Coastal Carolina University (CCU) football fans set the 8th largest attendance of 18,552 at the Oct. 5 victory versus Old Dominion University (ODU) 45-37.
Starting the game, running back Bryce Duke from Old Dominion made the first touchdown with a 10-yard pass from quarterback Colton Joseph with just over three minutes left in the first quarter.
CCU’s tight end Cane Berrong got the first Chanticleer touchdown with an eight-yard pass from quarterback Ethan Vasko in the first quarter with 45 seconds remaining. Vasko had a career night throwing 367 yards and three touchdowns on 19-of-29 passing.
ODU transfer from Iowa University Diante Vines scored a touchdown for the Monarchs with 54 seconds left of the third quarter unguarded by CCU’s defense.
Ending the fourth quarter, Joseph made a one-yard run for a touchdown and kicker Ethan Sanchez made the field goal.
Running back Braydon Bennett marked over 2,000 passing yards and 21 touchdowns in his football career for Coastal in Saturday’s game.
“Good to get [Bennett] back,” head coach Tim Beck said.
Beck said he is proud of his players and that they played hard in the game against ODU. He also said they had a lot of penalties, and he is concerned about giving up over 500 yards in the past two games.
Juan Powell, nickel and redshirt senior who just transferred from East Carolina University, made his first career touchdown. In the endzone, Powell celebrated by sitting in teal lawn chairs taking in the moment in front of the fans.
“Just a moment we wanted to celebrate,” Powell said.
The Horry County Police Department made an entrance on motorcycles during the opening ceremony. CCU President Michael Benson was the special guest to lead the pregame chant. Through the game, Coastal recognized other sports teams including the women’s beach volleyball team and the men’s and women’s basketball team.
The cheer team celebrated the game against ODU by inviting the Conway youth cheer team to the sidelines of the game. The young kids danced and used their pompoms with their idols on the team and got the opportunity to dance side by side with them in front of thousands of fans on the field.
“I think that they have more horsepower, they got more depth and they are the better team all around,” CCU student Jake Gada said about the Chanticleers.
