CONWAY, S.C. - Coastal Carolina bounced back from last week's loss with a definitive 58-7 win over visiting North Greenville, Sept. 25. CCU moves to 3-1 on the year, while the Crusaders drop to 0-4.
Coastal opened the scoring on its first drive, as kicker Josh Hoke hit from 43 yards, the second-longest field goal of his career, to put the Chanticleers up 3-0 less than six minutes in. The Chants added more just 2:22 later, as fullback Ben Hampton bounced in from two yards out and Hoke's extra point made it 10-0 CCU with 7:09 to go in the first. The Chants scored again on their next possession, though it was short as running back Patrick Hall broke through a hole on the first play of the drive for 44 yards and another CCU touchdown to make it 17-0 Chanticleers.
An interception and 56-yard return by defensive back Greg Williamson set up Coastal again. Another Hoke field goal, this one from 35 yards, just five seconds into the second quarter made it 20-0. Running back Aundres Perkins capped off the first half scoring with a 15-yard touchdown run, the 10th consecutive game he has scored in, to put Coastal up 27-0 at the intermission.
The Chants got it going immediately in the second half, as CCU drove 54 yards in eight plays, capped off by Hampton's second touchdown of the game, this time from three yards, and a 34-0 Coastal lead. Hoke then went 3-for-3, as his field goal attempt from 37 yards out was good to make the margin 37-0 with four minutes left in the third quarter.
Quarterback Ren McKinnon came off the bench and had a 47-yard rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter to push the margin to 44-0. A North Greenville miscue resulted in the defense getting on the board, as defensive back Sergio Geiger recovered a fumble at the NGC 13-yard line and pitched it to defensive back Chris Allen who ran it in for the score, making it 51-0 Coastal.
The defense did it on the next possession as well, as defensive back Brandon Carr picked off a Matt Lucas pass and sprinted 56 yards to the end zone for another Coastal touchdown and a 58-0 margin.
North Greenville did manage to put points on the board with 2:57 left to play. Crusaders' quarterback Matt Lucas connected with James Crooks on a nine-yard touchdown pass to cap off a 10-play, 58-yard drive.
Coastal dominated the game offensively, outgaining the Crusaders, 449-161 and defensively created six turnovers while giving up just one of its own. Hall led the CCU offensive attack with 93 yards on seven carries and a touchdown, while running back Carl Robinson 79 yards on 14 carries. Tim Brown led North Greenville with 14 carries and 67 yards.
Coastal will take the week off before playing its second-straight game at the friendly confines of Brooks Stadium, hosting Charleston (W.Va.), Sat., Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.
