Linked by tragedy

GREENVILLE - East Carolina and Marshall are linked together by a tragic past.

On Nov. 14, 1970, while leaving Greenville to return home to Huntington, W.Va., an airplane full of 75 Marshall football players, coaches and fans crashed, killing all onboard.

Marshall was playing in Division I-AA at the time. The Thundering Herd joined Division I in 1996 and became a member of Conference USA in 2004.

Marshall's inclusion in C-USA was sure to set up a rivalry with East Carolina. And although the Pirates lead the all-time series 7-3, the rivalry has thickened recently.

With ECU on the verge of claiming a conference championship last season, Marshall stunned the Pirates, 26-7.

On Saturday, with the two teams atop the C-USA East standings with 3-1 records, the Pirates pulled out an overtime victory, 19-16.

"It has been a big rivalry since I've been here," said ECU coach Skip Holtz. "Geographically, they are the closest team and the schools are very much tied together because of history. The relationships and the respect we have for each other, I would very much consider it a rivalry game."

In front of a sold-out crowd of 43,515 at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, ECU was ready to unveil its rivalry on homecoming day. The crowd was the seventh-largest in the stadium's history.

"When people say they can only come back to one game, it is usually homecoming," Holtz said. "It is great to have so many people come back and see so many great changes made to this university and the progress that is being made. They have just so much pride about this university."

When Ben Hartman's 27-yard field goal sailed over the crossbar for the win, the Pirates became officially in sole possession of first place atop the C-USA standings.

ECU has three games remaining, against Southern Miss., UAB and UTEP.

"Right now, we are in the driver's seat," said ECU senior linebacker Pierre Bell. "But Coach Holtz says we have to keep both hands on the wheel and eyes on the road,"

Bell, a graduate of West Craven High School, led the Pirates with eight tackles against Marshall. He is second on the team this season with 58 tackles.

Holtz said he's seeing more determination out of Bell this season.

"Pierre Bell has been a different player the last two weeks," he said. "The emotion that he is playing with, the excitement, the enthusiasm, he is going out there and having fun. I think he has been a difference-maker the last couple weeks."

Bell was the lone captain on the field when the Pirates won the toss in overtime. The Pirates elected to play defense first and held Marshall to a missed field goal.

"I am just trying to be a leader and trying to step it up," Bell said. "It is the last couple of games of my career here and I am trying to go out on top and get this conference championship."

Another Craven County native, Davon Drew, has stepped up for the Pirates in his final season. A New Bern High School graduate, Drew hauled in four catches for 80 yards and a touchdown against Marshall.

 The senior tight end has Drew has 10 receptions for 186 yards over the last two weeks. He has started 13-consecutive games for the Pirates.

"Davon has played more and more of a big role for us because of all the suspensions and injuries that we've had." Holtz said. "He is progressing more as a football player and really making some things happen. Right now he would be considered one of our go-to players."

The Pirates continue their season next Saturday when they travel to Southern Miss.

Adam Thompson can be reached at (252) 635-5670 or at athompson@freedomenc.com.