Nov. 14, 2009
Box Score | 2009 Senior Football Family Photos 
| Action Photos vs. PC
CONWAY, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina University football team withstood a late furious rally and held off visiting Presbyterian, 41-37, on Senior Day at Brooks Stadium, Nov. 14. With the win, the Chanticleers finished the home slate undefeated at 5-0, the first undefeated home schedule since 2005, and moved to 5-5 overall and 3-2 in the Big South Conference. The Blue Hose fell to 0-10 and 0-5 in Big South play.
For the second game in a row, Coastal Carolina scored on its opening drive. The drive was efficient, going 65 yards in seven plays, burning 2:39 on the clock. Quarterback Zach MacDowall buried his head behind his offensive line and scored on the 1-yard sneak. Kicker Justin Durham connected on the extra point, giving the Chanticleers an early 7-0 lead.
Coastal Carolina was able to continue its control of the first quarter, this time putting together a season-long 89-yard drive over 5:12. The drive originally stalled at the Coastal 43, but the Chants faked the punt and snapped to senior running back Tommy Fraser, who scooted through the line for 35 yards to the PC 22. The offense took advantage of the new life and finished the drive, this time with MacDowall plowing two yards into the end zone. Durham kicked it through the uprights, giving Coastal a 14-0 lead going into the second quarter.
Presbyterian struck back fast in the second quarter, going 63 yards in just two plays. Quarterback Brandon Miley completed a 35-yard pass to wide receiver Sean Adegbola in the right corner of the end zone, giving the Blue Hose their first points of the game. Kicker Aaron Mayes made the extra point, putting the score at 14-7 Chanticleers with over 12 minutes to play in the second quarter.
The Blue Hose continued their momentum on their next drive, this time going 10 plays on the scoring march. This time, Miley scrambled 10 yards for the score and the extra point was good, tying the game at 14 with over six minutes left to play in the second quarter.
PC started moving again on its next possession, but the drive was squelched when cornerback Josh Norman intercepted Miley to give Coastal Carolina the ball back on its own 37 with 1:18 to play in the half. The Chanticleers took advantage of the opportunity, quickly moving the ball 63 yards in just six plays and 57 seconds. MacDowall connected with wide receiver Paul Nicholas, who juked the defender at the 5-yard line for the 23-yard touchdown reception, the first of his career. Durham hit his third extra point of the game, allowing Coastal to take a 21-14 lead into the halftime break
The Coastal Carolina offense got the ball to open the half and started strong; posting first downs on all four of the plays in the 80-yard drive that took just 1:38. MacDowall split the defenders directly into the hands of closely-covered wide receiver Brandon Whitley for a 26-yard touchdown. Durham executed the extra point perfectly, giving Coastal a 28-14 lead early in the third.
Presbyterian retaliated immediately on their first drive of the second half, marching 73 yards downfield. On the third play of the drive, Michael Ruff ran 44 yards into the Coastal Carolina end zone, and kicker Aaron Mayes splitting the uprights, allowing the Blue Hose to cut the Chanticleer lead to seven at 28-21 with just over three minutes gone in the third period.
Coastal Carolina ran down field with Fraser leading the way, putting together another long drive over 72 yards in 6:07. The score came from Fraser, who powered through the defensive line and stormed into the end zone on a 1-yard rush to six more points on the board for Coastal. Durham completed another PAT, upping the Chanticleer lead to 14 at 35-21.
The Blue Hose offense quickly moved 32 yards downfield in just five plays, but the Coastal Carolina defense remained strong and forced Presbyterian to attempt a field goal. Mayes was able to hit a 46-yard field goal, putting the score at 35-24 Coastal with just one minute gone in the fourth quarter.
The Chanticleer offense got moving again on its first drive of the fourth quarter driving 66 yards this time. MacDowall and Nicholas hooked-up again, this time for a 23-yard touchdown pass. Durham's extra point attempt went wide left, keeping the score at 41-24 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the contest.
Presbyterian's offense took the ball back and put together another sustained drive, holding the ball for 5:41 as they moved it 82 yards in 13 plays. The final strike came on on a 3-yard touchdown pass from Miley to tight end Robert Bumgarner. Mayes' extra point was once again successful, making the score 41-31 with 4:54 to play.
Presbyterian was successful with their on-side kick, which revived the offense with the ball at the PC 45. The Blue Hose drove it the 55 yards to the end zone, with running back Lance Byrd scored a touchdown on a 1-yard rush. However, another missed extra point, this time by Mayes, kept the score at 41-37 with just under three minutes remaining.
Presbyterian attempted another on-side kick and once again regained control of the ball. The Blue Hose moved it down to the Coastal Carolina 36 and had a 4th-and-2. On a pitch option on the left side, defensive end Quinton Davis stopped Byrd for a 1-yard gain, giving the Chants the ball with just under a minute to go and sealing the victory.
The two teams were relatively equal in total yardage, with PC holding a slight 487-469 advantage. The Chanticleers amassed 276 yards on the ground and 193 in the air, while PC had 220 rushing and 267 passing yards.
Fraser led all rushers with his first career 100-yard game, going for 157 yards and one score on 23 carries. The 157 yards tie for the sixth most in Chanticleer history. MacDowall was 11-for-23 for 193 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while adding 69 yards and two touchdowns, both career bests, on eight carries. Nicholas had a pair of career highs on Senior Day with four catches for 82 yards and a pair of scores. Safety Dominique Davenport led the Chants with eight tackles, including seven solos, while linebacker E.J. Brown had seven tackles, including one pass breakup and an assist on a sack.
PC was paced by Byrd with 148 yards on 22 carries, while Miley was 20-for-32 for 251 yards, three scores and one pick through the air. Byrd also was the receiving leader with six receptions for 46 yards. Safety Justin Bethel led all defenders with 11 stops.
Coastal Carolina will conclude its 2009 season on the road, heading 100 miles south to take on in-state rival Charleston Southern, Sat., Nov. 21 at 1:30 p.m. Presbyterian will conclude its season at home, hosting Gardner-Webb at 1 p.m.
