DALLAS (FWAA) – East Carolina is the winner of the Cheez-It Crunch Time Play of the Week for Week 12 for Payton Magrum's 31-yard touchdown grab from Katin Houser with 1:08 left that gave the Pirates the 31-27 comeback win over Memphis, as selected by the All-America Commitee of the Football Writers Association of America.
East Carolina had trailed 27–24 with just over two minutes left after a Memphis field goal, but then marched 75 yards in six plays, capped by Magrum's catch in front the Clark Family Boneyard student section.
Mangrum, a sixth-year senior and former South Carolina walk-on, had just six catches on the season entering the game and was thrust into action after starting receiver Yannick Smith injured his foot in the first half.
The play was the exact same one ECU had run in Thursday’s two-minute drill, where Mangrum also caught the ball from Houser in practice. “It was destined to happen,” Houser said. “It’s exactly how it went in practice."
The touchdown sealed a Senior Day win, extended ECU’s win streak to four games, and kept the Pirates (7–3, 5–1 American) in the hunt for an American Conference title berth.
The 2025 season marks the first year the FWAA has presented the award under its new name, the Cheez-It Crunch Time Play of the Week, spotlighting the single most decisive play from the weekend’s games. Each winning team receives a custom Cheez-It care package delivered to its campus.
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Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,100 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.