Boone, NC: Six times they tried, and six times they failed. Heading into Tuesday night’s showdown at Appalachian State, Coastal Carolina was 0-6 at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone. The Chanticleers most recent trip (2021) ended in heartache as Chandler Staton kicked a 24-yard field goal as time expired to propel the Mountaineers to a 30-27 win over CCU. On their seventh trip to the “High Country,” it was CCU that would have the last laugh as Kade Hensley’s field goal, from nearly the same spot on the field as Staton’s game winner two years ago, split the sticks and handed the Chanticleers a 27-24 win over App State.
Portions of the Game Story are Courtesy of CCU Media Relations: CCU took the opening kick /off and quickly drove down the field thanks to two long pass plays from Grayson McCall to Jared Brown for 40 yards and Sam Pinckney for 31 yards. Braydon Bennett punched the ball in from one yard out to put the Chants on the scoreboard first. Hensley’s extra point gave CCU a 7-0 lead. The drive took seven plays and covered 83 yards in just 3:43.
After throwing a career-high four interceptions in a loss at Georgia Southern, McCall was nearly flawless against the Mountaineers. The redshirt senior answered back with a career-high 373 yards passing on 19-of-28 attempts with two touchdowns. He completed passes to seven different receivers on the night, recording his 85th and 86th career TDs, moving into second place on the Sun Belt Conference’s all-time touchdown list.
“Man, what a feeling,” McCall said afterwards. “It feels really good to come out here in Boone and get a win.”
The Mountaineers’ opened the second-half with a drive that resulted in a punt. On the ensuing possession, CCU failed to convert on fourth-and-three from the App State 46-yard line. The Mountaineers then drove down the field to knot the score at 17-17 on a two-yard pass play with 6:18 left in the third.
CCU responded with another quick scoring drive as McCall connected with Kendall Karr on 32-yard strike down the middle of the field for a TD. Hensley’s successful PAT made the score 24-17. The drive lasted just 3:30 and covered 77 yards on seven plays. During the drive included a 14-yard reception by Reese White for a first down and a defensive pass interference. The Chants went into the fourth quarter leading 24-17.
After the two teams traded punts, App State drove the ball 80 yards down the field, aided by a 67-yard pass completion, and scored on a five-yard pass. With 8:47 left in regulation, the score was even at 24-24.
On its next drive, CCU marched down the field but was unable to convert a fourth-and-two from the App State 14-yard line. On the very next play, the Mountaineers completed a 69-yard pass, but Milan Tucker was hit from behind by Coastal’s Keonte Lusk and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Abraham Temoney at the Chanticleers’ 16-yard line. The Chants took advantage of the miscue and marched down the field to the seven-yard, where Hensley nailed the game-winning 24-yard field goal as time expired. The closing drive covered 77 yards on 11 plays and used up the final 4:43 of the contest.
CCU will play its third straight road game when it travels to Arkansas State on Saturday, Oct. 21st. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
