East Carolina-NC State battle ends Military Bowl, quarterback left covered in blood
The Military Bowl featured the matchup of in-state rivals East Carolina and NC State and the game’s temperature sweltering before the end, leaving the official covered in blood.
The Pirates would go on to defeat the Wolfpack 26-21. East Carolina had just picked off NC State’s defense and all they had to do was run out the clock. Running back Rahjai Harris ran the ball and picked it up with 44 seconds left, but the battle ensued for the Pirates.
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December 28, 2024; Annapolis, MD: North Carolina State Wolfpack and East Carolina Pirates players battle it out during the second half of the Go Bowling Military Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Photos by Tommy Gilligan-Imagn)
East Carolina wide receiver Yannick Smith appeared to swipe the towel on NC State defensive back Tamarcus Cooley. The Wolfpack made a play and chased Smith down. Two other East Carolina players jumped into the fray to defend Smith.
There were eight more minutes left before everyone calmed down, and the final game took place.
At least one officer was seen with blood on his face. Eight players were ejected from the game.
“I’m embarrassed as a coach,” NC State coach Dave Doeren said. “I know that our players are like that, it is not the way the people of this program, the players of this program, the staff of this program want something like that.
“For me, it was a bad response to something that happened to one of our players, and there’s no excuse for it. So I apologize to ECU and their team for the way we responded.”
December 28, 2024; Annapolis, MD: Officials are hustling for 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. (Photos by Tommy Gilligan-Imagn)
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East Carolina coach Blake Harrell said “there’s no place in sports for that.”
He was seen challenging other government schools to include them in their programs. East Carolina and NC State are only 80 miles apart and have their own plans for the upcoming season.
“I don’t think you can look at our fans and tell them it’s not a rivalry. You’re on the road for an hour and 15 minutes,” Harrell said. “And there are a few other schools that are the same grade. Maybe they should put us in their program instead of trying to take our players. They want to call our players and take our players. Well, how can we put us in the program?
“We’re going to be looked at as a kid, okay. These guys are going to compete, they’re going to be challenged. I know we have to play 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 lifted the Go Bowling Military Bowl trophy after defeating the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Photos by Tommy Gilligan-Imagn)
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East Carolina finished the season 8-5 and NC State finished the year 6-7.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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