Conway, SC - September 13, 2023
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are set to face off against the Duquesne Dukes in an exciting Week 3 matchup this Saturday at Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina. This showdown marks the second of three consecutive home games for the Chants, and they are coming off a hard-fought victory against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks in Week 2.
In that thrilling contest against Jacksonville State, Coastal Carolina's star quarterback, Grayson McCall, showcased his precision and resilience, bouncing back from a roller-coaster game against UCLA in Pasadena to open the season. McCall completed an impressive 72 percent of his passes for 268 yards and a crucial passing touchdown. His connection with receivers Sam Pinckney, who contributed with 4 receptions for 63 yards, and Jared Brown, who had a monster game accumulating 170 all-purpose yards along with one receiving and one rushing touchdown, proved to be a vital factor in their success.
This week, Coastal Carolina will be locking horns with a Duquesne Dukes team that is coming off a challenging 56-17 loss to the West Virginia Mountaineers. Leading the Dukes' offensive charge is quarterback Darius Perrantes. While Perrantes' statistics in 2023 might not be eye-popping, with a completion rate of under 50 percent, he possesses the ability to make plays when it counts. So far this season, he has thrown for four touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Dukes will look to get running back Taj Butts more involved in the game after a tough outing against the Mountaineers, where he managed only 23 yards on 10 carries. Butts, who had an impressive 100-yard game against Edinboro, poses a significant threat with his speed and power, standing at 5'10" and 210 pounds. Coastal Carolina's run defense will need to be prepared for the challenge, especially after Jacksonville State nearly amassed over 200 yards rushing in their last game.
The Chanticleers' defense will be determined to stop the run this week, building on their opportunistic start to the season, having forced a total of five turnovers in just two games. Their "bend but don't break" approach has been effective thus far. Additionally, Coastal Carolina aims to kickstart its running game, with running backs Reese White, Braydon Bennett, and CJ Beasley yet to find their stride, averaging just 2.4 yards per carry as a group. A rejuvenated ground game could add another layer of explosiveness to the Chants' offense.
Linebacker Shane Bruce has been a tackling machine for Coastal Carolina this season, and he is determined to maintain his double-digit tackle performances, much like last week when he led the team with 11 tackles. Bruce's tenacity and leadership on the defensive end will be crucial in containing Duquesne's offensive threats.
The Duquesne Dukes have demonstrated their ability to put points on the board, averaging 33.0 points per game this season. Furthermore, their defense has been effective in getting to the quarterback, amassing a total of seven sacks in their first two games. This will put the spotlight on Grayson McCall, who must stay aware of the Dukes' defensive front, known for their rotation of linemen capable of generating pressure on the multi-time Sun Belt Player of the Year.
As the sun sets over Brooks Stadium in Conway, South Carolina, on Saturday at 7:00 PM Eastern, football fans can anticipate a thrilling contest between the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers and the Duquesne Dukes. With both teams hungry for victory, this matchup promises to deliver another exciting chapter in the 2023 college football season. Don't miss a moment of the action!
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