Georgia State Rally Comes Up Short Against Coastal Carolina

ATLANTA, Ga. — Georgia State found its offense in the fourth quarter Saturday afternoon, but by then Coastal Carolina had already built too big a cushion, and the Chanticleers held on for a 31-20 Sun Belt win at Center Parc Stadium.

The Panthers fell to 4-4 overall and 1-3 in conference play. Coastal Carolina, which won on the road, improved to 3-5 and 2-2.

Samer Layous put Georgia State on the board first with a 32-yard kick late in the opening quarter, the end of a 61-yard drive that took 6:53 off the clock. Coastal answered with 17 straight points in the second quarter, and Layous hit another 32-yarder as the half ended to make it 17-6.

The third quarter belonged to the visitors. Atlanta native Clayton Coppock Jr. caught his second touchdown pass of the day, a 31-yarder, and a 2-yard run pushed the lead to 31-6. Coppock ended the day with six receptions and 100 yards, a career best, while Coastal quarterback Deuce Bailey passed for 297 yards and accounted for three touchdowns through the air.

Then the Panthers woke up. Ayden Pereira hit Grant Hollier for a 9-yard touchdown with 11:59 left, and freshman Qwantavius Wiggins caught the two-point try. After Antonio Wesley recovered a fumble at the Coastal 18, Pereira connected with DJ Riles from 18 yards out to make it 31-20 with 7:38 remaining. Georgia State took over at its 15-yard line with 1:05 to go and drove to the Coastal 35 before the clock ran out on a sack.

Pereira finished 20 of 37 for 200 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. Wiggins ran for a game-high 96 yards on 11 carries, including a 58-yard burst, and totaled 117 all-purpose yards. Jaden Kelly and Alex Mullings intercepted passes, and Coby Owens led the defense with nine tackles.

Georgia State forced three takeaways while giving the ball away once, and Coastal managed only 73 yards on the ground. Even so, the Chanticleers outgained the Panthers 375-360.

Georgia State plays at Appalachian State in Boone, N.C., next Saturday, Nov. 7, at 2:30 p.m.

Filed under: Atlanta GA Sports News