No. 15 Coastal Carolina chasing bigger stakes with each win

Posted

No. 15 Coastal Carolina has already reached a couple of major landmarks. Now, the Chants could be eying another milestone with a spot in a New Year's Six bowl game.

The Chanticleers (6-0, 4-0 Sun Belt Conference) became bowl eligible for the first time in their three seasons playing in college football's top tier with a 51-0 victory over Georgia State last week. The next day, Coastal Carolina became the Sun Belt's highest-ever ranked team.

If the wins keep piling up, the Chants could become impossible to keep out of a New Year's Six bowl come next month.

The quest continues Saturday night when Coastal Carolina plays South Alabama (3-3, 2-1).

"I'm pretty proud of what we've done so far, but we're not satisfied at all," offensive lineman Trey Carter said. "We all believe we can get a lot better. We all know we're playing pretty good ball right now, but we've got a long way to go to get to where we want to be."

That destination could be a big-time bowl.

"I've thought about it for sure," Carter said. "I've done scenarios in my head where that would happen."

Count on coach Jamey Chadwell to pump the breaks a bit.

Chadwell likes his team's attitude at not getting too far ahead of themselves. It's not quite time to plan for a New Year's Six spot.

"Each week, we're just trying to avoid the COVID-19 virus and play better than we did," Chadwell said. "If we get up to 12-0 and Sun Belt champions, we'll do a commercial for that and maybe they'll put us in."

They'll make it hard to keep out if they keep moving up the rankings and into the top 12. And they're playing like they can't be stopped from reaching their goals.

The Chants are coming off a 51-0 beat down of Georgia State where quarterback Grayson McCall returned from injury to pass for 254 yards and four touchdowns.

South Alabama is trying to keep pace with one-loss Louisiana-Lafayette in the Sun Belt's West Division. The Jaguars are coming off a 24-17 loss at Georgia Southern last Saturday.

Some other things to watch for when No. 15 Coastal Carolina plays South Alabama:

REMEMBER LAST TIME

Coastal's Chadwell said there may be some holdover from the last time these teams played as South Alabama kept the Chants from a sixth win and a bowl game with a 31-28 victory.

LET'S PLAY TWO

There's a chance this could be the first of two meetings between these teams, the other one a potential Sun Belt Conference championship game next month. The Chanticleers are currently leading the East Division with Appalachian State in second at 2-0 in the league. Louisiana-Lafayette is 3-1 in the West with South Alabama next at 2-1.

"Coastal Carolina is a really good team, but we are also a really good team," Jaguars receiver Cade Sutherland said.

NICE LIKENESS

Coastal coach Jamey Chadwell answered a Canadian reporter's question about starting linebacker Enock Makonzo, who is front Lechine, Quebec. After expanding on Makonzo's ability, Chadwell closed with, "plus he looks like Morgan Freeman and we like that."

STOPPING MCCALL

South Alabama defensive coordinator Greg Stewart said his front linemen will have a challenge in slowing Coastal QB McCall. "You can send five or six and say, 'Man, we almost got there,' and he completes passes," Stewart said. "It's almost like he's got a clock in his head." The Chants have only allowed five sacks this season.

GETTING THE SHUTOUT

Chadwell said he knew his defensive coordinator Chad Staggs was looking at maintaining Coastal Carolina's first FBS shutout when he told the head coach, "Don't give them anything." The Chants offense didn't in defeating Georgia Southern 51-0 last week.

NO. 15 COASTAL CAROLINA VS. SOUTH ALABAMA

South Alabama (3-3, 2-1 Sun Belt) at No. 15 Coastal Carolina (6-0, 4-0), Saturday at 8 p.m. EST (ESPNU).

Line: Coastal Carolina by 18.

Series record: South Alabama leads 1-0.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

How far can the fun-loving Chanticleers take their undefeated season? Coastal Carolina has already set a new high for Sun Belt Conference teams in The AP Top 25. Sure, the global pandemic has altered the college football landscape. But should the Chants keep winning, it's not out of the question to think of them as New Year's Six selection.

KEY MATCHUP

Coastal Carolina QB Grayson McCall vs. South Alabama's pass defense. McCall has been one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the country with 15 touchdown passes against just one interception. The Jaguars have been susceptible to opposing passing attacks, giving up more than 240 yards a game through the air.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

South Alabama: QB Desmond Trotter has thrown for 944 yards and eight touchdowns and run for 77 yards and another score. The sophomore has accounted for 2,038 yards of total offense the past two seasons, already 10th on the school's career list in that category.

Coastal Carolina: RB CJ Marable heads a strong group of runners for the Chants, leading the way with 338 yards and five touchdowns.

FACTS & FIGURES

Coastal Carolina's 7-0 start would be its best since joining the FBS in 2017. The Chants were 7-0 as an Football Championship Subdivision program in 2013, 2014 and 2015. ... South Alabama has never played at Coastal Carolina the past three Sun Belt seasons. The Jaguars only trip to the Palmetto State came in 2014 in a loss at South Carolina. ... Coastal Carolina held Georgia State to just 30 passing yards, nearly 200 below its season average coming in. ... South Alabama has never beaten a ranked opponent on the road. It lost at No. 23 Mississippi State in 2012 and at No. 24 Nebraska last season. ... The Jaguars last victory over a Top 25 team was at home over then-19th-ranked San Diego State in 2016. ... Coastal Carolina has allowed just five sacks in six games, tied for seventh nationally in the FBS.