CONWAY, S.C. - No. 9 Coastal Carolina moved the ball with ease throughout the game against Mansfield, scoring on four-straight first-half possessions en route to a 71-8 Senior Day victory at Brooks Stadium, Nov. 12. With their Big South-record setting 12th consecutive home victory, the Chanticleers moved to 9-1 on the season, while the Mountaineers wrapped up their season at 1-10.
Mansfield scored first, driving the ball on the opening possession, going 80 yards in nine plays. Quarterback John Hengehold hooked up with wide receiver Tyrone Robinson for a 34-yard touchdown and the two-point conversion run by Poohbear McNeal made it 8-0 Mountaineers.
Coastal answered immediately, driving 64 yards in eight plays over 3:31. Running back Patrick Hall rushed in from 27 yards out for his first touchdown of the season. Quarterback Tyler Thigpen then hooked up with tight end Rodney Burgess for the two-point conversion and the game was tied at eight with 6:58 to go in the first quarter.
CCU again brought it down the field, as running back Aundres Perkins rushed in from one yard out to cap a seven-play, 56-yard drive. Kicker Josh Hoke's extra-point made it 15-8 Chants with 14:20 to go in the first half.
The Chants tied the longest drive in school history, going 96 yards in just seven plays on their next possession. Perkins picked up his second touchdown of the day, this time on a three-yard rush, and CCU led 22-8 with 9:39 to go in the half.
CCU then scored twice more in the final 5:33 of the half. Thigpen connected with wide receiver Chris Noble for a 12-yard touchdown and then reserve quarterback Will Richardson hooked up with Burgess from 13 yards out and the Chants had a 36-8 halftime advantage.
Coastal got the ball to open the second half and again put it in the end zone. Richardson hit wide receiver Tim Carson on a bubble screen that ended in a nine-yard touchdown. The extra-point gave CCU a 43-8 lead early in the second half.
CCU took advantage of a pair of Mansfield miscues on the next two possessions. Coastal's Quinton Teal blocked a punt that gave the Chants the ball on the Mansfield 12-yard line. Three plays later, running back Jamie Fordham scored on a five-yard run and the margin was up to 50-8.
CCU safety Brian Rousey forced a fumble on the next possession that defensive lineman Warren Jennings recovered to give Coastal the ball on the Mansfield 41. Running back Carl Robinson scored on a three-yard run and CCU led 57-8 with 4:30 to go in the second quarter.
Coastal continued on the offense, as running back Chris McDonald scored on an 18-yard reverse and CCU led 64-8 with 35 seconds left in the third quarter. The Chants got their final score with just under a minute to go as fullback Tommy Fraser got his first collegiate touchdown on a three-yard run and Coastal took home the 71-8 victory.
The 71 points set a new Big South-record for a single game, while the 385 rushing yards and 581 total yards are season-highs for Coastal. Quarterbacks Thigpen and Richardson combined to go 14-for-18 for 196 yards and three touchdowns through the air.
Hall led all rushers with 75 yards and one touchdown, as six Chant runners got in the scoring column.
Burgess led CCU in receiving with four receptions for 72 yards and one touchdown.
Thigpen also broke the Big South single-season rushing record, as he has 404 yards through the first 10 games, eclipsing the old record of 384 set by Nick Roberts of Gardner-Webb in 2003.
Mansfield managed just 36 yards on the ground and 150 yards of total offense, as the CCU defense limited the Mountaineers to just 70 yards on the 46 plays following the opening possession. Hengehold was 13-for-27 for 114 yards and two interceptions through the air.
Coastal will return to the field, Sat., Nov. 19, traveling to Charleston, S.C. to take on the Charleston Southern Buccaneers. Kickoff is at 12:30 p.m., with the game being televised on Big South Television Network. The Chants can win the outright Big South title next weekend, while the Bucs will be playing to win a share of the league championship.
