Sept. 3, 2009
Final Stats | Photo Gallery 
KENT, Ohio -- The Coastal Carolina University football squad battled against its second-ever Football Bowl Subdivision opponent but came up on the short end of an 18-0 loss at Kent State, Sept. 3. This was the season opener for both teams and the shutout was just the second in school history for the Chanticleers.
The first half was a bend-but-don't-break effort by the Coastal Carolina defense, as the group managed to keep Kent State off the scoreboard and to just 1-of-8 on third-down conversions and a failed fourth-down conversion. The only scoring came after a Marcus Lott interception deep in Chanticleer territory gave Coastal Carolina the ball on its own 1. On the next play, the Chants failed to get the run out of the end zone and gave up the safety to make it 2-0 Golden Flashes with 4:36 to go in the first half.
Late in the second quarter, Kent State drove down to the Coastal Carolina 6-yard line with just 16 seconds remaining in the period. Kicker Freddy Cortez had his kick smothered by Josh Norman up the middle and the ball bounded to Dominique Davenport, who returned it to the KSU 26 with two ticks left on the clock. However, Justin Durham's 43-yard attempt sailed wide left and the halftime margin remained 2-0 Golden Flashes.
Kent State put itself in good field position after stopping Coastal Carolina on its first drive of the second half, forcing a punt from the Coastal Carolina 5-yard line. Punter Ben Erdman hit it 33 yards but Eugene Jarvis returned it 33 yards back to the 5. Two plays later, Andre Flowers went around the left in and got the ball inside the pylon for the score. Cortez hit the extra point and Kent State extended its lead to 9-0 with 7:49 remaining in the third.
Jarvis again made an impact in the special teams, returning a punt early in the fourth quarter from the Kent State 42 to the Coastal Carolina 41-yard line. From there, it took just three plays for Jarvis to rumble into the end zone from four yards out and the PAT extended the lead to 16-0 with 11:57 to play. A bad snap by Jamie Perkinson on a punt went over Erdman's head and through the back of the end zone for a safety with 3:42 to go and made the final score 18-0.
The Golden Flashes outgained the Chants 344-185, including 143 yards on the ground for KSU to just 78 for Coastal Carolina. The Chants' defense did hold KSU to just 1-of-13 on third down conversions, but Coastal Carolina's offense only converted on 2-of-14 third-down chances.
Quarterback Zach MacDowall was 12-for-26 for 107 yards and one interception while freshman Jeremy Height led the Chants with 14 carries for 55 yards. Redshirt-junior Marquel Willis had a team-best three catches for 37 yards. Norman was among the leaders defensively with six solo tackles, one interception and the blocked kick. Kent State was paced by All-MAC running back Eugene Jarvis with 27 rushes for 141 yards and one score. Quarterback Giorgio Morgan was 21-for-35 for 201 yards and had two inteceptions, while Tyshon Goode posted six receptions for 84 yards. Jarvis also impacted the game with five returns for 77 yards.
The Chanticleers will return home next Saturday, Sept. 12 to take on Monmouth on Armed Forces/Public Servants Day. Kickoff at Brooks Stadium is scheduled for 7 p.m. The Athletic Department is offering regularly priced $15 reserved seat tickets for $8 to current members of the military or veterans, as well as fire, police, or emergency medical services personnel. To be eligible for this ticket, please bring your service ID or attend in uniform.
