CONWAY, S.C. - Coastal Carolina fought through a tough battle with visiting Delaware State for a 24-6 victory at Brooks Stadium, Sept. 24. With its ninth consecutive home victory, the Chanticleers moved to 3-1 on the season, while the Hornets dropped to 2-2.
The Chanticleers got on the board first, as kicker Josh Hoke hit a school-record 49-yard field goal for a 3-0 CCU lead. Coastal was set up by a defensive stand on the first drive, giving CCU the ball on its own 39. The Chants then went 33 yards in six plays over 2:15 for the score.
Delaware State got on the scoreboard late in the first quarter. After a Coastal fumble, the Hornets converted on a 37-yard field goal attempt by Erik Contos and knotted the game at three.
DSU then took the lead, again taking advantage of a CCU turnover deep in Chanticleer territory. However, the Coastal defense made a stand inside its own five yard line, forcing Contos to make a 20-yard field goal and put Delaware State up 6-3 with 7:01 to play in the half.
Coastal marched down the field, going five plays and 78 yards over 50 seconds to re-take the lead 9-6 with 6:06 to go in the half. Running back Jamie Fordham was key on the drive, with three carries for 40 yards, including plunging in from one yard out for his first collegiate touchdown. Coastal then took advantage on the extra point, catching DSU with a two-point conversion pass from holder Rob Williams to running back Aundres Perkins split out wide right to make it 11-6 Chanticleers.
CCU continued on the offensive end, this time taking advantage of a CCU defense takeaway. Hoke hit his second field goal of the game, this time from 26 yards out, and the Chants were up 14-6 with 3:11 to go until intermission.
The Chants continued to add to their lead on their first drive of the second half. Coastal was able to get to DSU's 29-yard line before the drive stalled. Hoke came on for his second 40-plus field goal of the night, this time from 46, and CCU led 17-6 with 9:45 to go in the third quarter.
Coastal extended its lead over Delaware State early in the fourth quarter. The Chanticleers marched down the field, going 64 yards in five plays, capped off by Perkins' first touchdown of the night on a three-yard rush. The key play on the drive was 43-yard completion from quarterback Tyler Thigpen to wide receiver Darnell Williams (Florence, S.C./South Florence), putting CCU at the DSU 18-yard line. Hoke's extra-point put CCU up 24-6 with 11:47 to go in the contest.
DSU forced five Coastal turnovers, but the CCU defense was a difference maker. The Hornets were limited to just six points and 190 yards of total offense, while CCU churned out 297 total yards, 213 of them on the ground. Coastal is now 15-0 when rushing for more than 200 yards in a game. The game was also marred by penalties, as DSU was penalized 17 times for 144 yards and Coastal had seven penalties for 68 yards.
Coastal was led by Fordham, who posted his first collegiate 100-yard rushing game with 109 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries. Thigpen had nine carries for 50 yards, while going 7-for17 for 84 yards through the air.
Delaware State was led by quarterback Vashon Winton with 45 yards on 12 carries and was 15-for-33 for 93 yards and three interceptions. Wide receiver Shaheer McBride had six catches for 41 yards.
Coastal heads on the road for its second consecutive Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference opponent, taking on South Carolina State, Sat., Oct. 1. Kickoff at Oliver C. Dawson Stadium is set for 2 p.m.
