A heated confrontation marred the closing moments of the Military Bowl, resulting in an injury to a game official and multiple player ejections. The incident occurred during the game between East Carolina and NC State, overshadowing East Carolina's victory.
The scuffle erupted late in the fourth quarter when an NC State defensive back shoved an East Carolina wide receiver, sparking a brawl that involved players from both teams. An official attempting to intervene was inadvertently struck in the face by a player's helmet, sustaining a gash below his eye.
Consequently, a significant number of players were ejected. Each team received unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, with three East Carolina players and five NC State players removed from the game. The referee had to methodically read out the names of the ejected players amidst the chaos.
The fight followed a dramatic shift in the game's momentum. East Carolina had taken the lead with a late touchdown, shortly after a controversial fumble recovery call was overturned by officials. Despite a comeback from a 20-7 deficit, NC State could not clinch the win, ultimately sealing East Carolina's victory.
East Carolina concludes their season with an 8-5 record, marking a strong finish under coach Blake Harrell, who was named permanent coach following a mid-season change. NC State, on the other hand, ends the season at 6-7.
