Hurricane Sandy and the Chanticleers called the shots today, as Coastal Carolina (4-4, 2-1) knocked off Liberty (3-5, 2-1) 36-12. In a windy and rain-soaked rivalry contest, Coastal stays alive in the Big South Championship race. Liberty has now lost 5 games in a season for the first time since 2006.
Liberty controlled the clock in the first quarter, when a Josh Woodrum pass intended for Pat Kelly bounced off Kelly’s hands and landed in Coastal’s LaDarius Hawthorne hands. Hawthorne returned the interception 66 yards for a touchdown. On the ensuing PAT, Coastal QB Aramis Hillary took the snap and ran in for the 2 point conversion to give Coastal an 8-0 early lead.
Liberty answered shortly thereafter with a 44 yard John Lunsford field goal to make the game 8-3. Both teams failed to muster any long drives the next several series. That changed when Coastal RB Jeremy Height broke through the line of scrimmage for 46 yards and a Coastal touchdown giving Coastal the 15-3 lead at halftime.
Liberty was unable to get anything going offensively throughout the afternoon. Blame it on the weather conditions or give credit to Coastal’s defense, bottom line is Coastal controlled the game. Coastal extended the lead to 22-3 with 5:41 left in the 3rd quarter. From then on Liberty was playing catch up.
Josh Woodrum finished the day 25/42 for 179 yards, 1 touchdown and 3 interceptions. Aldreakis Allen finished the game with 50 yards on 16 carries. Pat Kelly paced the Flames with 16 receptions (a new school record), 122 yards and 1 touchdown.
Aramis Hillary finished 13/21 for 113 yards and 1 touchdown. Hillary also had 10 carries for 87 yards. Jeremy Height led the Chanticleers with 99 yards on 12 carries and 2 touchdowns. DeMario Bennett had 3 catches for 53 yards.
Liberty returns home next week to take on Charleston Southern who is currently on a 3 game win streak. Kickoff is set for 3:30.
Coastal heads to Boiling Springs to take on Gardner-Webb for a 1:30 kickoff.
