MOBILE, Ala. — South Alabama built a 24-7 halftime lead and held on for a 31-28 win over Coastal Carolina on Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium, sending 19 seniors out with a victory in the season finale.
The South Alabama Coastal Carolina game ended with the Jaguars recovering an onside kick after the Chanticleers had pulled within three points with 34 seconds remaining. Running back Tra Minter rushed for a school-record 203 yards and wide receiver Jamarius Way caught three touchdown passes, also a program record.
South Alabama finished the season 3-9 overall and 2-6 in the Sun Belt Conference. Coastal Carolina, which needed a win to become bowl eligible in its second season playing a Sun Belt schedule, fell to 5-7 and 2-6. The Chanticleers came in on a three-game losing streak and dealing with injuries, and more players went down during the game.
Fast Start
The Jaguars scored on their opening drive with a 32-yard field goal by Gavin Patterson. After South Alabama recovered a Coastal Carolina fumble, quarterback Cole Garvin hit Way for a 45-yard touchdown on the next play to make it 10-0.
South Alabama struck again in the second quarter on a one-play, 73-yard drive. Evan Orth entered at quarterback and threw deep to Way, who outran the defense to the end zone for a 17-0 lead.
Coastal Carolina answered on its next possession. Bryce Carpenter, playing in place of injured quarterback Kilton Anderson, threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely.
The Jaguars responded with a 13-play, 75-yard drive capped by Kawaan Baker’s 6-yard touchdown run, and South Alabama took a 24-7 lead into halftime.
Chanticleers Rally
Coastal Carolina opened the second half by throwing the ball and drove the length of the field for a touchdown.
South Alabama’s only points of the second half came two possessions later, on a 10-play, 51-yard drive that took 4:22. Garvin found Way for a 7-yard touchdown, putting the Jaguars ahead 31-14.
The Chanticleers came back with a 65-yard scoring drive to cut the deficit to 31-21. South Alabama’s offense then went three-and-out on back-to-back possessions midway through the fourth quarter, but the defense forced an incomplete pass on a fourth-down attempt with 3:17 remaining.
The Jaguars turned to the run to drain the clock. After setting the single-game rushing record, Minter broke loose for a 20-yard gain, but Coastal Carolina forced a fumble and recovered at its own 20-yard line.
Aided by an illegal use of hands penalty, the Chanticleers moved down the field, and Anderson connected with Malcolm Williams on a 16-yard touchdown pass to make it 31-28 with 34 seconds left. Coastal Carolina tried an onside kick, but the ball did not take the high bounce the Chanticleers wanted, and Jahmmir Taylor covered it to seal the win.
By the Numbers
South Alabama gained 533 yards of total offense, including 331 on the ground.
- Tra Minter carried 24 times for 203 yards, breaking Kendall Houston’s school single-game record of 173 rushing yards, set against Troy. He also caught two passes for 49 yards.
- Deonta Moore ran nine times for 72 yards.
- Kawaan Baker rushed seven times for 16 yards and a touchdown.
- Cole Garvin completed 7 of 9 passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
- Evan Orth went 3 of 4 for 91 yards and a touchdown.
- Jamarius Way caught six passes for 141 yards and three touchdowns.
- Jordan McCray added two receptions for 12 yards.
The South Alabama defense allowed 385 yards and held Coastal Carolina to 92 rushing yards. The Jaguars recorded eight tackles for loss and four sacks.
For Coastal Carolina, Anderson completed 20 of 32 passes for 262 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Williams led the Chanticleers with seven catches for 109 yards and a score. CJ Marable ran 10 times for 40 yards, Alex James rushed nine times for 32 yards and two touchdowns, and Anderson finished with 11 carries for 20 yards after sack yardage.
Records and Milestones
- Way’s three touchdown receptions set a South Alabama record for a single game, and he became the third receiver in program history to surpass 1,500 career receiving yards.
- Baker reached 13 touchdowns this season, tying the school record set by Brandon Ross in 2009.
- Linebacker Bull Barge raised his career total to 246 tackles, passing Jake Johnson to move into the program’s all-time top five.
- Darian Mills reached 23 career passes defended, breaking the school record held by Jeremy Reaves.
- Patterson’s first-quarter field goal made him the second player in program history to score 200 career points.
- The 533 yards marked the first time South Alabama gained more than 500 yards of total offense this season and the first time since a game against Louisiana-Monroe on Oct. 21, 2017.
- Holding Coastal Carolina under 100 rushing yards was a first for the Jaguar defense this season and the first time since the 2017 finale against New Mexico State.
- South Alabama has won on Senior Day three straight years.
What They Said
“I was glad our seniors could go out with a win in their last game at Ladd[-Peebles Stadium],” head coach Steve Campbell said. “Those guys really stepped up and played big in a big way.”
Campbell said the staff changed its offensive approach in the closing weeks of the season.
“After the Louisiana-Monroe game, we looked and saw that we really didn’t have a personality offensively,” Campbell said. “We were running a little of this and a little of that; we really hadn’t established a personality. Before last week, we said we were going to run the football, be a play-action team and try to create some explosive plays with some man-to-man coverages. We were able to do that.”
“It makes it that much more special, to end with a win on this field,” senior linebacker Bull Barge said. “That’s what you work hard for, to go out on top at your own place. It just feels good knowing you’re going out on top after a long season.”
“It definitely gave us a spark,” said Minter, a junior. “All we wanted to do was send these seniors out with a bang and give them something to look back on. For next year, it just gave us a spark and some confidence for next season.”
Looking Ahead
With the season complete, the coaching staff turns its attention to recruiting. The early signing period runs Dec. 19-21, and the traditional National Signing Day is Feb. 6, 2019.
