East Carolina Wins 2025 Go Bowling Military Bowl

It took more than one half of the 2025 Go Bowling Military Bowl, but then the East Carolina Pirates found a couple big plays and soon enough, they and their fans were celebrating at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Freshman quarterback Chaston Ditta, making his first career start, threw 47- and 72-yard touchdown passes to wide receiver Anthony Smith in the third quarter and East Carolina held on to win its second consecutive Go Bowling Military Bowl, 23-17 over Pitt before a crowd of 17,016.

Smith, who is from nearby Huntingtown, Md., was named the game’s Most Valuable Player after catching four passes for a Bowl-record 156 yards.

The victory capped a wonderful week for East Carolina, whose players attended a Washington Capitals’ game and the Washington Commanders’ game against the Dallas Cowboys. The team also participated in a community service event, setting up a pack for troops event on Christmas Eve.

“We had a great time in D.C.,” East Carolina Coach Blake Harrell said. “Thank you again to the Military Bowl folks. It was a great experience and another great experience on the field as well.”

After the first scoreless first quarter in Bowl history, East Carolina took a 3-0 lead on the first of three field goals by Nick Mazzie. Pitt led 7-3 at halftime after its freshman quarterback Mason Heintschel lofted a beautiful 22-yard touchdown pass to a diving Raphael Williams Jr. in the left corner of the end zone with 4 seconds left in the half.

It was the lowest scoring first half in Bowl history.

The points came fast and furious when play resumed. One play after East Carolina linebacker Kendrick DuJour got a sack and recovered a fumble, Ditta lofted a 47-yard touchdown pass to Smith and East Carolina led 10-7. Pitt went back in front, 14-10, on Rasheem Biles’ sack and 23-yard fumble return for a score.

But two plays after that, Ditta hit Smith on a crossing route and he went the distance for a 72-yard touchdown pass, the longest pass in Military Bowl history. The Pirates led 17-14 with 3:58 left in the third quarter and never trailed again.

Mazzie made 33- and 28-yard field goals to push the lead to 23-14. Pitt got within 23-17 on Trey Butkowski’s 21-yard field goal with 1:23 left. The Panthers got a defensive stop and got the ball back with 57 seconds left but were unable to move the ball.

The game capped another terrific Bowl Week that saw both teams enjoy their stay in Washington, D.C. Two-time Purple Heart Recipient Pasha Palanker spoke with both teams at their respective Welcome Receptions to begin the week. Pitt’s players took a bus tour of the National Mall and visited several monuments and also toured Arlington National Cemetery and visited the Spy Museum.  The teams showed off their bowling prowess as they hit the lanes on Christmas Eve.

Both teams entered 8-4, but it was East Carolina getting a ninth win for its most victories in a season in 13 years.

“This game wasn’t just won this week or in the month of December,” Harrell said. “Our roster looks very different than the very last game of the season, but you build and what these young men have done such a great job of is building a culture. That is tough to do in college football right now. They have been at this thing for the last 12 months and going through it. They haven’t worried about I or me; they’ve worried about the team and that showed up today.”