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.
 
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