ANNAPOLIS, Md. — In a thrilling conclusion to the Military Bowl, Rahjai Harris sprinted 86 yards for a touchdown with just 1:33 left on the clock, sealing a dramatic 26-21 victory for East Carolina over NC State. This intense game took a chaotic turn as the final minute witnessed a significant brawl between the two teams, both of which will meet again to kick off next season.
Harris was instrumental in the Pirates’ success, racking up 220 rushing yards out of East Carolina’s total of 326. His remarkable touchdown run came after East Carolina had lost a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter. A late interception by Dontavius Nash thwarted NC State’s attempt to reclaim the lead. As the Pirates aimed to run down the clock, tensions boiled over into a large-scale fight, leading to the ejection of three players from ECU and five from NC State.
With ECU (8-5) trailing 21-20 and starting possession at their own 14, Harris executed a critical play after two failed passes. He found an opening on the left, cut back past the last defender, and surged into the end zone. “That was a good play call by them,” commented NC State coach Dave Doeren, acknowledging the unexpected nature of the play on a crucial third-and-10.
For NC State (6-7), quarterback CJ Bailey threw three touchdown passes to help his team rally from a 20-7 deficit in the fourth quarter. He connected on a 15-yard touchdown pass to Justin Joly on fourth down and then orchestrated a clever trick play that resulted in a touchdown, allowing NC State to briefly grab the lead. Bailey handed off to Hollywood Smothers, who executed a series of lateral passes back to Bailey before finally catching the ball and running 33 yards to score, giving the Wolfpack a 21-20 advantage.
Unfortunately for ACC teams, this game was part of a disappointing postseason, as the conference has seen a record of just 1-9 in bowl games and playoffs this year, following losses by North Carolina, Boston College, Miami, and NC State. Louisville, Duke, and Virginia Tech are set to play in the coming days, hoping to improve the ACC’s fortunes.
The scoring began with ECU quarterback Katin Houser, who opened the game with a 19-yard touchdown run. After a subsequent field goal from East Carolina, Bailey managed to narrow the score with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Dacari Collins during the second quarter. The Pirates led 13-7 at halftime and extended their lead with a touchdown to start the third quarter, following a 4-yard run from Houser. However, after a delay of game penalty, they opted to kick the extra point instead of going for two.
Looking ahead, NC State can find some solace in Bailey’s performance, particularly considering he is only a freshman at 6-foot-6. Meanwhile, East Carolina is optimistic about its future with its new coach, Blake Harrell, who has officially shed the interim label after leading the team to victory. “How about Pirate nation just showing out tonight and packing the stadium,” Harrell remarked, praising the support from fans dressed in purple and gold.
Both coaches will need to address the need for discipline on their teams, especially in light of the brawl as they prepare for their rematch in the 2025 opener. With each team showing signs of promise, the next meeting should be just as competitive, setting the stage for an exciting future.
