CCU football notebook: Conway’s Martin becoming a featured offensive weapon

Coastal Carolina senior running back De’Angelo Henderson, who holds several school rushing records, is likely to be held out of a third consecutive game with a shoulder injury, so freshman Jah-Maine Martin of Conway should again have the spotlight Saturday.

After gaining 120 yards on 12 carries and scoring two touchdowns in a 41-17 win at Presbyterian this past Saturday in his second college game, Martin will likely be heavily relied upon against Monmouth at Brooks Stadium.

“I’m excited,” Martin said. “You know, I should have an opportunity to get probably a good bit of playing time, it’s a home game, I have family coming out, I’ve got a couple [former Conway High] teammates coming out, maybe coach [Chuck] Jordan might come out, so it’s exciting.”

Senior Kenneth Daniels, who has started the past three games at tailback, gained 100 yards on 15 carries and also scored two touchdowns at Presbyterian and will likely again split time with Martin alongside quarterback Tyler Keane in the backfield.

“When Jah-Maine had an opportunity to get in the game, I think he was totally effective,” CCU head coach Joe Moglia said. “I thought he did an outstanding job. He ran really hard. There was no way one guy was going to bring him down. I could not be more proud of what he did that day. That was a great game for him.”

Playing takeaway

Under first-year defensive coordinator Mickey Matthews, the Chanticleers have been a lot more opportunistic this season than in recent years.

With three interceptions and a fumble recovery in last week’s win over Presbyterian, CCU has forced 18 turnovers in eight games, recovering six fumbles and intercepting 12 passes.

The 18 forced turnovers would tie for 10th in the Football Bowl Subdivision and tie for 15th in the Football Championship Subdivision.

The Chants are transitioning from FCS to FBS this season with an FCS schedule. The 12 interceptions would tie for eighth in FBS and tie for 12th in FCS.

CCU has forced multiple turnovers in five games, and has at least one interception in six games and at least one fumble recovery in six games.

The turnovers have led to points, as the Chants have seven non-offensive touchdowns and a safety this season, and the four turnovers Saturday led to 22 points.

Coastal only forced 14 turnovers in 12 games last season with six interceptions and eight fumble recoveries.

Senior linebacker Alex Scearce has been the player most responsible for CCU's turnovers with five interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

“The way we’ve been running stuff more this year, in the past years we’ve run a lot of man kind of coverage so you’re not looking as much at the quarterback and stuff, especially at my position at linebacker,” Scearce said. “But with the new system we’re zoning stuff a lot so I can read the quarterback and see where he’s going, like [against Central Connecticut] when I sunk underneath a route for an interception.”

Military recognized

For the second straight season, CCU athletics and the CCU chapter of Student Veterans of America will honor active duty personnel and veterans Friday and Saturday during Military Appreciation Weekend.

At Brooks Stadium at 2 p.m. Friday, Rolling Thunder SC-3 will install the campus’ second Missing Man Chair at the flag pole to honor the nation's POWs and MIA. This past spring, a Missing Man Chair was placed at the Coastal baseball stadium. The chairs will remain empty until all POW/MIA return home.

Several events will take place Saturday around the 2 p.m. game against Monmouth. They include an 11:30 a.m. CCU ROTC walk-through; the All Veteran Parachute Team delivering the game ball from above, skydiving with a large American flag; local veteran motorcycle associations forming a tunnel for the team entrance; World War II veterans joining team captains for the coin toss; in-game recognition of faculty, staff and student veterans; and a halftime military tribute by the CCU marching band.

There will be displays of military vehicles and organizations at tailgate areas, and all veterans and active military will receive free tickets with reduced $10 tickets for their guests. A military ID is required.

Teal gets SI love

Sports Illustrated rated the top 25 field designs in college football, and Coastal Carolina was deemed to have the 22nd-coolest design at Brooks Stadium.

The magazine/website stated: “Coastal Carolina put in teal (!) artificial turf in 2015 and it looks good. The Chanticleer logo midfield is a great touch.”

No. 1 in the ratings is the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., edging out Boise State’s bright blue smurf turf, the original non-traditional look in college football.

This story was originally published November 2, 2016 at 9:01 PM with the headline "CCU football notebook: Conway’s Martin becoming a featured offensive weapon."