Little step-bro no more.
The dogfight that erupted at the end of Saturday night’s Military Bowl — played between East Carolina and NC State, separated by just 83 miles — had been brewing for some time.
“We’re going to be looked at like a little step-brother, that’s fine,” ECU’s head coach Blake Harrell said, per ESPN , after his Pirates topped the Wolfpack, 26-21. “These guys are going to compete, they’re going to take up the challenge.”
An ugly scene with under a minute to go in the Military Bowl between East Carolina and NC State. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/9kkXm6kxdl
The challenge was taken up and the challenger — a bigger, stronger, more popular NC State team — was taken down. But Goliath still got his licks in.
Benches cleared, punches were thrown and an official was left bloodied by the melee, which began with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.