Game of inches: Chants still going
Coastal Carolina stuffs BYU at the 1-yard line as time expires
CONWAY, S.C. — Mateo Sudipo stopped BYU’s Dax Milne at the 1-yard line as time expired and No. 14 Coastal Carolina beat the eighth-ranked Cougars 22-17 in shortnotice showdown of 9-0 teams Saturday night.
The Cougars (9-1, No. 13 CFP) were a late-week fill-in, traveling more than 2,200 miles to the South Carolina coast and eagerly stepping after No. 25 Liberty had to back out of the game Thursday due to COVID-19 concerns.
It sure looked like an uphill climb for Coastal (10-0), the Sun Belt East champs, as BYU entered with one of the game’s most dynamic passers in Zach Wilson and the fourth-highest scoring offense in the country at more than 47 points a game.
But the Chanticleers controlled the clock with three long touchdown drives and made plays when it counted — none bigger than when the freshman safety Sudipo corralled Milne a few steps from the end zone. It will go down as a 17-yard completion, but the Cougars needed 18 on their final play.
That sealed Coastal Carolina’s biggest victory in the program’s four FBS seasons.
Wilson was 19 of 30 for 240 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The Cougars defense, which had allowed less than 90 yards rushing a game coming in, was pounded by Coastal Carolina for 281 yards.
CJ Marable rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns for the Chanticleers.
BYU’s attack was quick and decisive. Coastal’s was deliberate and relentless. Both ways were effective in the opening half. The Chanticleers put together the longest drive in program history going 94 yards on 17 plays over 9:05 of the opening quarter to start the scoring as Marable, who accounted for 39 yards on the series,
finished with a 5-yard TD run.
It took Wilson and the Cougars just 1:15 to respond as Tyson Allgeier broke through for a 42-yard scoring run.
Again, Coastal took its time on the way to the end zone with an 11-play, 5:54 series that ended on Reese White’s 1-yard run. Once more, Wilson got it back in a hurry, covering 94 yards on six plays including his 41-yard scoring pass to Dax Milne.