For the first half of yesterday’s Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, it seemed like the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers were poised to earn their third bowl trophy. QB Tad Hudson played the best football of his career in the opening two quarters (15-21 passing, 194 yards, 2 TDs), the defense kept getting stops, Louisiana Tech didn’t seem terribly interested, and the Chants owned a 14-3 halftime lead.
Despite ten penalties, squandering scoring opportunities with a missed 29-yard FG and a Bryson Graves punt return touchdown called back, Coastal seemed in control at the break against a Bulldogs team that was struggling to get any offense going, thanks in large part to an inspired Chanticleer defense.
Unfortunately, the second half happened, specifically the fourth quarter, and everything disintegrated. Similar to what we’ve seen for much of the last three seasons, the Chants were completely ineffective on offense, the defense wore down and special teams’ gaffes were plentiful – and costly.
Coastal gained just 107 total yards in the second half (after 248 in the first), Hudson was 10-28 passing, 94 yards, 0 TDs and 2 INTs, the running game went nowhere, a 22-yard FG got blocked on Coastal’s only meaningful drive, and the Chants turned the football over three times.
The Coastal defense forced four turnovers in this game, three in the second half, and scored zero points from them. Coastal even had a player run onto the field during a La Tech two-point conversion play. Just head-scratching stuff.
When the Bulldogs got off the deck with 17 fourth quarter points, it all added up to a 23-14 Coastal loss. A fitting end to an era of bad football.
To put some historical perspective on this defeat, the 11-point halftime lead Coastal lost in this game was the largest halftime lead given up in a loss since a September 7, 2008, home defeat to Colgate, where Coastal led 16-3 at halftime and lost 23-19. It was also the biggest second half lead lost since losing a 38-25 4th quarter lead at Arkansas in 2017, CCU’s first FBS season, when the Razorbacks rallied for a 39-38 win.
In this game, I was hoping to see effort and this team compete, win or lose, and I was pleased that yes, Coastal competed in this game. I have no qualms with the effort given, which has been a chronic issue for this program since 2023, and was a major factor in the coaching change. I credit Jeremiah Johnson and staff for having this team ready to compete. For him and others moving on, I wish them well in the future.
LB Tray Brown was tremendous on defense, with 8 tackles, 2.5 TFL and forcing two fumbles. Se’Von McDowell led with 9 tackles and a PBU. Graves caught 6 passes for 99 yards, had that explosive return called back but also muffed a 2nd half punt which Coastal was fortunate to retain. I thought RBs Ja’Vin Simpkins and Jevon Edwards ran hard but overall, the ground game could only muster 44 net yards. Not winning football.
Despite the effort though it was disappointing to once again see a team continuously hurt itself with kicking game mistakes, penalties, breakdowns, turnovers, dropped passes, and ineffectiveness in a game that was there for the taking. This was very much a winnable football game. What a jolt of momentum into the offseason it would have been to have won this bowl game and finished with a winning record with a new staff taking over.
At any rate, the coming days and weeks for Coastal Carolina Football will be interesting seeing how new HC Ryan Beard and staff shape the roster with the portal opening up and how they go about inculcating their culture to hopefully turn around Chanticleer football fortunes.
The Beard era #OutHit #OutHustle is now underway, and I am enthusiastic about it. Looking forward to a new beginning in 2026. Happy New Year!
CHANTS UP!
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