Coastal Carolina and Georgia Southern University put together an offensive showcase, with Georgia Southern holding on late for a 45-40 win at Allen E. Paulson Stadium.
The matchup featured multiple long touchdowns, several trick plays and a notable performance from Georgia Southern running back OJ Arnold.
According to ESPN+, Coastal opened the night with a defensive stop as cornerback Ja’Marion Wayne closed downhill for a tackle for loss, but the Chanticleers’ first offensive drive ended in a three-and-out.
Georgia Southern struck first when quarterback JC French IV scrambled for 21 yards and Arnold followed with a 51-yard run to set up a short touchdown for a 7-0 lead.
Coastal answered immediately with a designed trick play.
Wide receiver Bryson Graves took a handoff and threw deep to wide receiver Jameson Tucker for a 75-yard touchdown, tying the game 7-7. Georgia Southern moved back in front after a 42-yard catch from wide receiver Camden Brown and a goal-line fade that made it 14-7.
The Chanticleers responded as running back Ja’Vin Simpkins broke a 27-yard run and Coastal recovered a fumble on the next possession.
CCU quarterback Samari Collier then scrambled for a first down and later scored on a quarterback power to tie the game 14-14.
The Chants didn’t keep the tie for long as Arnold broke loose again on the following drive with a 62-yard touchdown to regain the lead for Georgia Southern at 21-14.
Coastal cut the deficit after Collier’s 48-yard run set up a kicker Kian Afrookhteh field goal, making it 21-17 at the end of the first quarter. Collier also went down with an injury.
Georgia Southern extended the margin early in the second when Arnold turned a screen into a 41-yard touchdown. Coastal countered with a 51-yard field goal from kicker Philippe Laforge to make it 28-20. Georgia Southern added another score after an interception set them up inside the 5, and French IV connected with Brown again for a touchdown to take a 35-20 lead.
Coastal responded to the ensuing kickoff as wide receiver Malcolm Gillie returned 96 yards for a touchdown, cutting it to 35-27. Safety Xamarion Gordon intercepted French IV late in the half to send the teams into the break with Georgia Southern leading 35-27.
Coastal came out sharp in the third quarter.
Quarterback Tad Hudson connected with wide receiver Cameron Wright and running back Dominic Knicely on back-to-back gains before hitting Tucker for another first down.
The Chanticleers again used misdirection as wide receiver Robby Washington took a handoff and threw to wide receiver Karmello English for a touchdown, bringing the score to 35-33 after the unsuccessful two-point attempt.
Georgia Southern answered with a trick play of its own as Arnold completed a 73-yard touchdown pass to Brown, extending the lead to 42-33. Coastal reached scoring position again later in the quarter, but the field goal attempt was blocked. Georgia Southern then moved down the field due to a 43-yard completion to wide receiver Dalen Cobb and entered the fourth quarter ahead 42-33.
Georgia Southern opened the fourth with a field goal to make it 45-33. Coastal cut into the lead when Hudson found English and Knicely scored on a 16-yard run, bringing it to 45-40. The Chanticleers’ next drive was halted by a pass breakup, and Georgia Southern relied on Arnold again, who broke a 55-yard run to help secure the outcome.
Arnold finished with 267 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns, 53 receiving yards and 1 receiving touchdown, and a completed 73-yard touchdown pass, totaling over 390 yards of offense.
Coastal Carolina’s next matchup is away at Williams Brice Stadium in Columbia, South Carolina against the University of South Carolina Gamecocks on Nov. 22 at 4:15 p.m.
