The Military Bowl featured in-state rivals competing East Carolina North Carolina State The game heated up before the end, leaving an official bloodied.
The Buccaneers were on the verge of a 26-21 win over the Wolfpack. East Carolina had just intercepted North Carolina State They passed the defense and all they had to do was run out the clock. Running back Rajai Harris passed the ball up the middle with 44 seconds left, but a fight broke out near the Buccaneers sideline.
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December 28, 2024; ANNAPOLIS, Md.: The North Carolina Wolfpack and East Carolina Buccaneers battle it out during the second half of the Go Bowling Military Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Photos by Tommy Gilligan-Imagine)
East Carolina wide receiver Yannick Smith appears to be passing a towel from NC State defensive back Tamarcus Cooley. The Wolfpack 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 calmed down and the final could happen.
At least one official was seen with blood on his face. Eight players were sent off from the match.
“I'm embarrassed as a coach,” N.C. State's coach said Dave Doeren He said. “I know our players are too. This is not the way the people in this program, the players in this program, the staff of this program, want to do something like this.”
“For 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 Buccaneers at Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Photos by Tommy Gilligan-Imagine)
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“There's no place for that in sports,” East Carolina State head coach Blake Harrell said.
He seemed to challenge other schools within the state to add to their schedules. East Carolina and NC State are only about 80 miles apart, and they have each other on their schedules for next season.
“I don't think you can look at our fans and tell them it's not a competition. It's an hour and 15 minutes on the road,” Harrell said. “And there are two 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 contact our players and take our players. Well, how about we put us on their schedule? Their schedule?”
“We're going to be looked at like a little brother, that's good. These guys are going to compete, they're going to accept the challenge. 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 Buccaneers hoist the Go Bowling Military Bowl trophy after defeating the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Photos by Tommy Gilligan-Imagine)
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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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