INSIDE SLANT

As good as he has been when it counts—and that has been very good, East Carolina junior wide receiver Dwayne Harris has been even better in practice.

“He leaves the field every day and you say, ‘Did you see that run he made? Did you see that cut he made? Did you see that catch he made?’ That’s what the great ones do. Every day you leave the practice field saying wow,” head coach Skip Holtz said. “If we could make a highlight film of him in practice, it would blow away some of the things fans have seen him do in games.”

Harris has done plenty in games. The two-time C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week ranks second in the league in kickoff return average (26.8), fifth in all-purpose yards (148.5), eighth in catches per game (5.6) and ninth in receiving yards per game (66.1). His 12 touchdowns include five receiving, four passing and three on returns.

His prolific production has the Pirates (7-4, 6-1 C-USA) playing for a second consecutive East Division title Saturday at home against Southern Miss (7-4, 5-2). The winner advances to the C-USA championship game Dec. 5 against Houston or SMU.

Harris had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown and caught two TD passes in last week’s victory against UAB. A recent surge by Darryl Freeney, who has 24 catches for 436 yards and three scores in his last four games, has kept defenders from double-teaming Harris.

“Harris is a special player,” Holtz said. “We’re really going to need him and Freeney to step up in a game like this. This is going to be an important game for those two to be on. This is not a game where you would expect those two to be quiet.”

NOTES, QUOTES

• East Carolina is just 2-15 all-time at home against Southern Miss, with the victories coming in 1976 and 1994.

• The Pirates’ last six opponents have been successful on just 5-of-43 third-down conversions of six or more yards (11.6 percent).

• SERIES HISTORY: Southern Miss leads 26-8 (last meeting, 2008, 21-3 Southern Miss).

Scouting The Offense:   In conference play, the Pirates have averaged 32.7 points, 172.3 rushing yards and 234.0 passing yards per game. They have converted 45.5 percent of their third-down chances and allowed a league-low three sacks in seven C-USA contests. Every other school has allowed at least nine sacks.

Scouting The Defense:   East Carolina has picked off a league-leading 12 passes against conference competition, returning two of them for scores. The Pirates have 21 takeaways in seven league games. They’re tied with Southern Miss for second in C-USA play with 21 sacks, just one fewer than UCF.

Quote To Note:   “Their front seven is very good, active and athletic. They create a lot of problems. I think people are saying that instead of trying to run through a brick wall, they’re going to try and throw the ball over it. It’s a very talented and athletic defense.”—East Carolina head coach Skip Holtz on Southern Miss.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

This Week  ‘S GAME: Southern Miss at East Carolina, Nov. 28—The Pirates are 4-1 at home and the Golden Eagles are 1-4 on the road. Southern Miss won 21-3 last season in Hattiesburg as the defense picked off Patrick Pinkney twice and limited East Carolina to just 66 rushing yards. Ben Hartman missed 3-of-4 field-goal attempts and Patrick Pinkney was intercepted twice by Justin Wilson.

Keys To The Game:   East Carolina must contain the tailback tandem of Damion Fletcher and Tory Harrison. “Harrison is a bigger, stronger and more physical runner. Fletcher is more of the flash and speed runner,” head coach Skip Holtz said. “It’s a combination that gives them a Mr. Inside and Mr. Outside. They really do a great job on offense.”

Players To Watch:  

WR Dwayne Harris—The C-USA Special Teams Player of the Week set school single-season and career records with his third kickoff return for a touchdown this season, a 99-yarder in the fourth quarter against UAB. He also caught two TD passes and posted 254 all-purpose yards.

FS Van Eskridge—The Pirates will have their hands full against explosive, 6-6 Southern Miss wideout DeAndre Brown on Saturday. Eskridge leads the Pirates in interceptions (four), passes defended (10) and tackles (76).

K Ben Hartman—The senior has moved into a tie for second place on the school’s all-time scoring list with 264 points, matching current Tennessee Titans star Chris Johnson (2004-07). He needs 24 points to break the record held by former kicker Kevin Miller (1999-2002).

Roster Report:  

• LB Jeremy Chambliss (right shoulder) is questionable and LB Marke Powell (right foot) is doubtful for Saturday’s game. RB Jonathan Williams (right knee) and WR Jamar Bryant (left shoulder) could return from injuries.

• Defensive tackles coach Thomas “Rock” Roggeman has been nominated for the 2009 FedEx Orange Bowl-Football Writers Association of America Courage Award, to be announced at the end of the season. Roggeman, 46, has taken a medical leave of absence this season while battling non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.