Referee bloodied, eight ejected in ugly NC State-East Carolina Military Bowl brawl

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

December 29, 2024

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A fight breaks out during the fourth quarter of the Go Bowling Military Bowl, played between the East Carolina Pirates and the North Carolina State Wolfpack. Getty Images

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.

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