The East Carolina Pirates and NC State Wolfpack engaged in a compelling and exciting Military Bowl on Saturday night. A game ultimately won by ECU via a late Rahjai Harris touchdown run and game-sealing interception had it’s fine ending marred by a brutal fight that broke out with just :38 seconds remaining.
Watch Brutal Fight Between ECU and NC State
The fight broke out following ECU attempting to kill the clock, and ultimately ended up with a referee sporting a bloody eye, before ejections were announced.
PUSHING & SHOVING BETWEEN ECU & NC STATE PLAYERS!
LET’S GOOOO! 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/3b87K7aWyu
— 🏆🥇 (@fsh733) December 29, 2024
It appeared that these two teams certainly know a thing or two about this rivalry game. What started with just two athletes shoving each other escalated quickly and turned ugly even faster.
The field-level views of the fight that came in were even more telling of the nature of this heated battle.
For the second straight game NC State has found themselves in the midst of some *extracurriculars*.
A very, very rough night for the Wolfpack. pic.twitter.com/wb867EIaLq
— Jordan Crammer (@JordanCrammer) December 29, 2024
Unfortunately, it was a referee who took what appeared to be the worst of the altercation. He came away on the broadcast with blood streaming down his face and needed medical attention.
In total, three players were ejected from ECU:
- #0 Jhari Patterson, WR
- #6 Desirrio Riles, TE
- #61 Jayson Tarpah, OL
And a total of five players were ejected from NC State:
- #5 DK Kaufman, S
- #49 Aiden Hollingsworth, DL
- #50 (though there is no player on the roster with No. 50)
- #54 Vai Erickson, OL
- #59 (though there is no player on the roster with No. 59)
Heated rivals, it’s important to note that these two teams open the season against one another next year. You better believe these two will remember this fight for a long nine months before they take the field again.
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