In a thrilling but controversial finish, the East Carolina Pirates outlasted the NC State Wolfpack 26-21 in the Military Bowl on Wednesday. ECU running back Rahjai Harris unleashed an electrifying 86-yard touchdown run with 1:33 remaining to put the Pirates ahead for good. However, the game’s final minute descended into chaos as a massive brawl erupted between the two teams, leading to eight player ejections.
Late Heroics Lift Pirates to Victory
Trailing 21-20 with under two minutes to play, East Carolina took over at their own 14-yard line. After two incomplete passes, the Pirates put the ball in the hands of their star running back Rahjai Harris. The sophomore delivered, exploding through a hole and sprinting 86 yards to the end zone to give ECU a 26-21 lead they would not relinquish.
Harris finished the day with a monster performance, racking up 220 of East Carolina’s 326 rushing yards. His late touchdown rescued the Pirates after they had blown a 13-point fourth quarter lead.
NC State’s Valiant Comeback Falls Short
The Wolfpack, who trailed 20-7 in the fourth quarter, staged an impressive rally behind redshirt freshman quarterback CJ Bailey. The 6’6″ signal caller tossed three touchdown passes on the day, including a 15-yard strike to Justin Joly on 4th down to pull NC State within 20-14.
NC State then forced ECU’s first punt of the game and took a 21-20 lead on a trick play 33-yard TD pass from Bailey to running back Hollywood Smothers. But in the end, the Wolfpack defense couldn’t get a critical stop when it mattered most.
Ugly Brawl Mars Ending
Unfortunately, the thrilling finish was overshadowed by an ugly brawl that erupted in the game’s final minute. After Dontavius Nash intercepted Bailey to seal the win for ECU, tensions boiled over as the Pirates attempted to run out the clock.
Players from both sidelines spilled onto the field, engaging in a wild melee. When the dust settled, three East Carolina players and five from NC State were ejected. Making matters worse, the teams are scheduled to open the 2025 season against each other, adding further spice to an already heated rivalry.
“I’m disappointed with how this ended. We need to be better than that as a program, and it’s my responsibility to get that fixed going forward.”
– Blake Harrell, East Carolina Head Coach
ECU Caps Turnaround Season
Lost in the chaos was the completion of a remarkable turnaround season for East Carolina under interim-turned-permanent head coach Blake Harrell. The Pirates won five of their last six games after a midseason coaching change to finish 8-5.
- ECU was 3-4 when they fired head coach Mike Houston in October
- Blake Harrell led the Pirates to a 5-1 record as interim head coach
Harrell had the interim tag removed prior to the bowl game. His fiery leadership and offensive know-how paid immediate dividends and have the Pirates positioned well heading into 2025.
Rough Day for the ACC
NC State’s loss capped a miserable 1-9 postseason showing for ACC teams in bowl games and playoff matchups. In addition to the Wolfpack, North Carolina (Fenway Bowl), Boston College (Pinstripe Bowl), and Miami (Pop Tarts Bowl) all fell on Saturday.
With Louisville, Duke and Virginia Tech still to play, the conference is assured of a losing postseason record. It’s a disappointing end to a season where the ACC placed three teams in New Year’s Six bowls but failed to make a splash on the national stage.
Looking Ahead
While the brawl put a black eye on the finish, both programs have reason for optimism going forward. ECU found their coach in Blake Harrell and have a foundational offensive piece to build around in Rahjai Harris.
For NC State, 6’6″ redshirt freshman CJ Bailey showed promise in his bowl game performance. If he continues to develop, the Wolfpack could have their quarterback of the future.
Of course, priority number one for both coaches will be reigning in their teams and ensuring there isn’t a repeat of the ugly contest-marring fracas. With a rematch to open 2025 looming, getting a handle on the bitter in-state rivalry is paramount.
