Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Big South
There are many superlatives to describe Coastal Carolina’s season. It is the first Big South team to win its first 11 games and they earned a share of the league title for the third straight season. They scored 30 or more points in 11 games, which is a Big South record to start a season, and the Chanticleers are ranked in the top 25 nationally in several categories: passing efficiency, passing offense, rushing offense, total offense, scoring offense, pass efficiency defense, scoring defense and on and on. In addition, Coastal is 26-2 over its last 28 regular season FCS games. Still, none of that is as significant as its 42-35 victory over Montana last December 7th in Missoula, Montana, in the second round of the FCS playoffs in frigid conditions. That victory gave coach Joe Moglia’s program a sense of legitimacy that might have been lacking before that contest.
2014 Record: 11-1, 4-1
Coach: Joe Moglia
Big Wins: 9/13 South Carolina State (30-3), 10/25 Charleston Southern (43-22)
Bad Losses: 11/22 Liberty (14-15)
Strengths:
When a team scores 30 points or more in every game but one, it’s a given it knows something about moving the football. Coastal Carolina does. The Chanticleers can run and pass. Junior quarterback Alex Ross is now the school’s single-season passing leader. He is among the top 15 nationally in passing yards and is closing in on Tyler Thigpen’s school mark for career TD passes. Ross also has rushed for more than 500 yards. Sophomore De’Angelo Henderson is the top running threat as he’s gone over 1,200 yards rushing this season. He ranks second on Coastal’s single-season yardage mark and could threaten the record if CCU has an extended playoff run. Sophomore Bruce Mapp has more than 700 receiving yards this season, but CCU is well-balanced as John Israel and Tyrell Blanks each have more than 600. Defensively, two-time Big South Player of the Year Quinn Backus leads the Chants at linebacker. He was the league’s top tackler in 2012 and 2013 and entered the Liberty contest as the top tackler in the league. Against Liberty, he had 20 tackles to tie a school record.
Weaknesses:
Despite the lofty record, the Chanticleers had some close calls this season. They just nipped North Carolina A&T 31-30, and survived Furman 37-31 in two overtimes. Then, of course, Liberty stunned Coastal in the season finale when it blocked a field goal on the game’s final play to nip the Chanticleers 15-14. North Carolina A&T rushed for 235 yards against CCU and Furman had 276 yards. The Chanticleers were ranked 69th nationally in rushing defense entering the Liberty contest. In total defense, they were 49th. Another note, CCU had five turnovers against North Carolina A&T. Through the regular season, Coastal had 10 fumbles and 11 interceptions.
Statistical Leaders:
Rushing: De’Angelo Henderson, RB, 1,257 yards
Passing: QB, Alex Ross, 3,021 yards
Receiving: Bruce Mapp, WR, 819 yards
Tackles: Quinn Backus, LB, 109
Sacks: Roderick Holder, DE, 6.5
Interceptions: Pernell Williams, DB, 4
2014 Team Stats:
Rushing Offense: 215.8 (21st in nation, 2nd in conference)
Passing Offense: 266.5 (19, 1)
Total Offense: 482.3 (13, 1)
Scoring Offense: 40.0 (9, 1)
Rushing Defense: 176.6 (69, 4)
Pass Defense: 190.8 (29, 3)
Total Defense: 367.5 (49, 2)
Scoring Defense: 18.6 (15, 1)
Turnover Margin: 0.18 (50, 5)
Sacks: 2.36 (39, 1)
Sacks Allowed: 1.00 (11, 2)
Recent Playoff Appearances:
2013 First Round Defeated Bethune-Cookman
2013 Second Round Defeated Montana
2013 Quarterfinals Lost to North Dakota State
2012 First Round Defeated Bethune-Cookman
2012 Second Round Lost to Old Dominion
2010 First Round Lost to Western Illinois
2006 First Round Lost to Appalachian State
*all team stats through 11/15
