The Army Bowl featured a matchup of in-state rivals East Carolina and N.C. State and the sport’s temperature heated up earlier than the tip, which left an official bloodied.
The Pirates had been about to wrap up a 26-21 win over the Wolfpack. East Carolina had simply intercepted an N.C. State cross on protection and all they needed to do was run out the clock. Operating again Rahjai Harris ran the ball up the center with 44 seconds left, however a battle ensued near the Pirates’ sideline.
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Dec. 28, 2024; Annapolis, MD: North Carolina State Wolfpack and East Carolina Pirates gamers battle throughout the second half of the Go Bowling Army Bowl at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Photos)
East Carolina large receiver Yannick Smith appeared to swipe a towel from N.C. State defensive again Tamarcus Cooley. The Wolfpack performed after which chased Smith and pushed him to the bottom. Two different East Carolina gamers jumped into the fray to defend Smith.
It was one other eight minutes earlier than everybody might settle down, and the ultimate play might happen.
At the very least one official was seen together with his face bloodied. Eight gamers had been ejected from the sport.
“I’m embarrassed as a coach,” N.C. State coach Dave Doeren stated. “I know our players are, too. That is not how people of this program, the players of this program, staff of this program, want anything to do with something like that.
“To me, it was a horrible response to one thing that occurred to one in all our gamers, and there’s no excuses for it. So I apologize to ECU and their workforce for the way in which we responded.”
Dec. 28, 2024; Annapolis, MD: Officials huddle 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 Images)
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East Carolina head coach Blake Harrell said there was “no place in sports activities for that.”
He seemed to challenge other in-state schools to add them to their schedules. East Carolina and N.C. State are only about 80 miles apart and have each other on their schedules for next season.
“I don’t suppose you’ll be able to have a look at our followers and inform them it’s not a rivalry. It’s an hour and quarter-hour up the highway,” Harrell said. “And there’s a few different faculties about the identical distance. Possibly they need to put us on their schedule as nicely, as a substitute of attempting to take our gamers. They need to name our gamers and take our gamers. Properly, how about put us on the schedule?
“We’re going to be looked at like a little step-brother, that’s fine. These guys are going to compete, they’re going to take up the challenge. I know we got to go play these guys again next year, at the beginning of the year. But we’re going to celebrate this one tonight.”
Dec. 28, 2024; Annapolis, MD: East Carolina Pirates hoists the Go Bowling Army Bowl trophy after defeating North Carolina State Wolfpack at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. (Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Photos)
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East Carolina completed the season 8-5 and N.C. State ended the yr 6-7.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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