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Coastal Carolina snapped its losing streak Saturday afternoon, defeating Georgia State 31-20 at Center Parc Credit Union Stadium in Atlanta.
Behind two touchdown receptions from Clayton Coppock Jr., a pair of second-half scoring drives and a strong defensive effort, the Chanticleers improved to 3-5 overall and 2-2 in Sun Belt play. Coastal built a 25-point lead in the second half before holding off a late Panthers rally to secure its fifth consecutive road victory over Georgia State and remain undefeated in Atlanta.
The Chanticleers came up empty on their opening possession after kicker Nico Cavanillas Alti missed a 42-yard field goal to cap a 15-play drive. The miss marked just his second field goal miss of the season, coming two weeks after he connected on a school-record 58-yard attempt against App State.
The Panthers struck first, settling for a 32-yard field goal with just over two minutes remaining in the opening quarter. The kick capped a six-minute, 53-second drive that featured a key 19-yard connection between quarterback Ayden Pereira and wide receiver Rodshaun Dorsey on fourth down. Pereira stepped into the starting role in place of Cameran Brown, who was sidelined with a foot injury.
Coastal Carolina responded with a 21-yard touchdown reception by sophomore wide receiver and Kennesaw State transfer Clayton Coppock Jr. The Atlanta native found the end zone in his hometown, giving the Chanticleers a 7-3 lead with just over 10 minutes remaining in the first half. Coastal capitalized on favorable field position after Georgia State punter Landon Vargas managed just a 14-yard punt on the Panthers’ previous possession, setting the Chanticleers up at the Georgia State 30-yard line.
The Chanticleers quickly retained possession, but Georgia State’s pressure forced Deuce Bailey into an incompletion on third down, leading Coastal to settle for a field goal. Cavanillas Alti connected from 53 yards out to extend the Chanticleers’ lead to 10-3. The kick marked his fourth field goal of 50 or more yards this season.
The Panthers quickly moved into scoring position as Qwantavius Wiggins broke loose for an explosive 58-yard run. However, Georgia State failed to capitalize, as kicker Samer Layous missed a 31-yard field goal attempt, leaving the Panthers scoreless on the drive with just under six minutes remaining in the first half.
Coastal extended its lead to 17-3 with just under two minutes remaining in the first half as tight end Zach Courtney hauled in a 25-yard catch-and-run, hurdling a defender on his way into the end zone for his first touchdown of the season. Courtney, who missed the beginning of the season with a mid-body injury, celebrated with visible emotion after finding the end zone for the first time this year.
Georgia State trimmed Coastal’s lead to 17-6 just before halftime as Layous connected on a 32-yard field goal to cap an 11-play, 61-yard drive. The Panthers headed into the locker room trailing by 11 and will receive the opening kickoff of the second half after deferring the opening possession.
Halftime: Coastal Carolina: 17, Georgia State 6
Four minutes into the third quarter, Georgia State’s Jaden Kelly intercepted Bailey on second down, marking the freshman quarterback’s fifth interception of the season and giving the Panthers possession in Coastal territory.
Georgia State appeared to capitalize on the turnover when Kyle Washington broke free for a 36-yard catch-and-run touchdown on fourth down. However, the score was wiped off the board due to an offensive pass interference penalty, forcing the Panthers to punt and waste the opportunity created by the interception.
The ensuing drive featured one of the wildest sequences of the afternoon. Bailey’s pass was batted down by Georgia State defensive lineman Alex Mullings before ricocheting off another defender and landing back in Mullings’ hands for an interception. However, Bailey refused to give up on the play, diving at Mullings during the return and forcing a fumble that rolled into the end zone for a touchback. The turnover was overturned in Coastal’s favor, allowing the Chanticleers to retain possession at the Georgia State 20-yard line.
The Chanticleers capitalized on the momentum swing as Coppock Jr. hauled in a spectacular 31-yard, one-handed touchdown catch near the pylon for his second score of the afternoon. After appearing to turn the ball over just moments earlier, Coastal came away with possession and quickly turned the opportunity into seven points, extending the lead to 24-6, and completing a dramatic sequence that began with an interception.
Coastal Carolina found the end zone for the second consecutive drive as Jaden Allen-Hendrix punched in a two-yard rushing touchdown to extend the Chanticleers’ lead to 25 points. The score was set up by a 39-yard catch-and-run from Courtney, who was brought down at the Georgia State two-yard line. Everything was clicking for the Chanticleers as they continued to build their advantage in the second half.
Georgia State finally found the end zone with 12 minutes remaining as Grant Hollier hauled in a nine-yard touchdown reception to cap the Panthers’ scoring drought. Hollier led Georgia State’s receiving game with three catches for 52 yards and a touchdown. The Panthers followed the score with a successful two-point conversion, cutting Coastal’s lead to 31-14.
Georgia State continued to chip away at the deficit after Bailey was sacked for a 22-yard loss, fumbling on the play as Jaydon Hood forced the ball loose and Antonio Wesley recovered it at the Coastal 18-yard line. The play was initially ruled a sack with Bailey down, but after an official review, the ruling was overturned, giving the Panthers possession. Three plays later, quarterback Ayden Pereira connected with DJ Riles for an 18-yard touchdown. Georgia State’s two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the Panthers trailing 31-20 with just over seven minutes remaining.
Coastal Carolina fans held their breath during the closing minutes as Georgia State attempted to mount a late comeback. The Chanticleers have struggled throughout the season to put together complete four-quarter performances, allowing opponents to erase leads in several close contests. However, Coastal managed to withstand the Panthers’ late push and close out a 31-20 victory, snapping its losing streak and earning its second Sun Belt win of the season.
Coastal Carolina (3-5, 2-2 SBC) remains undefeated in Atlanta, improving to 5-0 all-time on the road against Georgia State.
The Chanticleers will look to carry that momentum into Homecoming weekend, when they host Old Dominion next Saturday.
The Panthers will head to Boone, N.C., next weekend to face App State, looking to snap a three-game losing streak and keep their bowl-eligibility hopes alive.