From Coastal Carolina Official Athletic Site:
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Zach MacDowall gained 17 yards on a busted play and scored from eight yards out in the first overtime to give Coastal Carolina (3-5, 21-) a 30-27 win at Gardner-Webb (3-5, 1-2) Saturday afternoon at Spangler Stadium. The win was Coastal's seventh in a row in the series, improving to 7-1, and a perfect 4-0 in Boiling Springs.
To start the first overtime, Gardner-Webb converted on third down but was eventually forced to kick a 20-yard field, which Ryan Gates made. Defensively, Coastal was facing second and goal from the two before Jamel Davis made a tackle for no gain, followed by Robert Balkunas and Dexter Holman teaming up for a tackle for no gain which led to the field goal attempt.
Overtime was set-up when Gardner-Webb, down 24-17 with 2:23 left, marched 88 yards in 13 plays, scoring a touchdown with 28 seconds left. Three Bulldogs had outstanding performance spoiled by the loss as quarterback John Rock completed 21-of-37 passes for 275 yards and two scores with two picks. Rock was 6-of-12 for 87 yards during the drive. Runnning back Juanne Blount had 106 yards on 34 carries, while James Perry III caught seven passes for 116 yards.
For Coastal, MacDowall had 31 yards rushing and completed 16-of-28 passes for 205 yards with a passing TD and throwing two interceptions. Defensively for the Chanticleers, Desmond Steward had 16 tackles with two TFL, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble while Dominque Davenport and Keon Cunningham each came through with key interceptions -- Davenport's being a 28-yard TD.
The Bulldogs took an early 3-0 lead with five minutes to go in the first half off a 31-yard Ryan Gates field goal. GWU started its drive on the CCU 30 after a short punt and moved to the 12 after a Coastal penalty. However, the Chants defense stiffened and, thanks to a big hit by Chris Walls on third down, forced the field goal. Walls finished with 3.0 tackles for loss.
Gardner-Webb took advantage of another Coastal miscue in the punting game, getting the ball on the CCU 19 after a dropped punt. Once again, however, Coastal's defense would force a field goal, which banged off the left upright to keep the score at 3-0.
The Chants got on the board and took a 7-3 lead with five minutes left in the second quarter. MacDowall hit tight end Jamie Childers for a 19-yard gain to start a drive. Later, MacDowall rolled out right and hit tight end David Duran for a 21-yard touchdown.
The Bulldogs answered with back-to-back completions of 21 and 41 yards --the first coming on 3rd and 17 -- to the Coastal 12. Facing fourth and one on the three, Blount put GWU up 10-7 with a three-yard touchdown run.
To start the second, Gardner-Webb was moving the ball but Steward sacked Rock and forced a fumble that Davis recovered. Coastal started the drive with a short pass to Brandon Whitely, which turned into a 23-yard gain. MacDowall followed with a 16-yard rush. The Chants got to the GWU nine, but penalties backed the offense up to the 24. Undaunted, Jeremy Height got most of the yards back on a reception, setting up a 26-yard Justin Durham field goal, tying the game at 10-10.
The Bulldogs were forced to punt on the ensuing drive, but Bulldog Giavani Olivas picked off pass at the Coastal 24 and, three plays later, Rock hit James Dugas for a 24-yard touchdown, making the score 17-10. Coastal's offense rallied and moved back into the Teal Zone, but a deflected pass led to another pick by Olivas on the GWU nine.
However, after one GWU first down, Davenport picked off a pass and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown, knotting the game at 17-17. The interception was Davenport's fourth of the season and seventh of his career. After the Coastal kickoff, the Chanticleer defense forced a three-and-out. The GWU punter dropped the snap, giving Coastal the ball on the 29. The Chants looked as if they were going to spoil the opportunity, getting a holding and personal foul on the same play to back Coastal up to the 42 facing first and 35. However, MacDowall hit Height for a 13-yard gain then threaded the needle for a 26-yard completion to Jonathan Morgan to the three. Height capped the drive with the three-yard TD run, putting Coastal up 24-17.
Coastal's defense came up big one more time after taking the seven-point lead. Again, Gardner-Webb's offense was moving but senior Keon Cunningham picked off a pass at the 10 and returned it to the CCU 46, marking Cunningham's first of the season and seventh of his career. Also, it added to his school-record of interception return yards, now with 186.
Gardner-Webb was backed up to its 12 after a Coastal punt with just over two minutes to go, but steadily moved the ball, covering 88 yards in 13 plays with Rock hitting Jamal Patmon from seven yards out and Gates added the extra point with 28 seconds left to tie the game at 24 and forcing overtime.
Coastal Carolina will stay on the road next week, playing at VMI Nov. 6 at 1:30 pm. The Chants will then close the season with consecutive home game, hosting Liberty (Nov. 13) and Charleston Southern (Nov. 20). Both of those final two home game will start at 1 pm.
