Tag: Coastal Carolina

UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor during the NCAA college football game at Tennessee on Saturday, September 23, 2023 in Knoxville, Tenn.

UTSA throttles Coastal Carolina to win Myrtle Beach Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Owen McCown completed 23 of 30 passes for 254 yards and UTSA rolled up 257 yards on the ground in a 44-15 demolition of Coastal Carolina to win the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Monday in Conway, S.C.

Will Henderson III led the rushing attack with 81 yards and a touchdown on five carries. McCown added a 35-yard rushing touchdown while throwing one TD and one interception for the Roadrunners (7-6), who won a bowl game for the second straight year.

Chris Carpenter ripped off a 93-yard kick return touchdown for UTSA to seal the deal.

Tad Hudson went 17-for-26 passing for 173 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns for Coastal Carolina (6-7), which was playing in the bowl game hosted on its campus for the first time. Hudson made his first collegiate start after quarterbacks Ethan Vasko and Noah Kim entered the transfer portal.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Hudson sailed a pass to a wide-open Bryson Graves for a 50-yard score that finally put the Chanticleers on the board, cutting the margin to 27-7.

But on the ensuing kickoff, Carpenter started to his left, veered right and had nothing but daylight for his third career kick return touchdown.

With Coastal trailing 37-7, Hudson hit Senika McKie for a 9-yard TD and completed a two-point conversion pass to Brooks Johnson with 4:43 to go.

UTSA responded again, as on the next play from scrimmage Henderson broke off a 51-yard sprint to the end zone.

In the first minute of the second quarter, UTSA running back Brandon High got help from his linemen on a 9-yard touchdown push. On the Roadrunners’ next drive, McCown kept the ball on an option and chugged down the right sideline, scoring just his third rushing touchdown of the season.

UTSA ripped off runs of 19 and 16 yards on its following possession, which lasted just 1:04. Using play-action, McCown tossed a 6-yard touchdown to a wide-open Patrick Overmyer for a 21-0 lead.

Before halftime, Coastal Carolina marched down to UTSA’s 4-yard line, but on a would-be halfback pass on fourth-and-goal, the Roadrunners disrupted the play and kept Braydon Bennett out of the end zone.

UTSA’s Tate Sandell made field goals from 38 and 27 yards to account for the third-quarter scoring. He kicked a 29-yarder during the fourth.

–Field Level Media

Sep 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers head coach Tim Beck looks on from the sidelines in the first half against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Coastal Carolina preps untested QB for UTSA, Myrtle Beach Bowl

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Coastal Carolina will enjoy an extra home game of sorts when it faces UTSA on Monday in the Myrtle Beach Bowl in Conway, S.C.

It marks the Chanticleers’ (6-6) first appearance in the bowl game held on their campus. But they’ll do so without their first- and second-string quarterbacks, Ethan Vasko and Noah Kim, who both entered the transfer portal.

Coastal Carolina coach Tim Beck said redshirt freshman Tad Hudson likely is the next man up. Hudson has not appeared in a game this season.

“Tad Hudson will probably be the starter. We have Alex Walker as well,” Beck told reporters, “and then after this meeting, I’m taking all of you outside for tryouts.”

It was an opportunity for Beck to say college football “free agency” makes it impossible to build a program in the current age; instead, coaches are building a new team each year.

“There was a lot of excitement at practice because there are a lot of guys that haven’t played a lot that know they are going to,” Beck added.

With Hudson under center, the Chanticleers may lean on their rushing offense that ranked 46th in the country with 178.7 yards per game. Braydon Bennett led with 727 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, and Christian Washington added 537 and five.

UTSA (6-6) has far fewer defections to deal with than its opponent.

“Our kids intend to play and we are rooting and hoping that everybody passes their classes, stays healthy and chooses to play in the bowl game,” coach Jeff Traylor said.

The Roadrunners recovered from a 3-5 start to the season and won three straight home conference games in November to become bowl-eligible.

“The world is telling (players) to collect (social media) posts and collect more offers and collect more attention,” Traylor said. “Our guys want to collect bowl wins, so I’m very excited to be coaching these guys.”

Owen McCown powered the offense by throwing for 3,170 yards on a 62 percent completion rate, with 24 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Eleven different players caught a touchdown over the course of the season.

Anchoring the UTSA defense is Brandon Brown, a defensive tackle who declared for the NFL draft but is not electing to skip the bowl game.

“I know people consider not playing, but it didn’t even cross my mind,” Brown said. “Some people may not want you to play, but I always wanted to play for my brothers. That’s who I came in with, and that’s who I want to finish with.”

Brown had 24 tackles with two sacks this season. Jimmori Robinson racked up a team-high 10.5 sacks.

Both programs, which transitioned up to the FBS level during the 2010s, are making their fifth straight bowl appearance. UTSA lost three straight before capturing last year’s Frisco Bowl for its first bowl win in program history. Overall, UTSA is 1-4 in bowl games, while Coastal Carolina is 2-2.

This will be the first meeting between the programs.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Clemson Tigers head coach Dabo Swinney reacts against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Clemson adds top 50 QB to ’25 recruiting class

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Clemson added a quarterback to its 2025 recruiting class on Tuesday with Chris Denson announcing his decision to flip from Coastal Carolina.

The 6-foot-2, 175-pounder from Plant City High School in Florida had been committed to the Chanticleers since April and has yet to visit Clemson’s campus. Tigers coach Dabo Swinney has been putting a push on to flip Denson in recent weeks following the decommitment of Blake Hebert last month.

“I just feel like my development will be through the roof,” Denson told On3.com about his decision to switch. “Playing under one of the best coaches in the country and knowing that I haven’t reached my potential yet, I know that they will take me to that level.”

A three-star recruit, Denson is ranked as the No. 50 quarterback in the nation by the 247 Composite. He is the 14th player to commit to the Tigers, who have also seen six players decommit this cycle, according to The Greenville News.

“What makes Clemson special is just the level of ball that they are playing at,” Denson said. “And the way they compete. I’m a huge competitor, so that’s the type of place and people I want to surround myself around.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 5, 2024; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack quarterback Grayson McCall (2) gets tackled without his helmet by Wake Forest Demon Deacons linebacker Quincy Bryant (9) and linebacker Dylan Hazen (24) during the first half of the game at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

NC State QB Grayson McCall (concussions) retires from football

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North Carolina State quarterback Grayson McCall said Wednesday night that he is retiring from football after his latest head injury.

McCall sustained two concussions this season and hasn’t played since being carted off the field against Wake Forest on Oct. 5. His helmet flew off from the hit and he was briefly unconscious before taken to a hospital for evaluation. He was released later that night.

Last season, while playing for Coastal Carolina, McCall sustained a season-ending concussion in an Oct. 21 game at Arkansas State. On that occasion, he was taken off the field via ambulance and hospitalized overnight.

“Unfortunately, my dream has been cut just short,” McCall wrote on Instagram. “As you all know, I have battled injuries my whole career, but this is one that I cannot come back from.

“I have done everything I can to continue, but this is where the good Lord has called me to serve in a different space. Brain specialists, my family, and I have come to the conclusion that it is in my best interest to hang the cleats up.”

McCall was a three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year at Coastal Carolina before transferring to the Wolfpack after last season.

He passed for 518 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in four games for NC State. McCall sustained his first concussion of this season against Louisiana Tech on Sept. 14 and missed two games before returning against Wake Forest.

Overall, McCall passed for 10,523 yards and 91 touchdowns against just 16 interceptions in 46 games over parts of six college seasons. He completed 69.6 percent of his passes and is the most decorated player in Coastal Carolina history.

“Every time my feet hit the grass, I left every single ounce of myself on that field,” McCall said. “I always played my hardest and to the best of my ability because I never knew what play would be my last. I have no regrets throughout my career and that is something I can be proud of.”

McCall will remain an active player with the team for the rest of the season. The Wolfpack (4-4, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) are next in action against visiting Stanford on Nov. 2.

–Field Level Media

Sep 14, 2024; Charlottesville, Virginia, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Tony Elliott encourages his team during a change of possession against the Maryland Terrapins during the first half at Scott Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Xavier Brown helps lift Virginia over Coastal Carolina

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Xavier Brown rushed for a career-high 171 yards and Grady Brosterhous ran for two scores as Virginia rolled to a 43-24 nonconference victory against Coastal Carolina on Saturday in Conway, S.C.

The Cavaliers (3-1) have already matched their win total from each of coach Tony Elliott’s first two seasons. Virginia finished 3-7 in 2022 and 3-9 in 2023.

Anthony Colandrea threw for 131 yards with two touchdown passes to Malachi Fields and the Cavaliers piled up 384 rushing yards in the first meeting between the programs.

Ethan Vasko passed for 222 yards with a touchdown and an interception and also rushed for a score for the previously unbeaten Chanticleers (3-1).

Coming off back-to-back games without any turnovers, Coastal Carolina coughed it up twice in the first quarter and Virginia turned the mistakes into 14 points.

The Chanticleers’ troubles began with a fumble on the opening kickoff. Three plays later, Colandrea’s 7-yard pass to Fields gave the Cavaliers a 7-0 lead just 1:24 into the game.

It was another short field for Virginia after Antonio Clary intercepted Vasko at the 35. A 5-yard TD run by Brosterhous made it 14-3 with 4:47 left in the first quarter.

Down 17-3 in the second quarter, Coastal Carolina put together a 90-yard TD drive. Vasko’s 29-yard pass to Jameson Tucker on fourth down trimmed the deficit to 17-10.

The Cavaliers answered with a 1-yard TD run by Brosterhous for a 24-10 lead. They made it 27-10 on Will Bettridge’s 47-yard field goal on the final play of the half.

Bettridge’s 45-yarder early in the third extended the lead to 30-10. After a 75-yard run by Brown, Kobe Pace punched it in from the 1 to make it 37-10.

It was 37-17 after Vasko’s 3-yard TD rush ended a run of 20 unanswered points by the Cavaliers.

In the fourth quarter, Colandrea’s 37-yard strike to Fields put Virginia ahead 43-17 with 12:12 remaining.

Michigan State transfer Noah Kim replaced Vasko and threw a 15-yard TD pass to Bryson Graves with 9:06 left.

–Field Level Media

Aug 26, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Jose State Spartans head coach Brent Brennan watches game action against the Southern California Trojans during the second half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Coastal Carolina holds off San Jose State to win Hawaii Bowl

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Freshman quarterback Ethan Vasko threw for 199 yards and three touchdowns Saturday night as Coastal Carolina beat San Jose State 24-14 to win the Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu.

Vasko completed 20 of 33 passes, wrapping up the win with 2:43 remaining when he found Sam Pinckney for an 8-yard scoring strike. The play capped an eight-catch, 123-yard performance for Pinckney in his last college game.

The Chanticleers (8-5) possessed the ball for more than 37 minutes, converting 8 of 15 third downs. They were outgained 374-336, but their defense came up with two key fumble recoveries to halt third-quarter drives.

Spartans quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, who was born in Honolulu and playing the final game of his college career, hit 16 of 30 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown. He led two fourth-quarter scoring drives that got San Jose State (7-6) within three points, first finding Sam Olson on a 35-yard strike at the 12:27 mark.

Quali Conley added a 12-yard touchdown run with 8:30 remaining, but the Spartans couldn’t get the stop they needed. They had a chance to get within seven points with 1:09 left but kicker Kyler Halvorsen missed a 32-yard field-goal attempt, ending their hopes of a dramatic comeback.

San Jose State entered the game as a clear favorite. The Spartans came in with a six-game winning streak, and Coastal Carolina’s star player, quarterback Grayson McCall, departed for NC State via the transfer portal.

But Vasko orchestrated a patient attack that hogged the ball for nearly 18 1/2 minutes in the first half. It was Vasko who broke the scoring seal with 3:16 left in the first quarter, flipping a 2-yard touchdown pass to Matt Alaimo to cap an 80-yard drive that lasted nearly 5 1/2 minutes.

Meanwhile, San Jose State couldn’t get going against a Chanticleers defense that was lit up frequently down the stretch. They limited the Spartans to 24 plays, 127 yards and six first downs in the half.

–Field Level Media

Aug 26, 2023; Los Angeles, California, USA; San Jose State Spartans quarterback Chevan Cordeiro (2) drops back to pass against the Southern California Trojans during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

San Jose State cruising, Coastal Carolina losing in build-up to Hawaii Bowl

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The first half of the 2023 season couldn’t have gone much worse for San Jose State.

The Spartans coasted through the second half and have a chance to slap a shiny ribbon on the season in the Hawaii Bowl on Saturday night against Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers are trying to avoid seeing a bad December, due to the transfer of record-smashing quarterback Grayson McCall, get even worse.

San Jose State charged to a second-place finish in the Mountain West with six straight wins, but tiebreakers left them out of the conference championship game with a bowl eligibility consolation prize. As an added bonus, the game is a homecoming for quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, who grew up in Honolulu.

“It’s everything I could ask for,” he said. “To play in front of my family and hometown for the last game in a Spartan uniform — best thing I could ask for.”

Cordeiro’s play has been about the best thing San Jose State (7-5) could ask for as he’s completed 62.7 percent of his 332 passes for 2,558 yards with 19 touchdowns and only four interceptions. He also gained 213 yards and three scores on the ground.

Cordeiro was efficient and good in the team’s 37-31 win at UNLV on Nov. 25, hitting 19 of 26 attempts for 249 yards and a pair of touchdowns. When the Rebels drew within 20-17 in the third quarter, Cordeiro threw a touchdown pass that started a run of 17 straight points that enabled the Spartans to seal the outcome.

Cordeiro won’t have a couple of key teammates around for the bowl game. Left tackle Fernando Carmona and tight end Dominick Mazotti entered the transfer portal earlier this month. Carmona is likely headed for a Power 5 school with the likes of Ole Miss, Arkansas, South Carolina and Auburn already offering him.

Leading receiver Nick Nash (47 catches, 704 yards, 8 TDs) said he would stay with the Spartans.

“They’ve stuck with me through hard times,” he said. “This is where I want to finish out my career in college and hopefully move on to the next level.”

Coastal Carolina (7-5) won’t have its face of the program around, but that’s a reality the Chanticleers braced for the past two months. McCall, instrumental in the program’s rise to a top 25 ranking and unbeaten regular season in 2020, has transferred to N.C. State. He missed the final six weeks of the season recovering from a head injury.

First-year coach Tim Beck, N.C. State’s offensive coordinator prior to taking the Coastal job, said that Ethan Vasko would start in the bowl game. Beck said he talked to the Wolfpack’s coaching staff about McCall.

“At the end of the day, I want to help all our guys,” Beck said. “My door’s always open.”

McCall completed better than 67 percent of his passes for 1,919 yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions but suffered a serious concussion on Oct. 21 against Arkansas State and missed the last five games. Vasko hit on 56 of 89 attempts for 580 yards in seven games while rushing for 318 yards, second on the team.

His top target will be wide receiver Sam Pinckney, who finished the year with 64 receptions, 904 yards and seven touchdowns. Pinckney owns the NCAA record with 57 straight games with at least one catch.

This will be the first matchup between the Chanticleers and Spartans.

–Field Level Media

Sep 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers quarterback Grayson McCall (10) warms up prior to the game against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

NC State grabs QB Grayson McCall from transfer portal

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Grayson McCall plans to play at NC State as a grad transfer after four seasons as quarterback at Coastal Carolina.

McCall confirmed the move on Wednesday, one year after he entered the transfer portal but did a U-turn and spent the 2023 season as quarterback of the Chanticleers. He played in only seven games and had 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.

He left the field in an ambulance after a helmet-to-helmet hit in his final game for Coastal on Oct. 21 and was diagnosed with a concussion. McCall missed the final five games of the season.

McCall, a three-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, did eclipse 10,000 passing yards as a redshirt senior in 2023. He has 88 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and 18 rushing touchdowns.

He had more than 8,000 passing yards in his first three seasons running the spread scheme under Jamey Chadwell. Chadwell took the coaching job at Liberty last December, when McCall initially entered the transfer portal. When he returned to Coastal, McCall stepped into a new offense under head coach Tim Beck.

A native of Indian Trail, N.C., McCall had only five offers out of high school. Army, Gardner-Webb, Eastern Kentucky and Chattanooga also offered scholarships.

NC State is losing sixth-year quarterback Brennan Armstrong, a graduate transfer from Virginia who had 11 touchdowns and six interceptions for the Wolfpack in 2023.

McCall established the FBS record in passing efficiency rating at 207.6 in 2021. Alabama’s Mac Jones (203.1) set the previous record in 2020, beating the mark established by LSU’s Joe Burrow (202.0) in 2019.

–Field Level Media

Michigan State's Noah Kim heads to the sideline after throwing a touchdown against Richmond during the second quarter on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing.

Michigan State QB Noah Kim lands at Coastal Carolina

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Fourth-year Michigan State quarterback Noah Kim landed at Coastal Carolina via the transfer portal.

Kim, a junior, was one of three Spartans’ scholarship quarterbacks to enter the portal. He has two years of eligibility remaining after starting five games in 2023 prior to being injured.

Kim confirmed the move in a short video of himself wearing a No. 1 Chanticleers’ jersey.

Coastal Carolina was in need of a replacement for starter Grayson McCall, who entered the transfer portal at the end of the season. McCall put up huge numbers for the Chanticleers, including 10,005 passing yards, 88 touchdowns and 14 interceptions along with 18 career rushing touchdowns.

Kim was ranked the No. 2 quarterback in Virginia after posting a 41-2 record in high school. He didn’t play his first two seasons in East Lansing before seeing limited time in four games in 2022 as a redshirt sophomore.

He won the 2023 preseason quarterback competition out of fall camp but was benched in October in favor of Katin Houser, who also transferred at the end of the season.

–Field Level Media

Sep 2, 2023; Pasadena, California, USA; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers quarterback Grayson McCall (10) sets to throw a pass in the second half against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Coastal Carolina QB Grayson McCall released from hospital after hit

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Coastal Carolina standout quarterback Grayson McCall was released from a hospital on Sunday after spending the night in Jonesboro, Ark., after being stretchered off the field during Saturday’s 27-17 road win over Arkansas State.

McCall was the recipient of a fierce late hit from Arkansas State’s Trevian Thomas as he slid to the ground on a 9-yard scramble with 11:40 remaining in the game. He appeared to hit his head on the turf and was down for several minutes before eventually being placed on a stretcher and taken via ambulance to the hospital.

McCall gave a thumbs-up signal while being carted off the field.

The school said Sunday that McCall was on his way back to campus in Conway, S.C.

“As a precautionary measure, Grayson was transported to a local medical facility for evaluation and observation last night,” the school said in a statement. “He was alert and conscious with movement in all extremities.

“Grayson has been released and is heading back to Conway. He is in excellent spirits and the results of his scans have been very positive. We extend our appreciation for the medical care delivered by Arkansas State and Jonesboro.”

The school requested “time and space to go through this recovery process” for McCall, but it didn’t divulge the extent of his injuries.

McCall was 24-of-28 passing for 244 yards and two touchdowns during the victory. He went over 10,000 career passing yards, finishing the game with 10,005 for his four-year career.

Earlier in the game, the three-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year became the Chanticleers’ all-time leader in passing yardage, surpassing Alex Ross (9,918 from 2012-15).

This season, McCall has passed for 1,919 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions in seven games. He has thrown a school-record 88 career touchdown passes.

Jarrett Guest finished as the quarterback against Arkansas State.

–Field Level Media