No. 15 Coastal Carolina scored the game’s first points on a 99-yard play as part of another big game for quarterback Grayson McCall and receiver Isaiah Likely in a 52-20 victory against Arkansas State on Thursday night in Jonesboro, Ark.
McCall threw for four touchdowns, with three of them going to Likely.
McCall, who entered the game having completed his previous 15 passes, ended up 18 of 23 for 365 yards. Likely made eight catches for 232 yards.
Running back Shermari Jones, who missed the previous two games with an injury, rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries for Coastal Carolina (6-0, 2-0 Sun Belt Conference).
The Chanticleers reached the 50-point mark for the fourth time this season.
Coastal Carolina began its first possession at its 1-yard line after an Arkansas State punt. After a run for no gain, the first of the McCall-to-Likely connections resulted in the 99-yard touchdown play.
The duo also hooked up for 4- and 16-yard scoring plays, the former coming with 13 seconds left in the first half and the latter concluding the first drive of the second half.
Coastal Carolina led 31-0 when Arkansas State (1-5, 0-2) scored with 9:06 remaining in the third quarter. That marked the first touchdown surrendered by the Chanticleers in three games.
Quarterback Layne Hatcher of Arkansas State threw for two touchdowns. He was 13-for-29 for 185 yards with an interception.
After the Chanticleers led 24-0 at halftime, the teams combined for four touchdowns across the first four possessions of the third quarter.
The Red Wolves pulled within 38-20 at the 12:21 mark of the fourth quarter on Lincoln Pare’s 1-yard run before a failed two-point conversion.
Coastal Carolina responded quickly, with Reese White running for a 64-yard touchdown on the second snap of the next possession. Less than four minutes later, Chanticleers backup quarterback Bryce Carpenter sprinted 67 yards for another touchdown.
Arkansas State was limited to 18 rushing yards.
The Chanticleers played just their second road game of the season.
–Field Level Media