#17–Coastal Carolina came into Saturday’s game against winless UMass as heavy favorites. Four minutes into the game, fans began to see why. An early mistake by the Minutemen punt team set the Chanticleers up with first and goal at the four yard line. Two plays later, CCU QB Grayson McCall walked into the end zone and the rout was on as Coastal cruised to a 53-3 victory in front of an announced crowd of 15,261 at Brooks Stadium in Conway. It was the eighth largest margin of victory in program history.
McCall, who played just the opening half because of the lopsided score, next led the Chanticleers on a 99-yard drive which was punctuated by a Reese White 12-yard TD run. It was the fifth time in program history in which CCU recorded a march of that length. It also jumpstarted Coastal’s offense which outgained UMass 558 to 158, rushing for 312 yards in the process.
Braydon Bennett, the son of former Gamecock running back Brandon Bennett, led Coastal in rushing with 83 yards on eight carries and a touchdown. Jaivon Heiligh went over one hundred yards receiving once again, while hauling in one of the two TD passes thrown by McCall.
UMass QB Brady Olson was 14-of-23 for eighty-six yards, while back-up quarterback Garrett Dzuro led the only scoring drive for the Minutemen midway through the fourth quarter. The 57-yard, 13 play journey ended with a 35-yard Cameron Carson field goal.
The Chanticleers (4-0) begin Sun Belt Conference play next Saturday as they’ll host Louisiana-Monroe at 2:30pm in Conway. Meantime, UMass (0-4) entertains Toledo next weeekend.
