GREENVILLE – Breon Allen introduced himself to the East Carolina faithful last Saturday in the Pirates’ 63-14 win over UAB.
The junior from Daytona, Fla. had a breakout game with 92 rushing yards and 47 receiving yards, adding another weapon to the nation’s 11th-best scoring offense.
Allen’s emergence has given ECU a two-man threat in the backfield.
“It’s a testament to how hard work pays off,” Allen said. “I’ve been working hard and finally getting my chance to get involved in the offense.
“I’ve been trying to make the most of my opportunities.”
Allen joins team’s leading rusher Vintavious Cooper to give the Pirates a solid running game.
They will look to keep it up against in-state rival N.C. State on Saturday in Raleigh.
“We’ve been hoping for that,” said ECU Offensive Coordinator Lincoln Riley. “We don’t want to have just one guy doing it. Those guys have done a nice job of complimenting each other.
“Breon is really coming along. He is starting to understand what we want and he is starting to feel comfortable.”
Allen wasn’t in Greenville for the spring and missed most of the summer workouts. But once he came aboard, him and Cooper became good friends with similar running styles.
They are both listed under 5-foot-9 and can make catches out of the backfield.
“Whoever is in the backfield, it’s time for him to eat,” Cooper said. “If coach feels like he needs to feed us, we are going to eat all game.
“Either one of us is capable of having a big game on any night.”
Cooper has 754 rushing yards and nine touchdowns to go along with 343 receiving yards. Allen has racked up 207 rushing yards.
“Cooper has moves and power and I have deceptive power and speed,” Allen said. “The more opportunities I get, I try to make the best out of it. Where ever I can fit in and help, I’m glad to do that.”
With already a potent passing game (eighth in the nation), a successful ground game only makes the offense stronger.
The Pirates (8-2) are putting up more than 41 points and 465 yards per game.
“We have all these weapons around,” Allen said. “We spread the ball around to so many different receivers. We are tough to stop.”
N.C. State (3-7) is in the midst of a six-game losing streak. During that stretch, the Wolfpack defense has yielded 34 points and 182 rushing yards a game.
“(N.C. State) is a very good up front and have done a nice job of keeping their team in a lot of games,” Riley said. “We are going to have to do a good job of mixing it up and trying to control their front.”
ECU has played North Carolina and N.C. State in the same season 10 times, but have never beaten those schools in the same year. The Pirates rolled to a 55-31 win over UNC Sept. 28.
Kickoff from Carter-Finley Stadium is set for 12:30 p.m.
“We want to look at it as just one game but we know what type of environment it’s going to be and the importance of the rivalry,” Cooper said.
“We’ve done a great job at focusing and keeping our attention on the game ahead. We have a bunch of experienced guys in the lockerroom who understands what it takes to win a game.”
Adam Thompson can be contacted at 252-635-5669 or at Adam.Thompson@newbernsj.com. Follow Adam on Twitter @Adam_matic.