Reese White rushed for a pair of touchdowns during No. 22 Coastal Carolina’s big second quarter in a 52-14 season-opening victory against visiting The Citadel on Thursday night in Conway, S.C.
Shermari Jones also scored on two touchdown runs for the Chanticleers, who overwhelmed their in-state opponent by racking up 610 yards of total offense. Jones finished with 100 rushing yards on nine attempts.
It was a dominating night for Coastal Carolina, which holds a national ranking to begin a season for the first time on the Football Bowl Subdivision level.
Quarterback Grayson McCall, the reigning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, completed 16 of 19 passes for 262 yards and one touchdown.
Coastal Carolina scored 24 second-quarter points to build a 31-0 halftime advantage.
White’s scoring runs covered 4 and 16 yards. Jones, who scored the first points of the game, ran for scores of 2 and 38 yards.
McCall’s 30-yard touchdown pass to Javion Heiligh was the last touchdown of the first half. Massimo Biscardi capped the scoring prior to halftime with a 34-yard field goal on the final play before the break.
Heiligh finished with 133 receiving yards on six receptions. Overall, the Chanticleers connected on 20 of 24 pass plays for 348 yards.
Coastal Carolina’s Braydon Bennett had the game’s last touchdown on a 4-yard run.
Citadel scored on Nathan Storch’s 1-yard run in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, Raleigh Webb scored on an 8-yard run.
The Bulldogs, who were picked to finish near the bottom of the Southern Conference in preseason polls, attempted only six passes, with three receptions accounting for 14 yards. Quarterback Jaylan Adams gained 100 rushing yards on 16 carries.
Willie Eubanks II made 13 tackles for Citadel.
The teams hadn’t met since the 2015 Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, with Citadel winning that one in Conway.
–Field Level Media