In a highly anticipated showdown at Brooks Stadium, Coastal Carolina Chanticleers suffered their first loss of the season, falling 43-24 to the Virginia Cavaliers. The game, played at 2 p.m. Eastern, marked a sobering moment for the Chanticleers, who entered the game undefeated at 3-0 under second-year head coach Tim Beck. Virginia's potent running game and timely conversions overwhelmed the Chanticleers, snapping their winning streak and exposing some key vulnerabilities.
A Rough Start for Coastal
The Chanticleers' misfortune began right from the opening kickoff. Receiver Tray Taylor fumbled the return, setting the Cavaliers up at Coastal's 14-yard line. It took Virginia only 90 seconds to capitalize on the mistake, jumping ahead 7-0 early. While Coastal Carolina responded with a 9-play, 52-yard drive capped by a 30-yard field goal from Kade Hensley, bringing the score to 7-3, it was the closest the Chanticleers would get for the rest of the afternoon.
Virginia's Ground Game Dominates
Virginia's running attack proved unstoppable from the first quarter, as the Cavaliers averaged a staggering 7.9 yards per carry in the opening frame. They quickly extended their lead to 14-3, and Coastal Carolina’s defense struggled to contain them. Virginia running back Xavier Brown was a standout performer, shredding the Chanticleers for 171 yards on just 9 carries, averaging an eye-popping 19.0 yards per carry. His backfield mate, Kobe Pace, chipped in with 57 yards on 15 carries, including a touchdown. As a team, the Cavaliers ran for a total of 384 yards on 58 carries, controlling the clock and wearing down the Coastal defense.
The Chanticleers' usually dominant rushing attack, which had been key to their 3-0 start, was stifled by the Cavaliers. Coastal managed only 82 yards on 24 carries, far below their season average of 251 rushing yards per game. Dual-threat quarterback Ethan Vasko, known for his mobility, was held in check, running for just 24 yards on 8 carries. Vasko’s passing game was also inconsistent as he finished 10-of-21 for 222 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
Offensive Bright Spots
Despite the loss, there were a few bright spots for the Chanticleers' offense. Tray Taylor, despite his early fumble, redeemed himself with a 58-yard reception, finishing the game with 3 catches for 70 yards. Tight end Kendall Karr contributed a 65-yard catch, while Jameson Tucker hauled in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Vasko, part of his 3 catches for 63 yards. Backup quarterback Noah Kim also made an appearance late in the third quarter, throwing a 15-yard touchdown pass to receiver Bryson Graves early in the fourth quarter, though the game was already out of reach with the score at 43-17.
Defensive Struggles
Coastal Carolina's defense, which had allowed an average of just 131 rushing yards per game coming into the contest, had no answer for Virginia’s relentless ground game. The Cavaliers, despite being frequently set back by penalties that left them in 2nd and 3rd-and-long situations, converted key downs throughout the game. Virginia quarterback Anthony Colandrea managed the game efficiently, going 13-of-20 for 131 yards and 2 touchdowns, while receiver Malachi Fields, standing at 6'4", 220 pounds, was a tough cover for Coastal’s secondary. Fields caught 4 passes for 65 yards, including 2 touchdowns.
Moving Forward
With the loss, Coastal Carolina drops to 3-1 on the season and will look to regroup during their bye week before taking on Old Dominion on Saturday, October 5. Coach Tim Beck and his staff will need to focus on shoring up the defense and reigniting the running game that had been so successful in the first three weeks of the season.
Virginia, also heading into a bye week, will look to build on their commanding win when they face Boston College on October 5.
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