Coastal Carolina Faces Setback Against Army's Triple Option, Looks to Rebound in Final Home Game

In a surprising turn of events, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers faced a tough challenge against the Army Black Knights, ultimately falling 28-21 this past Saturday. The loss marked the end of a five-game winning streak for the Chants, bringing their season record to 7-4 as they now prepare for their final home game of the regular season against James Madison in Conway SC on Saturday, November 24th.

Saturday's matchup at Michie Field in New York presented a unique challenge for Coastal Carolina as they encountered Army's rarely seen Triple Option offense. The Black Knights, known for their disciplined and ground-focused attack, ran the ball an astonishing 62 times, amassing 365 yards on the ground. Quarterback Bryson Daily led the charge with 22 carries for 94 yards, while running back Tyson Riley added 112 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

The first half of the game saw Coastal Carolina trailing 21-7, struggling to contain Army's unconventional offensive approach. However, Coach Tim Beck and his coaching staff made crucial halftime adjustments that limited Army to just 7 points in the second half.

While Coastal had no answer for Army's ground game, the Black Knights, in turn, found themselves unable to contain the explosive plays of Coastal's wide receiver, Jared Brown. Brown showcased his skills with a 48-yard rush, a 59-yard reception, and a receiving touchdown, accumulating an impressive 185 yards of total offense. Despite Coastal's efforts to get back into the game, an interception in the red zone and a turnover on downs in the fourth quarter proved costly. However, the Chants rallied late in the game, with quarterback Guest connecting with receiver Sam Pinckney for a 31-yard touchdown pass with just 51 seconds remaining, pulling within 7 points. Unfortunately, Coastal was unable to recover the onside kick, sealing their fate in the matchup.

Looking ahead, Coastal Carolina remains in contention for the Sun Belt East title. A win against James Madison in their final home game would secure the division, but even a loss could result in clinching the title if Appalachian State also falls to Georgia Southern. The Chanticleers, eager to bounce back from the setback against Army, are determined to finish the regular season on a high note and make a statement in the postseason.