By Tiffany Williams –
CONWAY, S.C. — Fordham matched Coastal Carolina at 7-7 early in the second quarter, but the Chanticleers responded with 38 unanswered points and turned a competitive start into a 45-7 victory Friday night at Brooks Stadium.
Coastal Carolina improved to 1-1, while Fordham fell to 0-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play. The Chanticleers led 7-0 after the first quarter, 28-7 at halftime and 38-7 after three before adding one final touchdown in the fourth.
The game kicked off at 7:32 p.m. in sunny conditions with a temperature of 82 degrees and a north wind at eight miles per hour. An announced crowd of 18,113 attended in Conway.
Coastal Carolina received the opening kickoff and immediately established its running game. Karmello English gained 10 yards on the first offensive snap, Deuce Bailey followed with an 11-yard run and Dominic Lee-Knicely added nine more.
After offsetting penalties erased a completed pass, Jevon Edwards ripped off a 20-yard run to the Fordham 25. Lee-Knicely later gained 14 yards to the 12 before Breyahn Townsend carried seven yards to the 5.
On third-and-three, Lee-Knicely finished the 10-play, 75-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run. Nico Cavanillas Alti converted the extra point, giving Coastal Carolina a 7-0 lead with 10:09 remaining in the first quarter.
Fordham responded with an impressive possession of its own.
After a pair of penalties, Gunnar Smith broke loose for a 45-yard run to the Coastal Carolina 34. Smith then added four yards before finding Yohan-Li Louis for eight and Ricky Gonzalez II for 10, moving the Rams into the red zone.
Fordham reached the Coastal Carolina 8, but Louis fumbled. Marcellius Pulliam forced the ball loose and Xzavier Booker recovered, ending the Rams’ scoring opportunity.
Coastal Carolina could not capitalize, going only 15 yards before punting.
Fordham then took over at its own 49 with 3:07 remaining and began another strong drive.
Smith rushed for consecutive five-yard gains before finding Nodin Tracy for nine yards. Jamell James moved the chains with a two-yard run and Gonzalez caught a 15-yard pass to the Coastal Carolina 15 as the quarter expired.
Fordham finished the drive early in the second quarter.
James burst for 14 yards to the Coastal Carolina 1. A false start briefly pushed the Rams backward, but Smith recovered by finding Tracy for a six-yard touchdown.
Bennett Henderson converted the extra point, completing the nine-play, 51-yard drive and tying the game 7-7 with 13:09 remaining.
The tie lasted less than two minutes.
Coastal Carolina took over at its own 22, and Robby Washington opened with an eight-yard run. Bailey converted third-and-three with a six-yard pass to Lee-Knicely.
On the next snap, Bailey went deep.
He found Colton Hinton for a 65-yard touchdown.
Cavanillas Alti’s extra point made it 14-7 with 11:11 remaining.
Fordham went three-and-out on its next possession, and Coastal Carolina threatened again. Hinton caught a 22-yard pass that moved the Chanticleers into Fordham territory.
This time the Rams’ defense held. Bailey’s fourth-and-five pass for Hinton was broken up by Justin Johnson, turning the football over on downs at the Fordham 38.
Fordham immediately gave the opportunity back.
A holding penalty pushed the Rams backward, and on the next play Smith was intercepted by Travis Roman at the Fordham 36.
Coastal Carolina turned the takeaway into seven points.
Edwards rushed for seven and then six yards. On first down from the Fordham 23, Bailey found Washington deep down the right side for the touchdown.
Cavanillas Alti converted again, and the Chanticleers had a 21-7 lead with 5:01 remaining in the half.
Fordham went three-and-out, and Coastal Carolina briefly moved across midfield before punting.
The Rams’ next possession also stalled, and Dominic Sansone’s punt was returned 18 yards by Washington. An illegal-formation penalty on Fordham added five more yards, giving Coastal Carolina possession at its own 45.
The Chanticleers went three-and-out and punted Fordham back to its own 16.
Fordham again failed to escape poor field position. Smith was sacked for a 12-yard loss, and Sansone was forced to punt from his own 8.
Washington returned the kick 17 yards, and a Fordham facemask penalty moved the football all the way to the Fordham 16 with only 47 seconds remaining.
Coastal Carolina needed just eight seconds to score.
Bailey found Lee-Knicely for four yards before connecting with Clayton Coppock for a 12-yard touchdown.
Cavanillas Alti’s extra point made it 28-7 with 39 seconds remaining, and Coastal Carolina carried that three-touchdown advantage into halftime.
Fordham received the second-half kickoff and immediately threatened.
Smith ran three yards and then connected with Tracy for 34 yards to the Coastal Carolina 43. Smith followed with a 20-yard run to the 23.
The promising possession ended when Ja’Marion Wayne intercepted Smith at the Coastal Carolina 19.
Coastal Carolina responded with an 81-yard touchdown drive.
Bailey was sacked early, but on third-and-nine he found Tristian Gardner for 26 yards and a first down. Edwards added an 11-yard run before Bailey rushed 11 yards to the Fordham 32.
Hinton converted another third down with a 14-yard catch.
Lee-Knicely finished the drive from there, breaking an 18-yard touchdown run.
Cavanillas Alti added the extra point, and Coastal Carolina’s lead grew to 35-7 with 9:15 remaining in the third quarter.
Fordham went three-and-out, and Coastal Carolina did the same.
The Rams then took over at their own 10 and managed one first down behind Taariq Denson and Andrew Bond before the Coastal Carolina pass rush ended the possession. Reggie Jean sacked Smith for a 12-yard loss on second down, and Fordham eventually punted.
Coastal Carolina took over at its own 41 with 2:17 remaining.
Jaden Allen-Hendrix rushed for six yards and then broke a 20-yard run into Fordham territory. Tre Guerra, now at quarterback, threw incomplete and was sacked for a five-yard loss.
Facing fourth-and-15 from the Fordham 38, Coastal Carolina turned to its kicker.
Cavanillas Alti connected on a 56-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining, extending the lead to 38-7.
Fordham opened the fourth quarter backed up near its own goal line.
Smith was sacked for an eight-yard loss on second down, and after James gained only two yards, Sansone punted from his own 7.
English returned the kick 15 yards to the Fordham 32, giving Coastal Carolina another short field.
The Chanticleers finished the scoring by handing the football repeatedly to Allen-Hendrix.
He gained eight yards, then one, then broke a 14-yard run to the Fordham 9. Another four-yard carry moved the football to the 5.
On the next play, Allen-Hendrix rushed five yards into the end zone.
Cavanillas Alti’s extra point made it 45-7 with 10:57 remaining.
Fordham’s next possession reached its own 43 before Crew Colon entered at quarterback.
On third-and-four, Colon attempted a pass but was intercepted by Zeke Marshal at the Coastal Carolina 41. It was Fordham’s third interception of the game.
Coastal Carolina could not add another score and eventually punted Fordham back to its own 4.
The Rams turned to Thomas Fallon, who gained seven yards, lost one and then added two more before Sansone punted again.
Coastal Carolina received the football at its own 37 with 2:09 remaining and ran out the clock behind Trever Jackson and Daelen Alexander. Jackson gained 11 yards, Alexander followed with runs of eight and four and the Chanticleers finished the 45-7 victory.
Coastal Carolina finished with 460 yards of total offense compared with 215 for Fordham. The Chanticleers rushed for 251 yards and passed for 209 while averaging 6.7 yards per play. Fordham finished with 114 rushing yards and 101 passing yards.
Bailey completed 12 of 25 passes for 203 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. His scoring passes went for 65 yards to Hinton, 23 yards to Washington and 12 yards to Coppock.
Hinton led Coastal Carolina with three catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Coppock caught two passes for 26 yards and a score, while Washington’s only reception went for a 23-yard touchdown.
Coastal Carolina spread its 251 rushing yards across a deep group of ball carriers. Allen-Hendrix led the team with 58 yards and a touchdown on seven carries, Edwards added 51 yards on nine attempts and Lee-Knicely rushed five times for 45 yards and two touchdowns.
Smith completed 9 of 20 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown but was intercepted twice and sacked four times. He also led Fordham on the ground with 40 net rushing yards, highlighted by a 45-yard first-quarter run and a 20-yard gain early in the third.
Tracy led Fordham with four receptions for 56 yards and the Rams’ only touchdown. Gonzalez added two catches for 25 yards, while Louis caught two passes for 12.
The turnover margin proved costly. Fordham lost a fumble and threw three interceptions, while Coastal Carolina did not commit a turnover. The Chanticleers also sacked Fordham quarterbacks four times for 41 yards in losses.
Fordham had opportunities early. The Rams drove to the Coastal Carolina 8 on their opening possession before fumbling, then tied the game 7-7 early in the second quarter. From there, Bailey’s 65-yard touchdown pass to Hinton started a run of 38 unanswered Coastal Carolina points that turned the game into a rout.