CONWAY, SC- Coastal Carolina University (7-2), the 18th ranked team in the country, scored 35 consecutive points to overcome a two-touchdown deficit and defeat Monmouth University (4-6) 38-17, on Saturday afternoon at Brooks Stadium.
Monmouth came out of the gates taking the opening possession of the game 69 yards on five plays to take a 7-0 lead 13:07 still showing on the scoreboard. Kenji Bahar was 3 of 3 on the drive for 53 yards all to Reggie White Jr., who ultimately hauled in the 14 yard score.
Coastal drove later in the first and earned a 25 yard Ryan Granger field goal to cut Monmouth's lead to 10-3. Bahar hit tight end Jake Powellin the endzone to put MU up 17-3 with 12:54 remaining in the half. The Chants hit a season-long 58 yard option run to get down to the Monmouth five yard line, then scored one play later on a Austin Bradley draw to close the halftime scoring at 17-10.
Monmouth recovered its third fumble of the day in its own endzone on the first possession of the second half but Coastal tied it up after a MU punt, using a halfback pass to get down to the MU five. Coastal scored its third unanswered touchdown with time winding down in the third quarter to take its first lead of the game, 24-17. Quarterback Ryan Lee ran untouched in the fourth quarter for 24 yards and a score with the Chants scoring a late defensive TD to ice the game.
Notes & Quotes
§ Reggie White Jr. recorded his third 100+ yard performance of the season
§ White's 785 yards is the seven most in school history for a single season
§ His 59 receptions is the third most in school history, passing five Hawks
§ Christian Wagar and Evan Powell made their first career starts for the Monmouth defensive unit
§ Monmouth was shutout in the second half for the second straight game
§ Coastal Carolina had a pair of 100-yard rushers for the fourth time in school history (Kevin Daniles/Ryan Lee)
Numbers Crunch
§ Basile's 16 tackles (13 solo) tied a season-high for the junior, one shy of his career mark
§ Bahar had a career-high 200 yards on 23 of 43 passing for two touchdowns
§ Monmouth recovered three fumbles on the day, including two from Mike Basile
§ Devin Ray's fake punt pass to cornerback Wendell Allen for 27 yards. It was Allen's first career receptions and Ray's longest completed pass
§ The Hawks held a 212-176 advantage in yardage at halftime but Coastal eventually finished ahead 453-277
§ Monmouth finished 2 of 14 on third down while Coastal was 8 of 12
Up Next
The Hawks will have a bye week before wrapping up the season against Gardner-Webb in Boiling Springs, NC.
