Nov. 21, 2009

Box Score

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Coastal Carolina University football squad wrapped up its 2009 schedule with a 30-23 Big South Conference loss at Charleston Southern, Nov. 21. Winless on the road this year, the Chanticleers finished the year at 5-6 and 3-3 in Big South play, while the Buccaneers wrap up the season 6-5 and 4-2 in the league.

The Chants got on the scoreboard first in the second quarter, wrapping up a 10-play, 44-yard drive. Kicker Justin Durham connected on a 26-yard field goal to put Coastal up 3-0 with 10:43 remaining in the second.

Charleston Southern rebounded on its next drive after putting together a 10-play march of its own over 60 yards. However, the drive stalled and John Paglia hit his 25-yard field attempt to knot the game at three with just under five minutes remaining in the half.

CSU got back on the board with its next possession, putting together a seven-play, 70-yard drive over just 1:41. Quarterback A.J. Toscano scampered for 13 yards into the end zone and Paglia's point after made it 10-3 Bucs with 1:06 to go in the half.

For the second game in a row, Coastal got the ball back with a minute to go and found a way to get a touchdown. Starting on its own 40-yard line, the Chants took just seven plays and 55 seconds to find the end zone, with quarterback Zach MacDowall diving in from two yards out. The key play was a 26-yard pass completion from MacDowall to running back Tommy Fraser to get the ball down to the CSU 2. Durham hit the extra point and the two teams entered the halftime break knotted at 10.

The Bucs took advantage of a short Coastal punt to re-take the lead. This time, it was a 27-yard drive that ended with a 44-yard Paglia field goal to make it 13-10 CSU early in the third.

CSU then added to its lead after a Chanticleer miscue to get the ball back at the 50-yard line. It took just five plays to get on the board, as Toscano hit Kwame Krakue for an 11-yard touchdown and the extra point made it 20-10 with 8:50 to go in the third.

Coastal fought back on their next possession with a long drive, taking 13 plays to go 86 yards in 5:54. Fraser plunged in from two yards out for his first touchdown of the contest to trim the margin to 20-16. However, Durham pulled his point after attempt wide left and the difference remained four with 2:56 to play in the contest.

CSU pushed the lead back to seven on a Paglia field goal from 18 yards, making it 23-16 with 13:16 to play. The game was sealed when Bach intercepted MacDowall and returned it 25 yards for the score with the extra point making it 30-16 with 4:32 to go in the contest.

Coastal got it close in the late going as quarterback Jamie Childers connected with wide receiver Brandon Whitley for a 37-yard touchdown pass and the point after trimmed it to 30-23 with 2:37 remaining. The Chants kicked off and eventually held the Bucs with less than 30 seconds to go, but couldn't get off their end of the field and ended up with the loss.

CSU outgained Coastal 437-371, including rushing for 239 yards to just 146 for the Chants. Both teams had three turnovers in the contest as well.

Coastal was led by Fraser with 18 carries for 79 yards and one touchdown, while he also had two catches for 39 yards. MacDowall was 15-for-30 for 167 yards and two interceptions through the air while rushing 11 times for 34 yards and one score. Paul Nicholas had four receptions for 45 yards, while safety Dominique Davenport had a season-high 11 tackles and a pair of interceptions.

Charleston Southern was paced by Antwan Ivey with 19 carries fro 145 yards, while Toscano was 18-for-26 for 198 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions passing and eight rushes for 45 yards and another score. Gerald Stevenson had five catches for 76 yards, while linebacker Chris Patrick led all tacklers with 13 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss.