In a commanding performance Saturday night, Christian Washington powered Coastal Carolina to a 40-21 victory over William & Mary, helping the Chanticleers build an insurmountable 20-point halftime lead. Washington's two first-half touchdown runs set the tone early as Coastal improved to 2-0 in front of a roaring crowd of 19,294 at Brooks Stadium, the fourth-largest in school history.
Coastal came out firing, scoring on its first four possessions, and never looked back. Washington, who transferred from New Mexico, finished with 100 yards on 16 carries, proving to be the engine behind the Chanticleers’ 277-yard rushing attack. Quarterback Ethan Vasko added 160 yards through the air and contributed 59 yards on the ground.
The Chanticleers built their lead quickly, reaching 27-7 by halftime, and widened the gap early in the second half when Matthew McDoom scooped up a fumble and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown. Kade Hensley was also clutch, converting four of his five field-goal attempts, including a career-tying 49-yarder.
Despite a few bright spots for William & Mary, like Darius Wilson's 62-yard touchdown pass to DreSean Kendrick, the Tribe (1-1) couldn’t find a rhythm against Coastal's defense, which held them to just 319 yards of total offense. Coastal's defense not only forced a fumble but also blocked a punt, further underlining their dominance.
Coastal’s success came despite some setbacks, with running backs Ja’Vin Simpkins and Braydon Bennett both leaving the game due to injuries. Washington stepped up when his teammates went down, and redshirt freshman Darren Lloyd is expected to see more carries moving forward.
The Chanticleers will look to continue their winning streak as they face Temple next week in Philadelphia.
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