East Carolina Edges South Florida 20-17
Andrew Conrad's 55-yard field goal with two seconds left gave East Carolina a 20-17 win over South Florida on Friday night in Greenville, N.C.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Football
East Carolina defeated South Florida 20-17 on Friday night, with Andrew Conrad kicking a 55-yard field goal with two seconds left. Emory Williams threw two touchdown passes to Landon Sides for the Pirates.
Why it matters
The game-winning kick decided a close contest that turned on the final seconds, a result that shapes East Carolina's position as the team continues its season. Readers following the program can track how the win affects its standing in the conference race.
Landon Sides caught 14 passes for 126 yards and Ashton Gray rushed for 101 yards for East Carolina. South Florida's Luke Kromenhoek completed 17 of 21 passes for 179 yards, while D.J. Crowther rushed for 111 yards.
The players
East Carolina Pirates
East Carolina is a public university football program in Greenville, North Carolina, competing in the American Athletic Conference.
South Florida Bulls
South Florida is a public university football program based in Tampa, Florida, competing in the American Athletic Conference.
The details
Emory Williams threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Sides in the final minute of the second quarter and an 8-yard score that gave East Carolina a 17-10 lead with 6 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter. Jason Collins Jr. scored on a 1-yard run to tie the game at 17 with about 10 minutes left before Conrad's winning kick.
Timeline
Friday night (Nov. 6, 2026): East Carolina defeats South Florida 20-17.
Nov. 14: East Carolina plays at Charlotte.
Season Trajectory
A one-point road-style finish like this one often decides tiebreakers in a conference race where margins are thin. The result gives East Carolina a close-game win that will be weighed against its remaining conference schedule, including the Nov. 14 trip to Charlotte.
East Carolina's next game is at Charlotte on Nov. 14, so the close win over South Florida carries into that matchup. Fantasy managers tracking Landon Sides and Ashton Gray can use their 14-catch and 101-yard lines from this game as recent usage markers.
The takeaway
Close games decided by a single late kick reward teams that can stay composed in the final minutes. Readers following the program can watch how East Carolina handles its upcoming road game at Charlotte.
What happens next
East Carolina plays at Charlotte on Nov. 14.
Further reading
For more on the team's season, see Football coverage in Greenville.
