NC State gained a 24-17 victory over East Carolina in the renewal of their rivalry on Thursday.
Below are more details from ECU Sports Information.
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Photo: Jayvontay Conner (ECU Sports Information)
RALEIGH, N.C. – East Carolina’s bid for a rare feat against its most bitter in-state rival came exasperatingly close before falling short Thursday night in the 2025 season opener.
The Pirates, after seemingly nothing going right for nearly a half, clawed out of a 17-0 hole and moved to the doorstep of a game-tying touchdown, but a fourth-down pass came up a yard shy as NC State survived 24-17.
The win enabled the Wolfpack to avenge a 26-21 loss exactly eight months ago in the 2024 Go Bowling Military Bowl, denying the Pirates a sweet beginning to the season to match last year’s ending. Instead, the two teams are now even in the last eight meetings of the 34-game series.
“What a great football game, not just a rivalry game between NC State and East Carolina but for the whole state,” ECU Head Coach Blake Harrell said. “Packed the house here in North Carolina, 50-some thousand folks and they were here until the end and had a good football game to watch as well.”
What the 21st consecutive sellout at Carter-Finley Stadium didn’t get in flawless execution, it got in intensity and drama between the two teams. Opening-game mistakes mixed with an abundance of big plays led to the nail-biting end.
After NC State freshman kicker Nick Konieczynski missed his second-straight field goal, ECU took over at the 29 with 5:41 to play in the game and methodically moved to the Wolfpack nine-yard line. After a third-down run gained nothing, Katin Houser’s pass to Desirrio Riles also fell short with just 37 seconds showing.
“We were actually planning on going for two and get stopped on fourth down there,” Harrell said. “They saw that one, cover zero, double edge pressure and just couldn’t get a good ball there to Desirrio and get across the line.”
After sputtering from the start, a chance to threaten at the end looked doubtful for the Pirates. NC State looked dominant in scoring on three of its first four possessions while forcing ECU to four consecutive three-and-outs but a quick-strike touchdown pass from Houser to Jayvontay Conner followed by Teagan Wilk’s interception ignited the Pirates and their vocal contingent.
“It’s definitely good, especially for week one, to get punched in the mouth and come back out even harder,” said Wilk, who returned to ECU this year after a one-year stint in Houston. “When I was coming off the sidelines every series, I could really see it in everybody’s eyes that nobody’s worried. As an older guy, that’s what you want to see from the younger guys.”
Houser gave ECU a fighting chance by setting career highs in completions (30), attempts (44) and passing yards (366) while connecting with 10 different receivers. Brock Spalding grabbed a career-high six passes for 97 yards. Riles and Anthony Smith, who spent three years at NC State, also had six catches each.
Unlike the bowl game in December when the Pirates piled up 326 yards behind Rahjai Harris, the ground game never gained traction. ECU managed 30 yards on 29 attempts – hurt in part by a 23-yard loss on a bad snap.
The Pirates had rushed for at least 200 yards in five of Harrell’s six games as head coach.
“We popped a few runs in there but nothing like we should to control the game, especially in the second half,” Harrell said. “One of our plans to win is to win the rushing battle, and we certainly did not do that.”
Hurting the Pirates’ cause were 10 penalties for 86 yards, three failed fourth-down tries and a missed field goal. But a remarkable turn-around after the slow start had the home fans sweating.
After out gaining ECU 144-8 in the first quarter, NC State finished with a slight 423-413 edge in total yards. The Pirates finished with 74-70 advantage in plays from scrimmage after snapping the ball just six times in the first quarter to NC State’s 24.
“Obviously a disappointing loss there,” said Houser, who completed 11 passes of at least 15 yards. “Our motto on offense is start fast, and obviously we did not do that tonight. The defense did a hell of a job getting stops, especially in the red zone. … We’ve got to execute and capitalize on offense.”
ECU’s defense kept NC State out of the end zone on an opening 15-play drive, forcing a 29-yard field goal.
The Wolfpack, sporting their City of Oaks uniforms, would strike quickly for a pair of scores in the second quarter, first on an 11-yard run by sophomore quarterback CJ Bailey and then on a 48-yard strike from Bailey to Wesley Grimes.
But ECU would allow just one more score in the next seven possessions, giving Houser and the offense time to find their rhythm.
ECU’s first hint of life came when it caught the Wolfpack out of position while substituting. Houser found Conner open over the middle, leading to a 79-yard touchdown to cut it to 17-7. Wilk’s interception of Bailey set up another opportunity just before the half, but a penalty at the 25 backed the Pirates up, and kicker Nick Mazzie’s attempt fell short.
NC State appeared to have regained control when Hollywood Smothers slipped in from two yards out for a 24-7 lead but ECU still had plenty left in the tank. Marlon Gunn Jr. scored on a four-yard run on the opening play of the fourth quarter to close the gap to 24-14. After the Wolfpack missed a 40-yard field goal, Mazzie booted a 34 yarder to get the Pirates within 24-17.
Bailey’s 50-yard pass to Teddy Hoffman quickly moved NC State to the 25, but three running plays netted nothing, and a 46-yard field goal sailed wide right.
That set up ECU’s final drive. Houser completed five passes, and Montgomery picked up 14 yards on three carries to move the ball inside the 10. The Pirates had two opportunities to gain a yard and move the chains as an unsuccessful fourth down attempt with 37 seconds left allowed NC State to run out the clock.
Now ECU turns its attention to its home opener against Campbell next Saturday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.