Conway, SC: CCU head coach Tim Beck said it was “probably one of the weirdest stats in college football” when asked earlier this week about the series between Coastal Carolina and Georgia State. In the previous eight meetings, the visiting team had won every game, including CCU’s 48-27 win in Atlanta last season that clinched bowl eligibility for the Chanticleers. Fast forward a year, and that “weird stat” is no longer a talking point.
QB Samari Collier took Coastal’s first play from scrimmage 85 yards for a touchdown to set the tone as Coastal defeated Georgia State 40-27 in front of an announced Homecoming crowd of 18,878 at Brooks Stadium in Conway on Saturday. The win was not only the first for the home team in the series, but it also clinched bowl eligibility for CCU for the sixth straight season.
Game Story Courtesy of CCU Media Relations: 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. The 324 yards rushing marked the first time since November of 2021 that Coastal has eclipsed the 300-yard rushing plateau.
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.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Samari Collier: 11-of-18 passing for 120 yards, 3 TDs; 123 rushing yards and a score on 10 carries.
- Karmello English: 4 receptions, 63 yards, 2 TDs.
- Ja’Vin Simpkins & Jevon Edwards: Combined 23 carries for 154 yards.
- Defense: CCU forced two turnovers (interception by Ja’Marion Wayne, fumble recovery by Brown) and tallied two sacks.
NOTEBOOK
YOU GIVETH, WE TAKETH: Wayne’s interception in the fourth quarter was the first of his career, and Brown’s recovery was Coastal’s 14th forced turnover of 2025.
GOING BOWLING: With its sixth win of the campaign, Coastal Carolina is bowl eligible for the sixth-straight season.
LAND WARFARE: The Chanticleers rushed for 324 yards on the game (6.9 yards per carry), the fifth straight game with 200-plus yards on the ground, the fifth time this season surpassing the 200-yard mark and the first time Coastal has rushed for 300 yards in a game since Nov. 26, 2021, vs. South Alabama. CCU is 5-0 when rushing for 200 or more yards this season.
SIMPLY RED (ZONE): Coastal finished 5-for-5 in the red zone and converted 6 of 15 third downs, while Georgia State managed just three third-down conversions and 130 rushing yards on 37 attempts.