers still makes the most of it coming into the game with a stat line that reads 1,354 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions to go with a completion percentage of 63.1. Not terrible numbers by any means, but he has not faced a defense like he will see Friday night.
In the backfield he’s joined by freshman Rahjai Harris. Harris had a slow start to the season, but then had a three game stretch where he eclipsed 100 yards in each game to help get him on track. Headed into Friday he’s rushed for 475 yards and three touchdowns, but does have a 5.2 yards per carry average. He will have to be successful running the ball if ECU is going to have any chance in this game. Harris and ECU dominating time of possession would be one of the biggest ways to slow down this UC team that has really been clicking the last month of the season.
