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The Military Bowl featured an in-state opponent game East Carolina and NC State and the game’s temperature heated up before the end, leaving the official bloodied.
The Pirates needed to finish with a 26-21 victory over the Wolfpack. East Carolina just intercepted NC State get past the defense and all they had to do was run out the clock. Running back Rahjai Harris ran up the middle with 44 seconds left, but a scramble ensued near the Pirates’ sideline.
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December 28, 2024; Annapolis, MD: The North Carolina Wolfpack and East Carolina Pirates battle it out during the second half of the Go Bowling Military Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Pictures)
East Carolina wide receiver Yannick Smith appeared to wipe the towel off NC State defensive back Tamarcus Cooley. The wolf pack played and then chased Smith and pushed him to the ground. Two other East Carolina players jumped into the fray to defend Smith.
Another eight minutes passed before everyone calmed down and the finale could take place.
At least one official was seen with a bloody face. Eight players were sent off.
“I’m uncomfortable as a coach,” NC State coach Dave Doeren he said. “I know our players are too. That’s not the way the people of this program, the players of this program, the staff of this program, want to have anything to do with something like that.
“For me it was a terrible response to something that happened to one of our players and there is no excuse for that. So I apologize to ECU and their team for the way we reacted.”
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. (Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Pictures)
East Carolina head coach Blake Harrell said “there’s no place for that in sports.”
It seemed to challenge other state schools to add them to their schedules. East Carolina and NC State are only about 80 miles apart and have each other on the schedule next season.
“I don’t think you can look at our fans and tell them it’s not a rivalry. We’re an hour and 15 minutes away,” Harrell said. “There are several other schools about the same distance. 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. So, how about putting us on the schedule?
“They’re going to look at us like a little step brother, that’s fine. These guys are going to compete, they’re going to take on the challenge. I know we have to play these guys again next year, to start the year, but we’re going to celebrate this one 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. (Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Pictures)
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East Carolina finished the season 8-5 and NC State 6-7.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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