“Almost Heaven”: Coastal Carolina’s upset bid falls just shy as West Virginia hangs on for a 31-24 victory in Morgantown (AUDIO)

Late in the first half on Saturday, you could hear the faint sounds of “Country Roads” wafting through the hills of Morgantown, West Virginia. The John Denver classic has been used to celebrate WVU victories since the early 1970s. And once Cam Cook crossed the goal line for the second time in the opening half with 1:18 to go before the break, the Mountaineers enjoyed a 24-0 lead on Coastal Carolina, and the announced crowd of 54,158 were beginning to loosen their vocal cords for the postgame celebration.

Ryan Beard and the Chanticleers had different ideas.

After being held to just 114 yards of total offense in the opening half, CCU exploded for 24 points and 311 yards to close WVU’s lead to 31-24 with :27 remaining. However, the Chanticleers were unable to recover a late-onside kick, and the Mountaineers were able to escape with a seven-point win. Cranking up the legendary Denver hit.

Game Story: Courtesy of CCU Media Relations:

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Coastal Carolina mounted a second-half comeback but could not erase an early deficit, falling 31–24 to West Virginia in Saturday’s season opener at Milan Puskar Stadium.

After trailing 24–0 at halftime, the Chanticleers outscored the Mountaineers 24–7 over the final two quarters and finished with 425 yards of total offense.

Quarterback Deuce Bailey completed 21-of-37 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Clayton Coppock, Jr. led Coastal’s receiving corps with 83 yards and two touchdowns on four catches, while Robby Washington added 80 yards on three receptions. Colton Hinton caught three passes for 53 yards and a score.

Coastal broke through late in the third quarter when Bailey connected with Coppock for a 34-yard touchdown, completing a 12-play, 99-yard drive that took 7:13 off the clock. It marked the eighth 99-yard touchdown drive in program history and the Chanticleers’ first on the road since Grayson McCall‘s 99-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely against Arkansas State in 2021.

The Chants struck again early in the fourth quarter. Bailey found Washington for a 58-yard gain before connecting with Hinton on a 13-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 24–14.

West Virginia extended its lead to 31–14 with 2:58 remaining, but Coastal continued to battle. Bailey answered with a 37-yard touchdown pass to Coppock, and Nico Cavanillas Alti added a 32-yard field goal with 27 seconds remaining to pull the Chants within seven.

Bailey’s 373 passing yards are the most by a Chanticleer since Grayson McCall threw for the same total against Appalachian State in 2023, tying both quarterbacks for the fourth-most in a single game in program history.

With the loss, Coastal Carolina falls to 0–1, while West Virginia improves to 1–0.

CCU HC Ryan Beard — West Virginia Postgame (09-05)

Final Stats