DOVER, Del. - No. 23 Coastal Carolina struggled on the offensive end early and couldn't overcome it, losing the season opener at Delaware State, 23-18, Sept. 1. This was the second straight season-opening loss for the Chanticleers.
Coastal got on the board first following holding the Hornets to a three-and-out on their first possession. Marrio Norman returned the ensuing punt 51 yards to give Coastal the ball oin the DSU 8. However, the drive stalled and redshirt freshman Justin Durham hit from 27 yards for a 3-0 lead just over three minutes into the game.
On Delaware State's next possession, DSU converted a 3rd-and-8 to keep the drive alive. On the next play, Kareem Jones scampered on a 63-yard touchdown run for the Hornets to take a 7-3 lead with 10:38 to go in the first quarter. That was the score entering the halftime locker room.
Midway through the second quarter, Coastal got the ball deep in Delaware State territory after Adrain Grady forced and recovered a Hornet fumble on the DSU 10-yard line. Coastal could not punch it in and had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Durham to cut the margin to 7-6 with 7:42 remaining in the period.
The Hornets answered immediately and quickly, as Vashon Winton connected with Shaheer McBride for a 53-yard touchdown strike on the second play of the drive and DSU was up 14-6 less than a minute later. Del State then padded the lead late in the quarter when Winton again connected with McBride for a score, this time from 10 yards, but the missed extra point left it at 20-6 with 2:23 to play in the third.
CCU closed the gap with a nine-play, 81-yard drive over 3:22. The drive was capped off by a 33-yard touchdown catch by Jerome Simpson from William Richardson, but Durham's kick was blocked and the Chanticleers trailed 20-12 with just over 11 minutes remaining in the game.
Again, the Hornets came back to put points on the board, spurred by Kareem Jones' 74-yard kickoff return to put them in business at the Coastal 12. However, the CCU defense held and limited DSU to a 30-yard field goal by Peter Gaertner.
The Chants mounted another drive, this one a 12-play, 80-yard march to close the gap to 23-18. Fullback Tommy Fraser went around the left side from five yards out for the score, while the two-point conversion attempt failed.
After holding DSU and getting the ball back with just a minute and a half to go, Coastal moved the ball down the field but ended at the Hornets' 21 as time expired.
Offensive yardage was about even, as DSU had 351 yards to Coastal's 347, but third down conversions hurt the Chants, as they converted just 1 of 16 on third down.
Richardson was 19-for-33 for 187 yards and one touchdown, while adding 26 yards on the ground. Fullback Mike Tolbert led Coastal in rushing with 52 yards on six carries. Simpson had three catches for 68 yards and a score. Delaware State was led by Jones with 171 yards and a touchdown on 24 rushes, while Winton was 7-for-12 for 84 yards and two touchdowns through the air, 81 of the yards to McBride.
The Chanticleers return to Conway for the home opener, hosting Winston-Salem State, Sat., Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. CCU will be honoring the Armed Forces and Public Servants (police, fire department) in a halftime ceremony with the United States Army Jump Team parachuting in the American Flag and game ball at approximately 6:40 prior to the National Anthem.
