Tag: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

Coastal Carolina's Christian Washington tries to evade the tackle of Jacksonville State's Malcolm Jones during college football action at Burgess-Snow Field AmFirst Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama August 29, 2024. (Dave Hyatt / Special to the Gadsden Times)

Coastal Carolina aims to bolt out of blocks in clash vs. Virginia

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Coastal Carolina will look for another fast start on Saturday in Conway, S.C., in its first-ever meeting against a Virginia squad coming off a poor finish.

The unbeaten Chanticleers (3-0) have outscored their first three opponents by a combined 79-27 margin in the first half, including recording a 21-10 halftime lead in last weekend’s 28-20 win at Temple.

“We’ve done a really good job of playing fast,” Coastal Carolina coach Tim Beck said earlier this season. “I talk to our team all the time about starting fast and I (have been) very pleased with that.”

The Chanticleers lead the Sun Belt Conference with 251.7 rushing yards per game and rank second in the league in scoring with 41.0 points per game.

Ethan Vasko passed for 103 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 92 yards in the win against Temple. The quarterback is second on the team with 190 rushing yards, trailing Christian Washington and his 206 yards and four touchdowns. Tray Taylor is Coastal Carolina’s leading receiver with 132 yards on six catches with one TD.

The Chanticleers will be facing a Virginia defense that ranks 12th against the run (138.7 yards per game) and 14th in total defense (397.3) in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season.

The Cavaliers (2-1) were outscored 20-0 in the second half as Maryland pulled away for a 27-13 victory last Saturday in Charlottesville, Va. The Terrapins scored on four of their first five drives after the intermission.

“The least important thing in a game is the score at halftime,” Virginia coach Tony Elliott said. “It didn’t matter if we were up or we were down, we’ve got to come out and play the best second half that we possibly could. … We didn’t do that.”

Anthony Colandrea ranks fifth in the ACC with 901 passing yards but has thrown four interceptions in his past two games.

Kobe Pace is the Cavaliers’ leading rusher with 153 yards and one touchdown and Malachi Fields paces the team with 20 receptions for 284 yards.

–Field Level Media

Sep 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; UCLA Bruins running back Carson Steele (33) pushes off Coastal Carolina Chanticleers safety Tobias Fletcher (4) for a first down in the first half at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA pulls away late to beat Coastal Carolina

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Dante Moore led two touchdown drives, one of which came on a 62-yard connection with J. Michael Sturdivant to jump-start a pivotal fourth quarter, and UCLA beat visiting Coastal Carolina, 27-13, Saturday in Pasadena, Calif.

UCLA (1-0) started veteran Ethan Garbers at quarterback, but as Bruins coach Chip Kelly promised heading into game day, played both Garbers and the blue-chip prospect Moore.

Garbers’ first sequence leading the offense resulted in a 21-yard touchdown pass to Carsen Ryan to cap a seven-play, 78-yard drive lasting less than two minutes.

The Bruins sputtered on Garbers’ other drives, including a stalled red-zone opportunity when Garbers was intercepted by Coastal Carolina’s Clayton Isbell.

Moore came on in the second quarter to lead his first scoring drive, throwing a 14-yard touchdown pass to Carson Steele that gave the Bruins a 14-6 lead at halftime, Coastal Carolina scored on a pair of Liam Gray field goals in the first half.

The Chanticleers (0-1) chipped away at the deficit in the second half when Grayson McCall found Sam Pinckey on a 9-yard touchdown. Pinckney caught nine passes for 139 yards.

McCall went 27-for-42 for 271 yards and was intercepted twice.

Garbers, also intercepted twice, threw his second pick — again coming via Isbell — that gave Coastal Carolina possession with a chance to take the lead.

Jaylin Davies made the interception on the other end deep in UCLA to prevent a score, but after a Bruins three-and-out, the Chanticleers drove with another chance to pull ahead. Gray’s 55-yard field-goal attempt went just wide, and the game flipped on the ensuing UCLA possession.

Moore returned behind center and on the first play, found a streaking Sturdivant for a touchdown that proved to be game-sealing.

R.J. Lopez tacked on a pair of UCLA field goals, and John Humphrey intercepted McCall one play after Isbell made his third interception of the night when he picked off Moore in the end zone.

Moore finished 7-of-12 for 143 yards with the two scores and one interception. Garbers went 10-for-17 for 121 yards.

Sturdivant led the Bruins with 136 yards on five receptions.

–Field Level Media

Oct 30, 2021; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; UCLA Bruins quarterback Ethan Garbers (4) drops back to pass the ball during the first quarter against the Utah Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

UCLA continues QB battle amid visit from Coastal Carolina

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New-look UCLA welcomes Coastal Carolina to the Rose Bowl at Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday for the 2023 season opener and first-ever meeting between the programs.

UCLA kicks off its final campaign as a member of the Pac-12 Conference, the league to which it has belonged since 1928.

The Bruins were 9-4 a season ago, with the nine wins the program’s most under head coach Chip Kelly, who is entering his sixth season with the Bruins. It was the program’s best record since going 10-3 in 2014.

Kelly is replacing a variety of key contributors to UCLA’s 2022 success, most notably quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who had been the starter since 2018. Last season, Thompson-Robinson passed for 3,169 yards with 27 touchdowns, while rushing for another 645 yards and 12 scores.

Ethan Garbers, who appeared in six games and went 27-of-36 passing for 294 last season, makes the start on Saturday. The eventual heir to Thompson-Robinson’s throne appears to be freshman Dante Moore, while Kent State transfer Collin Schlee also is on the roster. Playing time is expected to be shared Saturday.

“All three of them deserve to play. They’ve (all) played outstanding. It’s been a really good battle with those guys,” Kelly said. “But Ethan will take the first snap. Ethan has the most experience in our offense.”

Coastal Carolina arrives with an entrenched starter at quarterback, Grayson McCall. McCall, the only three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year honoree. McCall claimed his third honor last year after throwing for 2,700 yards with 24 touchdowns and just two interceptions.

McCall told reporters this week he heard from UCLA staffers after briefly entering his name into the transfer portal, though Kelly said on Monday conversations never went past the preliminary phase.

McCall leads a Chanticleers offense that averaged 29.1 points per game in 2022. Coastal Carolina will try to navigate UCLA linebacker/defensive lineman Laiatu Latu, whose 10.5 sacks last season were tied for seventh-most in the nation.

Saturday marks Coastal Carolina’s first game under head coach Tim Beck, who was hired to replace Jamey Chadwell, who left for the vacancy at Liberty.

“You realize what goes on behind the scenes,” said Beck, who most recently was offensive coordinator at North Carolina State. “But you don’t really realize it until you have to do it.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2021; Boone, North Carolina, USA; Appalachian State Mountaineers linebacker Nick Hampton (31) catches Coastal Carolina Chanticleers quarterback Grayson McCall (10) and sacks him during the second half at Kidd Brewer Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

No. 24 Coastal Carolina looks to get back on track vs. Troy

Posted on | by Field Level Media

If No. 24 Coastal Carolina needed something to get its attention, its first loss of the season did the trick.

Next comes a home game Thursday night against Troy, which will be trying to pull off an upset on its visit to Conway, S.C.

Coastal Carolina (6-1, 2-1 Sun Belt Conference) is no longer unbeaten — a final-play field goal by Appalachian State dealt the Chanticleers a 30-27 loss last week — but there’s still plenty for the Chanticleers to accomplish.

“We’ve made a lot of strides over the last six weeks,” Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell said. “Our program is making huge strides to where when we get our foundation right, we have a chance to be in a real special place. What we need is to hopefully start putting that thing in place.”

They have lost control their own destiny in the conference’s East Division, but if they win out and Appalachian State loses another game, Coastal can still reach the league’s championship tilt.

With Troy (4-3, 2-1) showing up this week, the Chanticleers will need to refocus quickly, as the teams have played close games in recent years.

Coastal Carolina prevailed 42-38 last year at Troy after a 36-35 home win in 2019.

“A good opportunity for us,” Troy coach Chip Lindsey said. “The last couple of years that game has kind of come down to the wire.”

Troy has won consecutive games by a combined six points, with three-point wins against Georgia Southern and Texas State.

“We understand the road gets tougher as the season plays out,” Lindsey said.

The Chanticleers probably realize that as well. They had won 11 consecutive Sun Belt Conference games until the showdown with Appalachian State.

Coastal Carolina was held to a season-low 346 yards of total offense while allowing a season-high 575 yards. Despite the outcome, there were encouraging components that Chadwell said bode well overall for the team.

“We played for each other,” he said. “We stayed involved in the game all four quarters. We gave ourselves a chance to win.”

Troy racked up a season-best 205 rushing yards in its most-recent game, which came Oct. 16 at Texas State. That might be a good formula for this week.

“We made a concerted effort to run it,” Lindsey said. “I think when you can do that on the road and you’ve got a good defense, you’re going to have a chance to win some games.”

The Trojans are 2-2 in road games.

For the season, Troy has scored on its first possession of a half in 10 of 14 such situations this season. The Trojans could use some big-play moments against Coastal Carolina.

“We’ve got to find some explosive plays,” Lindsey said.

Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall has often sparked big-yardage plays, but against Appalachian State he was under extreme pressure, so shoring up the protection rates among the priorities.

That’s perhaps particularly relevant against Troy. Richard Jibunor, who began his career with Auburn, has at least one sack in five consecutive games for the Trojans.

–Field Level Media

Oct 7, 2021; Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers tight end Isaiah Likely (4) runs after the catch for a touchdown during the second half against the Arkansas State Red Wolves at Centennial Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

No. 14 Coastal Carolina ready for road test vs. Appalachian State

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Halfway through the season, No. 14 Coastal Carolina is unscathed.

The next phase has more challenges.

That stretch begins with a trip to perennial Sun Belt Conference power Appalachian State on Wednesday night in Boone, N.C.

“We want to continue to keep going,” Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell said. “It’s a big deal (to reach the six-win mark). We’ve been bowl eligible once (before) in our whole life.”

Coastal Carolina (6-0, 2-0 Sun Belt) has been off for nearly two weeks since winning 52-20 at Arkansas State on Oct. 7. That night, the Chanticleers became the first FBS team to become bowl eligible.

Chadwell said the Chanticleers came through the first part of the season mostly healthy, although the time off before this game was valuable to give players time to recover.

Appalachian State (4-2, 1-1) figures to be fired up after suffering an alarming 41-13 loss last week at Louisiana.

“We’re playing a great opponent in Coastal Carolina, so we have our work cut out for us,” Appalachian State coach Shawn Clark said.

Coastal Carolina holds its highest ranking of the season this week when it puts its 11-game winning streak in conference play on the line.

Chadwell said Appalachian State has set the standard in the conference for several years, so it’s clear that this should be a tussle.

“We know how good they are,” Chadwell said. “They’re great on defense. They’ve got everything going for them. We know that’s a challenge.”

The outcome of the Coastal Carolina-Appalachian State game is bound to go a long way toward determining the conference’s East Division champion.

Tight end Isaiah Likely of Coastal Carolina is coming off a school-record outing when he caught four touchdown passes to go with 232 receiving yards against Arkansas State.

“We don’t treat (any) game bigger than the next,” Likely said of the Appalachian State game.

Yet Likely is another threat for opposing defenses to consider as quarterback Grayson McCall directs the high-scoring attack.

“He’s a weapon for us,” Chadwell said. “When you have a tight end (who is) a weapon like that, it’s a big deal.”

Last year at home, Coastal Carolina topped Appalachian State for the first time in seven all-time meetings.

Both teams claim to be underdogs for Wednesday’s encounter.

“Just be ourselves and be ready for a great challenge,” Clark said. “Our guys are up for the challenge, and it’s going to be exciting. I’m expecting a great crowd here. … It’s going to be a lot of fun. Our guys are loose right now.”

The Chanticleers have rung up at least 49 points in all but one of their games. They’ve won seven straight road dates extending to last season.

In the setback to Louisiana, the Mountaineers received a boost from running back Daetrich Harrington, who played for the first time since sustaining a torn anterior cruciate ligament last fall and rushed twice for 11 yards.

But correcting issues that resulted in four turnovers and 0-for-11 on third-down conversions has been among the priorities since that game.

Two Mountaineers are approaching school records.

Kicker Chandler Staton, a super senior and the Sun Belt’s career leading scorer, is one field goal away from tying the all-time school record held by former NFL kicker Bjorn Nittmo. Staton has 54 field goals, including a 10-for-10 mark this year.

Appalachian State receiver Thomas Hennigan, a super senior, is one reception shy of matching the school record of 208 catches held by Andrew Peacock.

–Field Level Media

Oct 7, 2021; Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas State Red Wolves wide receiver Te'Vailance Hunt (10) runs after a catch as Coastal Carolina Chanticleers defensive back Tavyn Jackson (42) defends during the first half at Centennial Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

No. 15 Coastal Carolina’s passing attack crushes Arkansas State

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No. 15 Coastal Carolina scored the game’s first points on a 99-yard play as part of another big game for quarterback Grayson McCall and receiver Isaiah Likely in a 52-20 victory against Arkansas State on Thursday night in Jonesboro, Ark.

McCall threw for four touchdowns, with three of them going to Likely.

McCall, who entered the game having completed his previous 15 passes, ended up 18 of 23 for 365 yards. Likely made eight catches for 232 yards.

Running back Shermari Jones, who missed the previous two games with an injury, rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries for Coastal Carolina (6-0, 2-0 Sun Belt Conference).

The Chanticleers reached the 50-point mark for the fourth time this season.

Coastal Carolina began its first possession at its 1-yard line after an Arkansas State punt. After a run for no gain, the first of the McCall-to-Likely connections resulted in the 99-yard touchdown play.

The duo also hooked up for 4- and 16-yard scoring plays, the former coming with 13 seconds left in the first half and the latter concluding the first drive of the second half.

Coastal Carolina led 31-0 when Arkansas State (1-5, 0-2) scored with 9:06 remaining in the third quarter. That marked the first touchdown surrendered by the Chanticleers in three games.

Quarterback Layne Hatcher of Arkansas State threw for two touchdowns. He was 13-for-29 for 185 yards with an interception.

After the Chanticleers led 24-0 at halftime, the teams combined for four touchdowns across the first four possessions of the third quarter.

The Red Wolves pulled within 38-20 at the 12:21 mark of the fourth quarter on Lincoln Pare’s 1-yard run before a failed two-point conversion.

Coastal Carolina responded quickly, with Reese White running for a 64-yard touchdown on the second snap of the next possession. Less than four minutes later, Chanticleers backup quarterback Bryce Carpenter sprinted 67 yards for another touchdown.

Arkansas State was limited to 18 rushing yards.

The Chanticleers played just their second road game of the season.

–Field Level Media

Sep 18, 2021; Buffalo, New York, USA; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers quarterback Grayson McCall (10) throws the ball against the Buffalo Bulls during the second half of play at UB Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nicholas LoVerde-USA TODAY Sports

No. 15 Coastal Carolina aims to keep rolling vs. skidding Arkansas State

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This sounds like it could be an ideal situation for No. 15 Coastal Carolina.

The plan for Thursday night’s game at Arkansas State is for the Chanticleers to emphasize the areas that normally suit them best.

“When you play a short-week game, you’ve obviously got to rely on what you do well,” Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell said. “You’re not going to do too much.”

The matchup in Jonesboro, Ark., marks the first Sun Belt Conference road game for the Chanticleers.

No. 15 Coastal Carolina (5-0, 1-0 Sun Belt) hasn’t allowed a touchdown in its past two games, demolishing Massachusetts and Louisiana Monroe by a combined score of 112-9 in a pair of home games.

“We know we’re going to be playing better and better teams going forward,” Chadwell said. “Our defense, as good as they can be, I think they can get better. If we’re to be really good in this league, they’re going to be the ones to help us do it.”

Despite that dominance, the Coastal Carolina defense didn’t collect a turnover until the fourth quarter of the fifth game.

Arkansas State (1-4, 0-1) has an array of issues to address following a four-game losing streak. The Red Wolves tumbled by 59-33 on Saturday at Georgia Southern, giving up more than 50 points for the third time this season.

Red Wolves coach Butch Jones, whose squad lost Memphis, Washington and Tulsa prior to Sun Belt Conference competition, said he knows the team’s top-heavy schedule means there has to be rapid development.

“We’re going to get it rectified,” Jones said. “We’re going to get it corrected. We’re going to keep driving to do that.”

Arkansas State quarterback James Blackman has thrown for multiple touchdowns in three games this year. He’s in his first season with the Red Wolves after transferring from Florida State.

Coastal Carolina, which has reached the 50-point mark in three of its games, is 5-0 for the second year in a row and for the fifth time in nine seasons.

The Chanticleers have had their lone close call in their only road outing, edging Buffalo 28-25 on Sept. 18 in a non-conference matchup.

Coastal Carolina holds a 10-game winning streak in Sun Belt games.

Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall has completed his last 15 passes, including a 13-for-13 mark against UL-Monroe. He didn’t play in the second half Saturday, in part because he suffered what Chadwell described as a slight ankle injury.

“He could have gone back in and played,” Chadwell said. “Since it’s a Thursday (for the next game), quicker turnaround, we wanted to take that extra precaution.”

Either way, the Chanticleers were determined to use a bunch of backups in the second half with the quick turnaround on the schedule.

“It helps your morale,” Chadwell said. “We’re getting a lot of people in and they’re getting to contribute.”

Despite the success through the air, the Chanticleers might want to see what’s available in terms of a ground attack. Arkansas State gave up 503 rushing yards to Georgia Southern.

Coastal Carolina could have kicker Massimo Biscardi back in action after he has missed three games with an injury.

This begins a three-game stretch of midweek games for the Chanticleers, who won’t play again on a Saturday until November.

Until last year’s 52-23 romp at home, Coastal Carolina had never defeated Arkansas State in three previous meetings. That included a one-point loss in 2019 in Jonesboro.

–Field Level Media

Sep 25, 2021; Conway, South Carolina, USA; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers linebacker Myles Olufemi (41) tackles Massachusetts Minutemen quarterback Garrett Dzuro (9) in the NCAA football game of Massachusetts and Coastal Carolina at Brooks Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

No. 16 Coastal Carolina kicks off Sun Belt slate vs. UL Monroe

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With the first phase of the season complete, No. 16 Coastal Carolina looks to forge ahead in a similar manner as it enters Sun Belt Conference play.

The season’s initial league assignment comes against visiting Louisiana Monroe on Saturday afternoon at Conway, S.C.

“It’s the conference season right now,” Coastal Carolina linebacker Silas Kelly said. “It’s a little bit more familiar playing a team you’ve played before. … Now that conference games are coming, we’ve got to amp it up another level.”

Coastal Carolina (4-0, 0-0 Sun Belt) won three of its first four games via routs. The Sun Belt has been on the rise in recent seasons, so stiffer challenges figure to await the Chanticleers.

“Now our conference schedule starts and you know how good our conference is,” Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell said.

Louisiana Monroe (2-1, 1-0) already tasted Sun Belt Conference competition, defeating visiting Troy 29-16 last week.

Confidence should be growing for the Warhawks, who’ve won consecutive games for the first time since 2018.

“We’ve got to build from this and we’ve got to get better from this,” UL Monroe coach Terry Bowden said.

But there are off-field concerns this week for the Warhawks. Quarterback Rhett Rodriguez, son of offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez, has been in the hospital with a lung injury sustained in Saturday’s game.

Freshman Chandler Rogers figures to be the starter against Coastal Carolina. He has completed four of his 10 passes this season.

Coastal Carolina is 4-0 for the second year in a row and fifth time overall. The Chanticleers have won 10 straight home games.

Chadwell said the expectation to win games in convincing fashion — like last week against winless Massachusetts — means there has to be a particular emphasis on having the proper focus.

The Chanticleers played the UMass game without running back Shermari Jones because he was dinged up in the previous game with a toe injury. Chadwell said it’s possible that Jones, who leads the team with 96 rushing yards per game, can play this week. Either way, it isn’t expected to be a long-term ailment.

Coastal Carolina is averaging 45.5 points per game. Quarterback Grayson McCall has completed 76.7 percent of his passes with eight touchdown throws and one interception. Jaivon Heiligh leads the Sun Belt with 116 receiving yards per game.

Still, there are areas to shore up on offense.

“We’re dropping too many passes,” Chadwell said.

In two of Coastal Carolina’s victories, there have been ample spots to tap into depth for snaps for backups.

“You hope that helps you down the line if you really need it,” Chadwell said.

While UL Monroe hasn’t sustained much success in recent seasons, the Chanticleers understand how teams can produce turnarounds. Coastal Carolina is a good example of that.

“A lot of those things we’ve built along the way came from the struggles we went through,” Kelly said.

UL Monroe’s victory last week snapped a nine-game losing streak in Sun Belt competition. The previous league victory came in November 2019 against Coastal Carolina.

UL Monroe has linebacker Ja’Cquez Williams, a transfer from Wake Forest, as among its playmakers. He returned an interception 96 yards for a touchdown in the Troy game and was voted the Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week.

The Warhawks are a league-best plus-6 in turnover margin.

–Field Level Media

Sep 18, 2021; Buffalo, New York, USA; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers wide receiver Aaron Bedgood (3) stiff arms Buffalo Bulls safety E.J. Brown (7) during the second quarter of play at UB Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nicholas LoVerde-USA TODAY Sports

No. 16 Coastal Carolina rallies, then holds off Buffalo 28-25

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Grayson McCall threw for three touchdowns and No. 16 Coastal Carolina held off host Buffalo for a 28-25 victory Saturday afternoon in Buffalo, N.Y.

The Chanticleers (3-0), playing in their first road game of the season, broke a halftime tie on the way to picking up their eighth straight victory in a regular-season non-conference matchup.

McCall finished 13-for-19 passing for 232 yards with an interception. Teammate Shermari Jones ran for 149 yards on 16 carries with a touchdown.

Buffalo quarterback Kyle Vantrease threw for 146 yards, completing 13 of 20 passes.

McCall threw 6 yards to Isaiah Likely for the go-ahead points on the first possession of the second half.

Then Jones ran in from 1 yard out on the first play of the fourth quarter as Coastal Carolina stretched its lead to 28-17. The Chanticleers needed only 25 yards on that scoring drive because of Alex Spillum’s 50-yard punt return.

But Buffalo (1-2), which was aiming for an upset after last week’s loss at Nebraska, made it tight when Kevin Marks Jr. ran 7 yards for a touchdown and then the Bulls added a two-point conversion on Vantrease’s pass with 2:41 remaining.

The Bulls never got the ball back.

Coastal Carolina ended up with a 460-406 edge in total yards.

The Chanticleers scored first on McCall’s 16-yard strike to Aaron Bedgood.

Buffalo notched the next two touchdowns for a 14-7 lead before Coastal Carolina knotted the score before halftime, aided by McCall’s 17-yard scoring pass play to Jaivon Heiligh.

Buffalo scored on Dylan McDuffie’s 2-yard run and Matt Myers’ 13-yard run. Both of those first-half scoring drives covered more than 80 yards.

Both teams missed field goals before halftime.

It was the first-ever meeting between the teams. It marked the first victory in program history for Coastal Carolina against a member of the Mid-American Conference and against a team from the state of New York.

–Field Level Media

Dec 26, 2020; Orlando, FL, USA; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers quarterback Grayson McCall (10) looks to hand the ball off to Coastal Carolina Chanticleers running back Shermari Jones (5) during the first quarter against the against the against the Liberty Flames during the Cure Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports

No. 22 Coastal Carolina kicks off season vs. The Citadel

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Coastal Carolina shouldn’t be sneaking up on anybody this season.

The No. 22 Chanticleers enter the season with a national ranking for the first time in the program’s Football Bowl Subdivision era and they’re looking to build on the success from a year ago.

Coastal Carolina begins the season with Thursday night’s home game against The Citadel.

“I like our team and the mentality we’ve had so far,” Chanticleers coach Jamey Chadwell said.

Coastal Carolina put together an 11-1 record last year, finishing with a No. 14 national ranking. There are 19 returning starters from that team, including 10 on defense.

“We’re pretty much going to be like last year, but even better,” linebacker Enock Makonzo said. “We try to be more disciplined, be more accountable.”

Chadwell said it will be important to build depth along the defensive front.

The Coastal Carolina offense is stacked with proven playmakers, including quarterback Grayson McCall — the 2020 Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. He threw for 26 touchdowns and rushed for seven touchdowns last season, so he’s the league’s Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

“It’s a new year and you have to continue to execute at a high level,” Chadwell said. “You want to try to put stuff in that can take advantage of the talent that you do have. We’ve worked hard on that to try to put some guys in positions that maybe they’ve not been in before to get them a chance to get the ball out in space and make something happen.”

Among the key players is versatile Jaivon Heiligh, who made 10 touchdown catches last season. He made a school-record 13 receptions in the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl.

Citadel went 2-10 last season, with four losses in four nonleague outings during the fall semester and then two victories in its final three games across eight Southern Conference games in the spring semester.

“We respect what they do,” Chadwell said. “They’re going to come in here and they could care less whether we’re ranked or not. They’ve beat several Power 5 teams (in their history). They’ve got a great tradition.”

Citadel coach Brent Thompson said the Bulldogs, who are in the Football Championship Subdivision, need to have high expectations.

“Do I think we have the team to do it this year? Absolutely,” he said. “Do I think we have the experience? Absolutely.”

Citadel was picked seventh (coaches) and eighth (media) in preseason Southern Conference polls for the nine-team league.

On offense, Citadel’s lone All-Southern Conference preseason selection is lineman Haden Haas.

However, the Bulldogs have returning starters at all but one position.

“We’ve got a lot of depth returning,” Thompson said. “And it’s very challenging. It’s tough to have that much depth. We’re starting to figure out (what the best lineups will be).”

Citadel linebacker Willie Eubanks III has received preseason All-American recognition on the FCS level. He played eight games during the past season, compiling at least a dozen tackles in three of those outings after racking up 112 tackles during the 2019 season.

Chadwell is in his fifth season overall and the third year as the full-time head coach with the Chanticleers. Before that he spent four seasons at Charleston Southern, which is a neighboring school for The Citadel.

He likes playing an in-state opponent.

“I know they hate me,” Chadwell said. “But more so for us, it’s an opportunity to get our team to play.”

–Field Level Media