Military Bowl: East Carolina defeats NC State 26-21

A man in a pirate hat takes a selfie with a football player on a football field.

East Carolina offensive lineman Karson Jones, right, celebrates with a fan Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, after their victory over North Carolina State at the Military Bowl matchup between the schools at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

NC State and East Carolina each traveled more than five hours to play in the cold and rain for a different version of their in-state matchup.

North Carolina State fans set up a tent Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, to tailgate before the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) (Eric Kayne)

A man stands under a red tent and grills in a parking lot.

North Carolina State fans tailgate on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, before the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

A man in a color guard uniform carrying a rifle leads a group carrying American flags.

A color guard marches Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, before the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

A woman in a marching band uniform plays a woodwind instrument.

The ECU Marching Pirates perform Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, during a parade leading up to the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

A marching band in uniform marches and plays horns.

The Fort Walton Beach High School Viking Band from Florida marches Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, before the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Pirates fans exceeded the Wolfpack turnout, and it carried over to the field as East Carolina came back to win the Go Bowling Military Bowl on Saturday, 26-21, after blowing a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter.

People hold up a giant American flag on a football field.

A giant American flag is displayed on the field Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, before the start of the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

A man wearing a purple safety hat and a cape walks through a stadium.

A man walks Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, inside the stadium wearing a North Carolina flag in East Carolina colors during the matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Hands pull down a sign on a yardage marker.

Two men change the top of a yardage marker Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, to display the Military Bowl logo before kickoff of the matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

A man in a marching band uniform holding a tuba flashes the sign of the horns.

A man holds two horses inside a trailer while people take pictures.

The Budweiser Clydesdales are displayed Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, during a parade before the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

North Carolina State football players run across the football field carrying flags.

North Carolina State football players run across the field Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, before the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

East Carolina football players carrying flags run across the football field.

East Carolina football players run across the field Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, before the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Spirit leaders run across the football field carrying flags.

East Carolina spirit leaders run across the field Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, before the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Football players on opposing teams face each other on the sidelines.

East Carolina and North Carolina State players watch the coin toss Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, before the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Senior running back Rahjai Harris, who had 220 of the Pirates’ 326 rushing yards, ran for an 86-yard touchdown with 1:33 remaining to give East Carolina (8-5) the lead for good.

A football player in red holding the football runs past a football player in purple.

NC State Quarterback CJ Bailey (16) Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, during the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and NC State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

A football player carrying a football runs down the field while football players in red uniforms try to stop him.

Senior running back Rahjai Harris (47), who had 220 of the Pirates’ 326 rushing yards, ran for an 86-yard touchdown with 1:33 remaining to give East Carolina (8-5) the lead for good, on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, during the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

A man wearing a track suit and a baseball hat and headset walks along the side of a football field.

North Carolina State head coach Dave Doeren walks to the sideline Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, during the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

People in red carrying red flags run in a circle on a football field.

North Carolina State spirit leaders celebrate a touchdown Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, during the fourth quarter of the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

A crowd of people wearing purple and yellow cheer.

East Carolina fans cheer Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, during the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

East Carolina sealed the game with a late interception. However, a fight broke out toward the end of the game. Eight players from both teams were ejected before the game could finish.

Though each school’s season is over, the Wolfpack and Pirates will face each other to start the 2025 college football season. East Carolina will travel to Raleigh on Aug. 30, 2025.

Football players hold a light up pirate sign to celebrate their win.

East Carolina linebacker Dameon Wilson, left, defensive back Dontavius Nash and defensive back TyMir Brown celebrate their victory Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, over Carolina State after the Military Bowl matchup between the schools at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

A football player cheers on a football field.

East Carolina defensive back Derick Brazil (43) celebrates running back Rahjai Harris’ touchdown run Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, during the fourth quarter of the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Football players stand and celebrate on a football field.

East Carolina players begin to celebrate their win Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024, before the end of the Military Bowl matchup between East Carolina and North Carolina State at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes)

Follow Us:

Sports

Military Bowl: East Carolina defeats NC State 26-21

related stories

Sign Up for Daily Headlines