Military Bowl Ends in Brawl as East Carolina Defeats NC State 26-21

A thrilling game marred by a late-game fight saw eight players ejected and one official injured, with the rivals set to meet again next season.

East Carolina secured a 26-21 victory over NC State in the Military Bowl, highlighted by Rahjai Harris' 86-yard touchdown run in the final minutes.
The game descended into chaos when a brawl broke out in the final minute, leading to the ejection of eight players—three from ECU and five from NC State.
An official suffered a facial injury during the melee, and it took several minutes to restore order before the game concluded with a kneel-down.
Both teams' coaches expressed disappointment over the fight, with NC State's Dave Doeren apologizing to East Carolina for his team's actions.
The in-state rivals, separated by just 80 miles, are scheduled to face each other again in their 2025 season opener on August 30.