Last Second Field Goal Ruins Monmouth's Upset Bid Over No.1 Coastal Carolina

Photo above: Lavon Chaney picking up some yardage in Saturday’s game at Kessler Field

WEST LONG BRANCH – As the Monmouth University homecoming crowd collectively held their breaths, Coastal Carolina’s junior place kicker Ryan Granger confidently split the uprights with 0:00 showing on the clock for a 30-yard game-winning field goal in the Hawks heartbreaking 23-20 loss to the Chanticleers Saturday at Kessler Field.

Coastal Carolina (7-0, 2-0) came into the game ranked No.1 in the FCS Coaches’ Poll while the Hawks (1-2, 3-5) were coming off perhaps their biggest win in program history last week when they defeated then No.22-ranked Liberty 20-17 in overtime.

That, combined with Saturday being Monmouth’s homecoming game, brought in an overflow capacity crowd that stretched five deep around the west end zone creating an electric atmosphere that the 4,600 seat Kessler Field hasn’t seen – if ever – in years.

It truly had the feel, relatively speaking, of a big-time college football game with tailgaters filling the parking lot hours before game time.

While some might label Saturday’s loss a “moral victory,” Monmouth head coach Kevin Callahan had a different take on it.

“I really don’t understand the definition of a ‘moral victory’,” Callahan said. “What is a moral victory? I don’t know what it means. What I do like is the fact that we went out and played really hard and if we’re to take something away from this game it’s the effort and the way that we played. And if we can put that same work effort, same focus and concentration to work every time we go out, that’s what we take away from the game.”

With 3:03 remaining fourth quarter and the game tied at 20-20, the Chants started their winning drive at their own 43-yard line. The Hawks had turned the ball over on downs after being stopped on fourth-and-three at the 43 on an incomplete pass intended for freshman wideout Ugo Ezemma.

Coastal Carolina forced three turnovers on downs in the second half, with two of them coming on Monmouth’s final two possessions of the game. The Hawks aggressively played for the win, rolling the dice against the top-team in the country.

“We weren’t just playing for the last possession,” Callahan said. “That’s not what our objective was. We were trying to go win it on every possession we had. We were trying to score every possession we had.”

The Chants then drove 44 yards in 12 plays, eating up the clock in the process, before Granger put the game to sleep with the winning kick. Coastal Carolina Quarterback Alex Ross, the reigning Big South Offensive Player of the Year, had passes of 17 yards to John Israel on third-and-11 from the 44 and a 12- yard completion to Tyrell Blanks on third-and-four from the 21 to keep the winning drive alive.

Ross finished the game with 282-yards passing completing 20-of-31 attempts.

On their initial possession of the game, Monmouth was forced to punt from its own end zone going three-and-out after starting in horrible field position at the one-yard line and gaining just six yards.

Handed excellent field possession at the Monmouth 42, the Chants proceeded to drive to the ten-yard line, but on third-and-four linebacker Anthony McDonnaugh (7 tackles, 1.5 TFL) and defensive tackle Dimitrius Smith (5 tackles, .5 TFL) stopped Ross on a keeper for a three-yard loss forcing the Chants to settle for a 30-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead at 8:40 of the first quarter.

Starting with terrible field position again at the 10-yard line, the Hawks put together their most impressive drive of the game going 90 yards in 11 plays to take a 7-3 lead.

Monmouth redshirt freshman quarterback Cody Williams went five-of-five for 50 yards on the drive with junior wide receiver Darren Ambush grabbing four passes for 46 yards. Senior tight end Hakeem Valles had a crucial six-yard reception for a first down on a third-and-three at the 48. Senior running back Lavon Chaney took it in from the three for an early 7-3 lead.

“They basically had me one-on-one with a backer,” Ambush said. “We liked that matchup and Cody was putting it right on me.”

Monmouth forced the Chants to punt on their next possession taking over at their own 30 before driving to the 27-yard line facing third-and-seven. Williams was then hurried out of the pocket and looked to be heading out-of-bounds, but instead opted for an ill-advised pass that was picked off at the five by Kerron Johnson and returned to the 20.

“Obviously, you know, you want that one back, but you just have to learn from that,” Williams said. “We responded well. Next drive, we scored a touchdown, but obviously, yea, I would like that one back.”

Coastal Carolina took advantage of the turnover driving the length of the field in ten plays with De’Angelo Henderson running it four consecutive plays on first-and-goal from the nine before taking it in from the two on fourth down for 10-7 lead. On the play, Henderson set a new FCS record by scoring a touchdown in 21 consecutive games, breaking the record previously held by Monmouth’s all-time leading rusher David Sinisi.

The Hawks responded with a quick (2:14) five-play 66-yard touchdown drive to take the lead back 13-10 after Matt Whites extra point was no good. Chaney went 39 yards on first down taking a Williams screen pass down the left sideline for the final 17 yards.

Coastal Carolina matched Monmouth, putting together a seven play 63-yard drive in just 2:50 for the touchdown with 2:07 left in the first half to again pull in front 17-13. Ross ran it in from the one for the score.

Monmouth had a chance to take back the lead or at least pull to within one before the half ended, but the drive stalled at the 22-yard line after three straight incomplete passes set up a fourth-and-10. White’s 39-yard field goal attempt was then wide right with four seconds left and the half ended 17-13 with the Hawks leaving four points on the board. A Williams to Chaney 19-yard completion placed the ball at 22.

The Hawks missed another scoring opportunity to start the second half. After Kamau Dumas returned the second-half kickoff to their own 36, Chaney bolted 41 yards on first down setting up a first-and-10 at the Coastal Carolina 23. A holding penalty pushed them back to the 33, but on first-and-20 Williams found Valles for a big 25-yard gain and a first-and-goal from the eight. Three rushes netted six yards and on fourth-and-goal from the two, a Williams to Ambush pass in the end zone fell incomplete.

The two teams traded punts before a Ganger 32-yard field goal gave the Chanticleers a 20-13 lead with 3:30 remaining in the third quarter. A Ross to Israel 26-yard completion was the big gainer in the drive. Malcolm Powers hurried Ross’ throw on third-and-six from the 15, and true-freshman Tymere Berry knocked the ball away from Bruce Mapp in the far corner of the end zone preventing a touchdown. Powers had two sacks of Ross in the game for the Hawks.

With time winding down in the third quarter, the resilient Hawks fought back once more to tie the score 20-20, going 74 yards in only six plays. Chaney carried the ball four times for 48-yards on the drive including the final 21 yards for a touchdown on first-and-10 from the 21. Williams kept the drive alive on third-and-three from the 30, running out-of-bounds after a nine-yard pickup and first down.

Chaney compiled 228 all-purpose yards and all three Monmouth touchdowns. He finished with a career-high 196-yards rushing on 24 carries for an 8.2 yards per carry average. Williams had a solid day finishing 18-of-30 for 207 yards and one touchdown while rushing for an additional 66 yards on nine carries. For his efforts Chaney was named Big South Offensive Player of the Week. Sophomore safety Mike Basile again led the team in tackles with 13.

The Hawks outgained Coastal Carolina 475 yards to 389 putting up some very impressive numbers against the No.1 team in the nation.

“We played well,” senior cornerback Joe Johnson – who recorded eight tackles, including a forced fumble and had one pass breakup - said. “I think we’ve proven over the last two weeks that we can play with almost anyone if we put our minds to it.”

“I couldn’t be prouder of the effort the team put forth today,” Callahan said. “We went in and executed the game plan we put in on both sides of the ball extremely well. I thought we played physical, I thought we played fast and I thought we put ourselves in a position to win the game.”

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