Football Runs Past Georgia State To Become Bowl Eligible

Saturday, November 8

Conway, S.C.

4:00 P.M.

Coastal Carolina University

6-3 , 5-1

Georgia State

1-8 , 0-5

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Georgia St.	14	0	0	13	27
Coastal Carolina	14	9	10	7	40

11/8/2025 8:01:00 PM | Football

Box Score Game Book (PDF)

CONWAY, S.C. — Samari Collier accounted for 246 yards of total offense and four touchdowns as Coastal Carolina powered past Georgia State, 40–27, on Saturday night at Brooks Stadium to earn its fourth straight victory and remain in the hunt for the Sun Belt East Division title while becoming bowl eligible.

The Chanticleers (6–3, 5–1 Sun Belt) piled up 444 yards of offense — including 324 on the ground — and held the Panthers (1–8, 0–5) scoreless for nearly three full quarters after a 14–14 first-period shootout.

FIRST-HALF FIREWORKS AND KIAN'S KICKS
After Georgia State opened with a long drive that stalled, Collier immediately struck with an 85-yard touchdown run — the second-longest TD run in school history — just 13 seconds into Coastal's first possession. The Panthers tied it on a 1-yard sneak from quarterback Cameran Brown before Collier found Robby Washington for a 16-yard touchdown and a 14–7 lead.

The teams traded quick scores again late in the quarter before Coastal's defense tightened. Kicker Kian Afrookhteh drilled three second-quarter field goals (30, 34 and 28 yards) to send the Chants into halftime up 23–14.

COASTAL PULLS AWAY
Linebacker Tray Brown's forced fumble and recovery early in the third quarter set up Philippe Laforge's 47-yard field goal, and Collier later found Karmello English on a 3-yard touchdown pass to stretch the margin to 33–14. English added another score on a 31-yard reception midway through the fourth quarter to seal the win.

Georgia State scored twice late, but Coastal's early surge and efficient ground game proved too much to overcome.

BY THE NUMBERS

Samari Collier: 11-of-18 passing for 120 yards, 3 TDs; 123 rushing yards and a score on 10 carries.
Karmello English: 4 receptions, 63 yards, 2 TDs.
Ja'Vin Simpkins & Jevon Edwards: Combined 23 carries for 154 yards.
Defense: CCU forced two turnovers (interception by Ja'Marion Wayne, fumble recovery by Brown) and tallied two sacks.

NOTEBOOK

GOING BOWLING: With its sixth win of the campaign, Coastal Carolina is bowl eligible for the sixth-straight season.
LAND WARFARE: The Chanticleers rushed for 324 yards on the game (6.9 yards per carry), the fifth straight game with 200-plus yards on the ground, the fifth time this season surpassing the 200-yard mark and the first time Coastal has rushed for 300 yards in a game since Nov. 22, 2019, vs. South Alabama. CCU is 5-0 when rushing for 200 or more yards this season.
CAN I KICK IT?: Coastal was 4-for-4 on field goals with three from Kian Afrookhteh (30, 34, 28) and a team season long kick of 47 yards from Philippe Laforge. Afrookteh added three PATs while Laforge hit one.
SIMPLY RED (ZONE): Coastal finished 5-for-5 in the red zone and converted 6 of 15 third downs, while Georgia State managed just three third-down conversions and 130 rushing yards on 37 attempts.
YOU GIVETH, WE TAKETH: Wayne's interception in the fourth quarter was the first of his career, and Brown's recovery was Coastal's 14th forced turnover of 2025.