ICYMI: Dominating second half leads Liberty to a 34-17 win over Coastal Carolina in Jamey Chadwell’s return to the beach (AUDIO)

Conway, SC: You would be hard-pressed to find a college football game with more storylines than the one that unfolded on the “Surf Turf” at CCU on Thursday night. Not only was the matchup between Coastal Carolina and Liberty broadcast on national television, but it also marked the renewal of one of the most heated rivalries in Big South Conference football. Plus, you had Flames head coach Jamey Chadwell making his return to the “Grand Strand,” where he spent six seasons on the sideline.

And once again, Chadwell had the last laugh in Conway. The coach, who won 31 games in his last three seasons with the Chanticleers, hung another pelt on the wall with a 34-17 Liberty win over Coastal in front of an announced crowd of 22,116 at Brooks Stadium.

Trailing 17-10 at the break, Chadwell leaned on his patented spread-option attack to generate 24 points, 246 yards of total offense in the second half, while shutting out CCU in the final thirty minutes. Liberty’s defense was terrific in the final two quarters, harrassing CCU QB Deuce Bailey and holding Coastal to just forty-seven yards of total offense.

Game Recap Courtesy of CCU Media Relations: Deuce Bailey threw touchdown passes to Colton Hinton and Tristian Gardner in the second quarter to give Coastal (1-3) the lead at the break. Liberty (3-1) tied the game on its opening possession of the second half and moved ahead on a field goal later in the third quarter.

Bailey found Hinton for a 24-yard touchdown to tie the game at 10 with 5:26 left in the first half. Coastal then drove 80 yards in the final 1:08 of the half, with Bailey connecting with Gardner on a 39-yard touchdown pass with 24 seconds remaining.

Liberty answered with a 77-yard drive to open the third quarter. Deshawn Purdie’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Makai Jackson tied the game at 17, and Chase Reeves’ 24-yard field goal put the Flames ahead 20-17 with 4:52 left in the period. Ethan Vasko added an 8-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter and a 6-yard touchdown pass to Kam Davis with 1:02 remaining.

Bailey completed 17 of 34 passes for 213 yards and two touchdowns. Gardner led the Chanticleers with four catches for 86 yards, while Marcellis Pulliam had a team-high 12 tackles. Ibrahim Diawara recorded two sacks, and Se’Von McDowell recovered two fumbles.

Liberty finished with 485 yards of offense, including 263 rushing yards. Davis ran for 166 yards, and Jackson caught five passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

Coastal opens Sun Belt Conference play against Georgia Southern on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. at Brooks Stadium.

CCU HC Ryan Beard — Liberty Postgame Press Conference

Final Game Stats