Bevy of CCU seniors looking to make most of final four-week stretch

The door is starting to close.

So, the Coastal Carolina football seniors are looking to make the most of the last four games of their collegiate careers.

To make matters more special for the group of 20 seniors, all four will be played at home at Brooks Stadium starting with Saturday’s contest against Monmouth at 2 p.m.

“They realize now there’s a sense of urgency, because there frankly just isn’t much time left for them,” Chanticleers offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude said. “It would mean the world to this group to win these last four games and go out strong, but they know how tough it’s going to be, too. Do I think they’re ready for the task? Absolutely. Absolutely, this group of seniors is a tough group and they get after it.”

The Coastal Carolina offensive line has four senior starters and five seniors on the unit, and will look to close out the season strong. Offensive line coach Patrick Covington is also reminding his players how important and precious these last few games are.

“There’s not that many opportunities left, there’s not that many practices left. The game days are precious,” Covington said. “It doesn’t matter who they’re playing, every opportunity they have to have fun doing what they do with their brothers on the team; I think that’s all the motivation they need.”

Senior running back De’Angelo Henderson – the school’s all-time leading scorer and one of the most decorated Coastal Carolina athletes ever – has missed the past few games with a shoulder injury and isn’t sure he’ll get back on the field. Although watching from the sidelines has been a “weird” experience for him, the senior still holds out hope that he’ll get back out there.

“I’d love to get back out there, but it’s not up to me. I need to do what’s best for the team, and for myself,” Henderson said. “But just know, if they call on me I’m going to be ready to go. I expect us to close out this year strong.”

As for the offensive linemen who have been in front of Henderson for the past four years, they’re also realizing that the clock is ticking.

“I was just talking to [senior Sam Ekwonike] going down the stairs and was like, ‘Man, only four more weeks.’ It’s real important,” senior offensive lineman Voghens Larrieux said. “I think about the time I first stepped on the campus and it doesn’t feel like it was too long ago. To only have four more weeks left is bittersweet. It’s kind of like, ‘Wow.’ These games are very important but it feels like that door is shutting more and more.”

After Monmouth, the Chants play host to Bryant, Liberty and Hampton to close out the season. They won’t be eligible for the postseason or conference honors as the program is in a transition period before entering the NCAA FBS division ranks in the Sun Belt Conference next season, so the emphasis on the remainder of the schedule is strong.

“They’re very prideful guys,” Covington said of the seniors. “They want to make the school proud, their teammates and their families back home. That’s been the mission whole year, it doesn’t matter when we’re playing or where, whether it’s on the field or on the practice field. These guys want to make each other proud and compete.”

This story was originally published November 4, 2016 at 7:40 PM with the headline "Bevy of CCU seniors looking to make most of final four-week stretch."