No. 16 Coastal Carolina tops Texas State, wins Sun Belt East
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C.J. Marable ran for 157 yards and three touchdowns and No. 16 Coastal Carolina wrapped up the Sun Belt Conference East Division title with a 49-14 victory over Texas State on Saturday.
The Chanticleers (9-0, 7-0) had 572 yards of offense in extending their winning streak to 10 games. They moved up to the Football Bowl Subdivision three seasons ago.
Texas State (2-10, 2-6) closed its sixth straight losing season. It was the second-most points the Bobcats have allowed in regulation this season.
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Texas State held a moment of silence for sophomore defensive back Khambrail Winters, who was fatally shot Tuesday what the San Marcos Police Department said was a drug deal gone wrong.
Coastal took command early at Bobcat Stadium, scoring touchdowns on its first two possessions route to a 35-7 lead at the half.
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The Chants drove 81 yards on their opening possession for the game’s first touchdown. Marable had five rushes for 67 yards in the seven-play drive, including a 14-yard scoring run 1:14 into the game.
The senior running back followed that with a 9-yard scoring run on Coastal’s second possession. The 45-yard drive was set up when Chants junior safety Alex Spillum forced and recovered a fumble. It was Texas State’s fourth fumble of the season.
Marable added a 23-yeard scoring run two minutes into the third quarter. He closed with 16 carries, averaging 9.8 yards per attempt.
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The Chants rushed for 406 yards and five touchdowns.
Texas State’s lone touchdown in the first half came on a 14-yard pass from Brady McBride to Javen Banks with 4:33 remaining in the first quarter. The 77-yard drive cut the Chants’ lead to 14-7 at the time.
McBride, the Sun Belt’s reigning Offensive Player of the Week, completed 20 of 26 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown.
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The Bobcats were held to 318 yards, including just 116 yards rushing on 24 carries.
THE TAKEAWAY
Texas State: The Bobcats have finished above .500 just once in their last nine seasons. They have three two-win seasons in the past five years and are 5-19 in two seasons under Jake Spavital, who signed a five-year contract with the school in 2018. Texas State was 7-28 in three seasons under previous head coach Everett Withers before his dismissal.
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Coastal Carolina: With a conference title secure, the Chants will focus on closing out a perfect regular season and trying to improve their bowl opportunities. Coastal has scored 40-plus points in four games this season.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Coastal dropped one spot in the AP Top 25 this week after needing a second-half rally to beat Appalachian State 34-23. As dominant as Saturday’s victory was, it did come against an overmatched Texas State team that was concluding a dismal season.
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UP NEXT
Texas State: Season over.
Coastal Carolina: Hosts Liberty next Saturday.