Rahjai Harris broke free for an 86-yard landing run with 1:33 remaining, giving East Carolina a pulsating 26-21 victory over NC State within the Navy Bowl in a sport that descended right into a wild brawl within the closing minute.
Harris had 220 of ECU’s 326 yards speeding, and his sensational dash close to the top of the sport gave the Pirates (8-5) the lead again after they’d blown a 13-point benefit within the fourth. However after an interception by Dontavius Nash ended NC State’s closing drive, East Carolina’s try to run out the clock was interrupted by a large-scale struggle between the 2 in-state rivals — who play one another once more to start out subsequent season.
Three gamers for ECU and 5 for NC State have been ejected.
Umpire Rod Tucker inadvertently took a helmet to the face and obtained medical consideration as blood was seen dripping from his face. In the meantime, referee Jonathan Noli learn off all eight ejections from a small index card.
NC State coach Dave Doeren expressed regret over the brawl on the finish of the sport.
“I am embarrassed as a coach,” Doeren advised reporters. “I do know our gamers are, too. That isn’t how individuals of this program, the gamers of this program, employees of this program, need something to do with one thing like that. To me, it was a horrible response to one thing that occurred to one in every of our gamers, and there is no excuses for it. So I apologize to ECU and their group for the way in which we responded.’
That is the second straight NC State sport by which the Wolfpack have been concerned in a scuffle. It additionally occurred after their win over UNC within the regular-season finale when NC State gamers planted a flag on the Tar Heels’ area. The ACC fined and publicly reprimanded each colleges.
On Saturday, ECU (8-5) trailed 21-20 and took over the ball at its personal 14, and after two incompletions, the Pirates determined to run the ball with Harris. He had an excellent gap to the left for an enormous acquire, then reduce previous the ultimate defender on his method to the top zone.
Japanese Carolina coach Blake Harrell loved seeing his group snatch the lead again, although he wasn’t a fan of what went down on the finish of the sport.
“Clearly, did not just like the final little little bit of the sport,” Pirates coach Blake Harrell mentioned. “No place in sports activities for that.”
Harrell additionally did not disparage NC State, embracing the rivalry nature between the 2 colleges as they’re set to play once more within the 2025 season opener.
“I do not suppose you may have a look at our followers and inform them it isn’t a rivalry. It is an hour and quarter-hour up the highway,’ Harrell mentioned. ‘And there is a few different colleges about the identical distance. Possibly they need to put us on their schedule as properly, as an alternative of making an attempt to take our gamers. They need to name our gamers and take our gamers. Properly how about put us on the schedule?
“We’ll be checked out like slightly step-brother, that is positive,’ Harrell added. ‘These guys are going to compete, they’ll take up the problem. I do know we obtained to go play these guys once more subsequent yr, at the start of the yr. However we’ll have fun this one tonight.”
CJ Bailey threw three landing passes for the Wolfpack (6-7), who rallied from a 20-7 deficit within the fourth. Bailey threw a 15-yard scoring strike to Justin Joly on fourth down, then NC State pressured ECU’s first punt of the sport and took the lead on a trick play.
Bailey handed off to Hollywood Smothers, then Smothers pitched to Keenan Jackson, who pitched the ball again to Bailey. The NC State quarterback shortly dumped the ball off to Smothers, who had loads of blockers in entrance of him and went all the way in which to the top zone for a 33-yard TD and a 21-20 lead.
It wasn’t sufficient because the ACC accomplished a desultory day. ACC groups are 1-9 in postseason bowls and playoff video games this yr after 4 extra went down Saturday. North Carolina (Fenway), Boston School (Pinstripe), Miami (Pop Tarts) and NC State (Navy) all misplaced.
Louisville, Duke and Virginia Tech nonetheless have video games within the coming days for the league.
ECU quarterback Katin Houser opened the scoring with a 19-yard landing run. After an East Carolina area objective, Bailey obtained the Wolfpack on the board with an 8-yard scoring cross to Dacari Collins within the second quarter.
The Pirates led 13-7 at halftime after which drove for a landing to start out the third quarter. After Houser’s 4-yard TD run, ECU lined as much as go for two, however after a delay of sport penalty needed to kick the additional level.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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