The Military Bowl featured a matchup between in-state rivals East Carolina and NC State, and the temperature of the game heated up before the end, leaving one official bloodied.
The Pirates were on the verge of a 26-21 victory over the Wolfpack. East Carolina had just intercepted an NC State pass on defense and all they had to do was run out the clock. Running back Rahjai Harris ran the ball up the middle with 44 seconds left, but a fight broke out near the Pirates’ bench.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
December 28, 2024; Annapolis, MD: North Carolina State Wolfpack and East Carolina Pirates players battle during the second half of the Go Bowling Military Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Images by Tommy Gilligan-Imagn)
East Carolina wide receiver Yannick Smith appeared to grab a towel from NC State defensive back Tamarcus Cooley. The Wolfpack played and then chased down Smith and pushed him to the ground. Two other East Carolina players jumped into the fray to defend Smith.
It was another eight minutes before everyone could calm down and the final play could occur.
At least one official was seen with a bloody face. Eight players were sent off from the match.
“I feel embarrassed as a coach,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said. “I know our players are too. That’s not how the people of this program, the players of this program, the staff of this program, want to have anything to do with something like this.
“To me, it was a terrible response to something that happened to one of our players, and there are no excuses for that. So I apologize to ECU and their 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 the East Carolina Pirates at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Images by Tommy Gilligan-Imagn)
SHEDEUR SANDERS RECEIVES GIANT CUSTOM BOOTS BEFORE COLLEGE FINAL GAME AS G-MEN OWNS THE NO. 1 SELECTION
East Carolina head coach Blake Harrell said there was “no place in sports for that.”
He appeared to challenge other schools in the state to add them to their schedules. East Carolina and NC State are only 80 miles apart and have each other on their agendas for next season.
“I don’t think you can look at our fans and tell them it’s not a rivalry. There’s an hour and 15 minutes left,” Harrell said. “And there are a couple of other schools about the same distance away. Maybe they should put us on their schedule too, instead of trying to take our players. They want to call our players and take our players. Well, how about we get do they put it on the schedule?
“They’re going to see us as a little stepbrother, that’s fine. These guys are going to compete, they’re going to accept the challenge. I know we have to face these guys again next year, at the beginning of the year. But we’re going to celebrate tonight.” .
December 28, 2024; Annapolis, MD – The East Carolina Pirates hoist the Go Bowling Military Bowl trophy after defeating the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Images by Tommy Gilligan-Imagn)
East Carolina finished the season 8-5 and NC State finished the year 6-7.
