The Go Bowling Military Bowl clash between East Carolina University (ECU) and North Carolina State University (NC State) delivered all the thrills fans could hope for—until a late-game brawl stole the spotlight.
ECU edged out NC State 26-21 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, but the victory was overshadowed by chaos that erupted in the final minutes, leaving a referee with a cut under his left eye and eight players ejected.
The fracas began innocuously enough with NC State defensive back Tamarcus Cooley and ECU wide receiver Yannick Smith grappling over a towel. What started as a minor tussle quickly spiraled out of control when NC State tight end Casey Kelly intervened, sparking a melee that took over a minute to subdue.
The game was delayed for more than eight minutes as officials worked to restore order before ECU could take a final kneel-down.
NC State head coach Dave Doeren didn’t mince words about the incident. “I’m embarrassed as a coach,” he said. “To me, it was a terrible response to something that happened to one of our players, and there’s no excuses for it. I apologize to ECU and their team.”
ECU’s coach, Blake Harrell, shared Doeren’s disappointment. “Obviously, didn’t like the last little bit of the game. No place in sports for that,” Harrell stated, though he seemed more focused on the Pirates’ hard-fought win.
The tension between the programs comes as no surprise to fans familiar with this bitter in-state rivalry. “Two in-state programs with no love lost in the 83 miles that separate them,” one announcer had noted before the game, foreshadowing the animosity that unfolded on the field.
Despite the sour ending, Harrell used the moment to stoke the rivalry flames further, addressing the competitive dynamics among North Carolina schools. “Maybe they should put us on their schedule… instead of trying to take our players,” he said, making a pointed jab at recruiting battles.
The Wolfpack hold a historical edge over the Pirates, winning 19 of their 33 matchups since 1970, but ECU’s victory adds a new layer of intensity to the series.
Fans can circle their calendars for Aug. 30, 2025, when the teams will meet again to open the college football season in Raleigh. If Saturday’s game was any indication, the rivalry is only heating up.
