Conway, SC: After every CCU football win, the team gathers in the locker room to celebrate with a victory song. And with apologies to Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, the guys did enjoy singing in the rain.
Backup quarterback Samari Collier accounted for two touchdowns, and the Chanticleers rushed for a season-high 277 yards to post a 23-8 win over ULM on Saturday night at Brooks Stadium in Conway. The contest was played entirely in a driving rainstorm that was fed by a coastal low that formed just off of the South Carolina coast late Friday. The win improved the Chanticleers to 3-3 on the season and 2-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. Heading into next week’s road trip to App State, CCU is one game behind James Madison for the East Division lead.
Game Story Courtesy of CCU Media Relations: Collier led the charge with 86 rushing yards and a 39-yard touchdown run, while Ja’Vin Simpkins added 63 yards and Jevon Edwards chipped in 48 as the Chants featured a balanced, multi-headed attack that wore down the Warhawks (3–3, 1–1 Sun Belt). CCU starting QB Tad Hudson went 2-3 passing early before exiting the game in the first half, heading to the locker room and giving way to Collier. Head coach Tim Beck did not have an update on Hudson’s condition in his postgame press conference.
Coastal’s offense set the tone early behind the steady foot of Kian Afrookhteh, who connected on field goals of 38, 26, and 39 yards to give the Chanticleers a 9–0 lead. Just before halftime, Collier capped a 73-yard drive by hitting Brooks Johnson for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds left in the second quarter to extend the margin to 16–0.
ULM briefly clawed back in the third quarter as Aidan Armenta found Jonathan Bibbs for a 27-yard score, followed by a successful two-point conversion to make it 16–8. But Collier responded on the next series, racing 39 yards up the middle for the decisive touchdown that pushed the lead back to 23–8.
The Chanticleer defense did its part, holding the Warhawks to just one red-zone trip and forcing two interceptions — one each by Avyonne Jones and Xamarion Gordon. Tray Brown paced the unit with six tackles and two tackles for loss as Coastal limited ULM to 315 total yards and only one third-down conversion (1-for-13).
Afrookhteh remained perfect on the season and handled the swirling winds with confidence, converting all three field goals and both PATs.
The Chants and Mountaineers will kick things off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 18 inside Kidd-Brewer Stadium.