The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers remained unbeaten, improving to 3-0 after holding off a determined Temple Owls team at Lincoln Financial Field with a 28-20 victory. While the Chants' offensive performance was inconsistent, their defense once again made a game-changing play to lead the way.
Coastal Carolina wasted no time getting on the board, marching down the field with an 11-play, 63-yard opening drive. The drive was capped by a 15-yard touchdown run from running back Christian Washington, setting the tone for a ground-heavy approach.
However, the real spark came from the Chanticleers' defense. For the third straight game, Coastal's defense found the end zone. Temple quarterback Evan Simon was picked off by safety Xamarion Gordon, who returned the interception 29 yards for a touchdown, extending the lead to 14-3. The Chants' defense continued to prove why it's one of the team's strengths, with Gordon’s pick-six serving as the latest in a string of defensive touchdowns this season.
Temple, now 0-3, entered the contest looking to rebound from earlier losses to Oklahoma and Navy. Despite falling behind 21-3 after another Coastal score, the Owls refused to quit. Simon led an 8-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 15-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver John Adams, cutting the deficit to 21-10 before halftime.
Coastal's offense struggled to put the game out of reach, especially through the air. Quarterback Ethan Vasko, though efficient with a 15-for-21 passing performance, only mustered 103 yards with no touchdowns, averaging a modest 4.9 yards per pass. Vasko and his receivers couldn’t connect on several deep balls, but he made up for it with his legs, leading the Chanticleers in rushing with 92 yards on 16 carries.
The Chants, missing key running backs Ja'Vin Simpkins and Braydon Bennett due to injuries, relied heavily on Christian Washington and Mississippi State transfer Simeon Price to carry the load. Washington, who finished with 59 yards on 15 carries, punched in his second touchdown of the game late in the third quarter. His 5-yard score capped a 13-play, 75-yard drive that pushed Coastal’s lead to 28-17.
Despite trailing, Temple showed resilience. Simon engineered another scoring drive in the third quarter, connecting with wide receiver Dante Wright for a 2-yard touchdown pass on fourth down, pulling the Owls within four points at 21-17. Wright was a standout for Temple, finishing with 9 catches for 99 yards and a touchdown.
Temple would later add a field goal early in the fourth quarter, narrowing Coastal's lead to 28-20. However, Coastal Carolina's defense came up big when it mattered most. Defensive end Deamontae Diggs sacked Simon on a critical second down, and Temple failed to convert on third and fourth downs on their final possession.
Defensively, Coastal was led by senior linebacker Shane Bruce, who recorded 9 tackles, including one for loss, and recovered a fumble. The defense also sacked Simon twice and forced two turnovers, continuing their disruptive play from previous weeks.
Although Coastal’s passing game struggled, with wide receiver Jameson Tucker leading the team with just 35 yards on four catches, their rushing attack and timely defensive stops proved to be the difference. Coastal rushed 42 times for 184 yards, averaging 4.4 yards per carry, as they leaned heavily on the ground game to control the clock and keep Temple's defense on its heels.
Next week, Coastal Carolina returns home to face Virginia, while Temple will remain in Philadelphia to host Utah State, hoping to notch their first win of the season.
Final Score:
Coastal Carolina 28, Temple 20
Key Stats:
Coastal Carolina QB Ethan Vasko: 15/21, 103 yards; 16 carries, 92 rushing yards
Coastal Carolina RB Christian Washington: 15 carries, 59 yards, 2 TDs
Coastal Carolina LB Shane Bruce: 9 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 fumble recover
Temple QB Evan Simon: 17/25, 185 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT
Temple WR Dante Wright: 9 catches, 99 yards, 1 TDy
With their defense continuing to shine, the Chanticleers remain undefeated heading into Week 4.
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