The Military Bowl pitted in-state rivals East Carolina against NC State, and the temperature got so hot that an official was bleeding before the game ended.
The Pirates were coming off a 26-21 win over the Wolfpack. East Carolina had just intercepted a NC State defensive pass and all they had to do was run out the clock. Running back Rahjai Harris blasted the ball over the middle with 44 seconds left, but a fight ensued near the Pirates’ sideline.
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December 28, 2024; Annapolis, MD: Players from the North Carolina State Wolfpack and East Carolina Pirates battle it out in the second half of the Go Bowling Military Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Image by Tommy Gilligan-Imagn)
East Carolina wide receiver Yannick Smith appeared to brush a towel away from NC State defensive back Tamarcus Cooley. The Wolfpack made a play and then chased Smith and forced him to the ground. Two other East Carolina players entered the fray to defend Smith.
Another eight minutes passed before everyone calmed down and the final play began.
At least one official was seen with blood streaming down his face. Eight players were ejected from the game.
NC State coach Dave Doren said, “As a coach, I’m embarrassed.” “Our players know that. That’s not the way the people of this program, the players of this program, the staff of this program want to do things.
“To me it was a terrible response to what happened to one of our players and there is no excuse for that, so I apologize to ECU and the ECU team for the way we responded.”
December 28, 2024; Annapolis, MD: Officials gather during the second half of the Go Bowling Military Bowl between the North Carolina State Wolfpack and East Carolina Pirates at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Image by Tommy Gilligan-Imagn)
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“There’s no place for that in sports,” East Carolina coach Blake Harrell said.
He appeared to challenge other state schools to add to their schedules. East Carolina and NC State are only about 80 miles apart and have separate schedules for next season.
“I don’t think you can look at our fans and say it’s not a competition, it’s an hour and 15 minutes away,” Harrell said. “And there are a few other schools in the same distance. Maybe they should put us on their schedule instead of trying to take our players. They want to call our players and take their players. Well, why not put us in? ? schedule?
“We’re going to look like little stepbrothers, and that’s okay. These guys are going to compete, they’re going to challenge us. I know we have to go play these guys again next year, but we’re going to celebrate this tonight. .”
December 28, 2024; Annapolis, MD: The East Carolina Pirates defeated the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium to hoist the Go Bowling Military Bowl trophy. (Image by Tommy Gilligan-Imagn)
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East Carolina finished the season 8-5 and NC State finished 6-7.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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