Previous to internet hosting Memphis on Saturday night, the East Carolina Pirates acknowledged 30 seniors for his or her contributions to the soccer program. A type of seniors might have been a lesser-known identify to the fanbase on the time of the pregame ceremony, however when a subject storm brewed in Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium that night time, he was the preferred man on campus.
Payton Mangrum is a sixth-year senior extensive receiver, initially onboarding with the South Carolina Gamecocks as a walk-on through the pandemic-adjusted 2020 season. That Gamecock garnet was the colour of his bloodstream, as his mother and father graduated from the college and his sister additionally attended. Mangrum dreamed of starring on Saturdays in Columbia, SC, however he didn’t attain scholarship standing till his junior yr, acknowledged for devoted particular groups work and his help as a teammate. After 5 lengthy years at South Carolina, his manufacturing amounted to 6 receptions for 102 yards and a landing.
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Mangrum entered the portal over the offseason and traveled one state north to East Carolina, hoping his first 5 years of onerous work may materialize in expanded taking part in time elsewhere. At ECU, he acquired a chance as a 4 core particular groups participant — suiting up on kickoffs, kickoff returns, punts, and punt returns, warranting the moniker of “Mr. Do-It-All” from head coach Blake Harrell. Nonetheless, he remained buried on a crowded receiver depth chart with manufacturing restricted to 6 receptions via the Pirates’ first 9 contests.
“It comes to a degree, like hey man, I form of need to play,” Mangrum stated. “I need to be a crew participant, do what’s proper for them. On the identical time, I need to play for myself, in order that’s after I acquired within the portal. I got here right here and it didn’t go as I assumed, however to see all of it come to fruition tonight is an effective feeling.”
On Saturday afternoon in a high-stakes tilt in opposition to fellow American Convention contender Memphis, the Pirates misplaced beginning extensive receiver Yannick Smith to harm, all of the sudden thrusting the sixth-year senior Mangrum into an expanded position — coincidentally, on senior day. Trailing 27-24 to Memphis with 1:14 remaining, East Carolina snapped the ball to execute a 3-by-1 4 verticals play, opting to take a shot slightly than play for the tying subject purpose. Mangrum lined up second from the precise and was given the choice to run deep or sit down. However he instantly acknowledged Memphis’ man protection and took the skin launch.
Houser then launched the ball towards the top zone. Mangrum positioned himself in entrance of the defender, and the remainder was historical past. The previous walk-on, looking for a chance after six lengthy years of dedicating himself to exercises and practices, lastly envisioned the second he dreamed of. He secured the 31-yard landing reception with final pressure, handing the Pirates a 31-27 benefit with 68 ticks remaining on the clock.
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“I went again, adjusted to the ball and acquired it,” Mangrum stated. “I acquired up and my ears popped. I’m not likely the celebrating sort. I simply screamed. I already knew I caught the ball. I didn’t even know they had been reviewing it, as a result of everybody was on the sideline hugging me. I used to be like, ‘Why have we not kicked the additional level but?’”
Regardless of solely capturing six passes previous to Saturday, Mangrum understood Houser’s belief in him to make such a spectacular play with the sport on the road.
“Each time I get within the recreation, he trusts me sufficient to throw the ball to me,” Mangrum stated. “That speaks so much to the connection me and him have. The quarterback-receiver relationship means so much, and it means so much to me as a participant to figuring out that the quarterback trusts himself to throw me the ball down three, two minutes left, in our final residence recreation.”
East Carolina finally held on for the victory over Memphis, profitable its fourth-straight recreation to enhance to 7-3 and 4-1 within the convention standings — remaining alive for a School Soccer Playoff berth. On a particular senior night time that acknowledged Mangrum previous to kickoff, he was acknowledged because the hero to guide ECU to its most essential convention victory in not less than a decade’s timespan. Through the postgame locker room celebration, the receiver eagerly referred to as his father, who was attending a marriage, to speak in regards to the shining second of his collegiate profession.
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“Attending to make that play tonight — it meant so much to me and my mother and father again residence, my grandma again residence,” Mangrum stated. “Understanding they get to see that, which means so much to me. I acquired two or three video games left. To exit like that, particularly in my final residence recreation, it’s a terrific feeling.”
It hasn’t all the time been simple, however Saturday night time made all of the years of sacrifice nicely value it. Payton Mangrum is now a reputation eternally etched into East Carolina historical past because the hero of a signature win, and his landing reception jump-started an all-out get together at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, the place even the goalposts had been casualties of a raucous subject storm.
“I’ve been via so much this season,” Mangrum stated. “Not likely getting the taking part in I need to, and I simply stayed down, stored taking part in centered, stored coming to follow and displaying up each day. That’s the toughest half is getting up each day, going to do it, and also you’re not reaping the advantages that you really want. Simply trusting the Lord and the plan He has for me to achieve success.”
