Early in the game, a video package appeared on CCU’s new scoreboard during a break in the action.
With triumphant music playing in Brooks Stadium, the voiceover declared the home field was a fortress that the Chants must protect, adding that the football game is about the details and the little things, in particular.
It was a noteworthy declaration, given the state of CCU’s season. The little things — dropped passes, botched special teams play, getting smoked in the deep passing game and turnovers — have hurt Coastal frequently in 2024.
With the Ragin’ Cajuns coming to Conway, the Chants needed to focus on those little things to have a chance at winning.
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette had different plans, as the Ragin’ Cajuns (6-1) beat the Chants (4-3), 34-24. The dagger came on a play emblematic of the game.
CCU’s defense repeatedly gave up big plays through the air, but on third-and-13 with fewer than three minutes left in the game, Coastal had an opportunity to give the ball back to its offense.
The Chants pass rush pressured UL Lafayette quarterback Ben Wooldridge, but couldn’t bring him down. Instead, Wooldridge threw deep again to wide receiver Terrance Carter, who was double-covered. But Carter caught the ball, shed a tackle, and scampered into the end zone for the game-ending touchdown.
Despite swapping quarterbacks in the second quarter and racking up more than 200 yards rushing, CCU could not keep up. Had Coach Tim Beck said after the game that the mistakes and early 14-0 deficit proved too much for Coastal to overcome.
“It was too little too late at the end of the day, and we had some opportunities to make some plays, and we didn’t, and they did,” Beck said ‘It’s a tough one.”
The Chants have now lost three of its last four games and stand at a crossroads in its season. The passing offense is struggling to stay effective, while the defense is struggling to contain opponents’ passing games, reminiscent of CCU’s pitfalls in 2022 in former head coach Jamey Chadwell’s final year.
CCU faced a similar dilemma in 2023, starting the season 2-3 and responding with five straight wins. While Coastal has struggled to maintain momentum this year, regaining their early season form will be critical for CCU as this year progresses.
Here’s what we learned:
The little details and defense hurt Coastal once more
As has happened previously this season, Coastal’s own small mistakes cost it the game. Penalties, in particular, proved to be fatal. A third-quarter offensive pass interference led to a CCU field goal, which tied the game at 17-17 — despite the Chants reaching UL Lafayette’s end zone..
Defensive pass interference late in the fourth quarter converted a possible 3rd-and-12 into a first down for the Ragin’ Cajuns.. It extended a drive, and the Chants needed to stop so the offense could get back onto the field. The Ragin’ Cajuns took advantage by scoring the game-ending touchdown later in the drive. Coupled with a missed field goal late in the fourth quarter, the issues resembled some of the problems CCU faced in 2023.
“Coming off a penalty like that, it’s kind of hard to, you know, get your momentum back, you know, during that drive,” Noah Kim, who replaced starting quarterback Ethan Vasko in the second quarter, said after the game. “Foolish penalties, those are drive killers.”
Blown coverages on defense also proved a problem. Beck said the first touchdown UL Lafayette scored was due to a defensive error that left the wide receiver wide open.
“It’s not the call, it’s not the effort, it’s not the technique, it’s not the fundamentals,” Beck said. “(The Coastal Carolina defender) didn’t guard the guy, and they found him and scored a touchdown.”
Beck said he had focused on these concerns during practice during his midweek press conference before the game. Beck added that after the game, he thought his team did better at avoiding critical mistakes , but that more work is needed, including the pass defense.
The Chants nearly gave up 400 yards passing and they have surrendered three passing touchdowns in three straight games.
Meanwhile, CCU’s pass offense continued to struggle as well.
The passing game’s been inconsistent
The game proved tense for the Chants. Starting quarterback Ethan Vasko was benched after starting the game 3-for-10 passing. CCU’s offense seemed to be in trouble starting the game, only to receive aid from a resurgent running game and a strong performance by CCU running back Braydon Bennett.
Kim needed to reset CCU’s passing game when he entered the game. The Chants’ passing game had broken down. The Chants entered the game with the worst completion percentage in the Sun Belt Conference, and beginning with CCU’s blowout loss to James Madison University, Coastal’s vertical game was coming undone.
Things did not start much better for Coastal to start their match-up against the Ragin’ Cajuns. Receivers were dropping passes, and aside from a couple of screen and shuffle passes, Coastal’s offense was in trouble.
The Chants were down 14-0 with more than 12 minutes to play in the second quarter. If they could not get on the scoreboard, CCU might let the game slip away as it did against the University of Virginia and JMU.
The Chants’ defense hadn’t yet proved they could consistently stop the UL Lafayette’s offense. The Ragin’ Cajuns had effectively exploited CCU’s defensive secondary, particularly when Wooldridge moved outside the pocket and threw for almost 130 yards in the first quarter alone.
Kim’s first pass didn’t help, as the throw to wide receiver Senika McKie in the end zone sailed too far in front of the graduate student. Kim’s throw bounced off the teal turf and over the fence separating the stadium from University Boulevard, landing on the concrete next to some bemused passersby.
Kim, a Michigan State transfer, soon found his rhythm with a touchdown pass to Kendall Karr and then another to fifth-year running back Braydon Bennett later in the second quarter to halt the Ragin’ Cajuns from running away with the game.
CCU’s passing game’s been hot and cold all season, with a combination of drops and other problems hampering it.
“It’s what we’ve been missing, to be honest,” Beck said. “We haven’t been in sync offensively for five, six quarters, and you saw it back today, like it had been.”
Coastal’s offense got a spark from ground game
Kim’s efforts were helped by a resurgent running game by the Chants. Bennett led the charge, finishing the game with 132 yards on 13 carries and a 50-yard rushing touchdown. Bennett’s 45-yard rushing helped set up CCU’s first touchdown. Simeon Price also proved effective, as the CCU running game that buttressed them at the start of the season has seemingly returned to form.
Kim said after the game that Coastal’s path to success on offense relies on the offensive line.
“As long as we continue to push our this team flows through (the offensive line),” Kim said. “I think we can win out the rest of the year, and we can do whatever we set our minds to.”
Indeed, Coastal hit 200 yards rushing for the third time this season, a change in fortune for CCU.. Coastal’s running offense has been hampered by season injuries all year.
Bennett and Price have missed games this season. a’Vin Simpkins’ promising season was cut down by a season-ending injury after only appearing in two games — joining teammate Max Balthazar, who was ruled out for the year before the year began. Christian Washington also did not appear against the Ragin’ Cajuns because he was suspended for violating team rules, Beck announced after the game.
“He’ll be back,” Beck added. Provided he does what he is supposed to.”
Also absent from the game was backup quarterback DJ Moore. A freshman, Moore typically dressed during games but did not appear to during the Ragin’ Cajuns game.
Beck declined to say if Moore was suspended or injured.
CCU will have a week off before returning to the road. Coastal will play Troy University at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2. Troy beat Coastal, 45-26, in the schools’ last matchup in the 2022 Sun Belt Conference championship game.
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