Sports Rahjai Harris broke free for an 86-yard landing wander with 1:33 final, giving East Carolina a pulsating 26-21 victory over NC Recount within the Militia Bowl in a game that descended into a wild brawl within the final minute.
Harris had 220 of ECU’s 326 yards rushing, and his sensational trail come the conclude of the game gave the Pirates (8-5) the lead aid after they’d blown a 13-level advantage within the fourth. But after an interception by Dontavius Nash ended NC Recount’s final power, East Carolina’s are attempting to wander out the clock modified into interrupted by a significant-scale warfare between the two in-pronounce competitors — who play each different again to starting up up subsequent season.
Three avid gamers for ECU and five for NC Recount had been ejected.
Umpire Rod Tucker inadvertently took a helmet to the face and got scientific consideration as blood modified into viewed dripping from his face. Within the period in-between, referee Jonathan Noli be taught off all eight ejections from a diminutive index card.
NC Recount coach Dave Doeren expressed remorse over the brawl on the conclude of the game.
“I’m embarrassed as a coach,” Doeren urged reporters. “I do know our avid gamers are, too. That’s no longer how of us of this program, the avid gamers of this program, crew of this program, need the rest to acquire with something admire that. To me, it modified into a terrible response to something that occurred to 1 of our avid gamers, and there is no excuses for it. So I explain regret to ECU and their crew for the style we spoke back.’
Here’s the 2d straight NC Recount game by which the Wolfpack had been concerned a few scuffle. It also occurred after their safe over UNC within the in style-or-garden-season finale when NC Recount avid gamers planted a flag on the Tar Heels’ discipline. The ACC fined and publicly reprimanded each faculties.
On Saturday, ECU (8-5) trailed 21-20 and took over the ball at its obtain 14, and after two incompletions, the Pirates made up our minds to wander the ball with Harris. He had a factual hole to the left for a large compose, then nick aid previous the final defender on his system to the conclude zone.
Eastern Carolina coach Blake Harrell loved seeing his crew snatch the lead aid, although he wasn’t keen on what went down on the conclude of the game.
“Clearly, didn’t admire the final shrimp bit of the game,” Pirates coach Blake Harrell said. “No pronounce in sports activities for that.”
Harrell also didn’t disparage NC Recount, embracing the contention nature between the two faculties as they’re set apart to play again within the 2025 season opener.
“I obtain no longer mediate chances are high you’ll presumably be able to seem at our followers and inform them it be no longer a contention. It be an hour and Quarter-hour up the aspect road,’ Harrell said. ‘And there is a few different faculties about the the same distance. Presumably they ought to unruffled set us on their agenda as neatly, as an replace of making an are attempting to take our avid gamers. They have to call our avid gamers and take our avid gamers. Nicely how about set us on the agenda?
“We’re going to be looked at admire a shrimp bit step-brother, that is dazzling,’ Harrell added. ‘These guys are going to compete, they’ll beget the bother. I do know we obtained to stream play these guys again subsequent year, on the starting up of the year. But we’re going to like fun this one tonight.”
CJ Bailey threw three landing passes for the Wolfpack (6-7), who rallied from a 20-7 deficit within the fourth. Bailey threw a 15-yard scoring strike to Justin Joly on fourth down, then NC Recount forced ECU’s first punt of the game and took the lead on a trick play.
Bailey handed off to Hollywood Smothers, then Smothers pitched to Keenan Jackson, who pitched the ball aid to Bailey. The NC Recount quarterback immediate dumped the ball off to Smothers, who had loads of blockers in front of him and went the entire system to the conclude zone for a 33-yard TD and a 21-20 lead.
It wasn’t enough because the ACC accomplished a desultory day. ACC teams are 1-9 in postseason bowls and playoff games this year after four more went down Saturday. North Carolina (Fenway), Boston School (Pinstripe), Miami (Pop Tarts) and NC Recount (Militia) all lost.
Louisville, Duke and Virginia Tech unruffled like games within the arrival days for the league.
ECU quarterback Katin Houser opened the scoring with a 19-yard landing wander. After an East Carolina discipline procedure, Bailey obtained the Wolfpack on the board with an 8-yard scoring pass to Dacari Collins within the 2d quarter.
The Pirates led 13-7 at halftime and then drove for a landing to starting up up the third quarter. After Houser’s 4-yard TD wander, ECU lined up to stream for 2, but after a delay of game penalty had to kick the further level.
The Associated Press contributed to this document.
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