Shane Carden had already gotten up close and personal with the defenses of South Carolina, Southern Miss and North Carolina, but what he faced last Saturday against UTEP was altogether different.

The torrential rain that fell during the second half of the Pirates’ 28-18 victory was very likely a first for many inside Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, but the experience the sophomore East Carolina quarterback garnered was likely the most valuable he’s gotten yet.

In the worst conditions imaginable, the Pirate passer delivered a couple of touchdowns on runs and also threw a TD to Justin Hardy, and Carden thinks frequent wet weather helped it happen.

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