As we continue to reflect on the top ten milestone games in CCU football history, the list arrives at our ninth of ten. Recall the metric being utilized in our countdown, we’re looking at impact on the program, national recognition, and symbolic importance. In using this metric, we arrive on the date of December 17, 2021. That game saw Coastal win the Cure Bowl for its first ever bowl win 47-41 over Northern Illinois.
For fans of offense, this one was right up your alley! NIU had 516 total yards and CCU had 514 total yards for a combined 1,030 total yards between the two teams. MVP Grayson McCall was 22 of 30 for 315 yards and four touchdown passes. Braydon Bennett carried the rock for 108 yards on just six carries with two touchdowns. It was a game of big plays as well.
In the fourth quarter, McCall pitched a shovel pass to Braydon Bennett for a 34 yard touchdown. Bennett scored on a sixty yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Early in the second half, McCall will hit Isiah Likely for a twenty seven yard touchdown pass. For a game with lots of offense, the Coastal defense showed up in some big plays as well. NIU will try a trick play on 4th and 1 when they direct snap it to running back Trayvon Rudolph but the CCU defense would hold. (The next play for CCU was the shovel pass to Bennett) Silas Kelly forced a fumble as NIU was driving when he hit QB Rocky Lombardi. The final big defensive play will come in the final moments when CCU will stop NIU on the four yard line and clock will run out to secure the CCU win.
The Cure Bowl win was not only the first bowl win, but it avenged a loss in the 2020 Cure Bowl. The Chants had a dream season in 2020, but things fell short at the end with a loss to Liberty in Orlando. (I was there, it wasn’t pretty) This win capped off the best two year run in Coastal football history. The 2021 Cure Bowl cold be argued to be Chadwell offense at its peak. So many other things to love about this game all went into putting this game as the ninth biggest milestone game in all of CCU football history.
For fans of offense, this one was right up your alley! NIU had 516 total yards and CCU had 514 total yards for a combined 1,030 total yards between the two teams. MVP Grayson McCall was 22 of 30 for 315 yards and four touchdown passes. Braydon Bennett carried the rock for 108 yards on just six carries with two touchdowns. It was a game of big plays as well.
In the fourth quarter, McCall pitched a shovel pass to Braydon Bennett for a 34 yard touchdown. Bennett scored on a sixty yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Early in the second half, McCall will hit Isiah Likely for a twenty seven yard touchdown pass. For a game with lots of offense, the Coastal defense showed up in some big plays as well. NIU will try a trick play on 4th and 1 when they direct snap it to running back Trayvon Rudolph but the CCU defense would hold. (The next play for CCU was the shovel pass to Bennett) Silas Kelly forced a fumble as NIU was driving when he hit QB Rocky Lombardi. The final big defensive play will come in the final moments when CCU will stop NIU on the four yard line and clock will run out to secure the CCU win.
The Cure Bowl win was not only the first bowl win, but it avenged a loss in the 2020 Cure Bowl. The Chants had a dream season in 2020, but things fell short at the end with a loss to Liberty in Orlando. (I was there, it wasn’t pretty) This win capped off the best two year run in Coastal football history. The 2021 Cure Bowl cold be argued to be Chadwell offense at its peak. So many other things to love about this game all went into putting this game as the ninth biggest milestone game in all of CCU football history.