CCU Football Notebook: Chants’ young reserves show well in extended action

With the Coastal Carolina football team taking a commanding halftime lead Saturday against Alabama A&M, the coaching staff emptied the bench and gave the Chanticleers’ second and third-teamers significant work.

The move gave fans who remained at Brooks Stadium for all four quarters a glimpse at some of the No. 1/2-ranked Chants’ future playmakers.

Sophomore running back Osharmar Abercrombie continued his strong season with 80 rushing yards in a season-high 16 attempts in the 55-0 win and redshirt-freshman Isaac Martin totaled 70 yards in 10 carries, including a 53-yard gain.

Meanwhile, nine different Chants caught passes in the victory and redshirt-freshman wide receiver Frankie Richardson hauled in his first career touchdown reception.

“There’s not any question on our end, we know Osh can certainly play for Hop [Henderson]. He’s already proven himself,” coach Joe Moglia said. “But Isaac had the big, big run. ... We know we have reasonable depth there and so I was pleased with what they were able to do.”

Abercrombie has been effective all season in his limited work behind junior starter De’Angelo Henderson and he’s now up to 254 yards while averaging a team-high 6.7 per carry.

Martin, meanwhile, more than doubled his season production Saturday and has 118 yards this fall on 4.9 yards per attempt.

Henderson still has another season of eligibility, but he as much as anyone enjoyed seeing the two players behind him produce like they did Saturday.

“It was great. Once we start clicking and the young guys get in, it’s phenomenal just to see that growth from when they first got here to now, or from camp to now,” Henderson said. “So when they get a chance to get in, we’re on the sideline like high school kids jumping around excited, cheering them on.”

As for Richardson, he is a receiver that offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude has continually included in the conversation of guys he is confident can produce when called upon.

Unfortunately for the second year pass-catcher from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., he just hasn’t been needed very much while stuck behind a deep and veteran receiving corps.

Richardson’s two catches for 19 yards Saturday – which came on back-to-back plays, including the touchdown grab to put the Chants up 38-0 at the end of the second quarter – were his first of his career.

It was the payoff of a lot of patience as Richardson initially signed with Coastal Carolina in 2013 before taking a “grayshirt” year and then a redshirt season in 2014.

“I’ve always wanted a chance to get out there and show what I can do, but that meant a lot for me to go out there and catch my first touchdown pass since 2012. So I felt good,” he said. “... You’ve just got to take advantage of that opportunity whenever you get a chance to get in there.”

The Chants’ backup quarterbacks also got extended work. Senior Michael Church was steady as usual, completing 5-of-7 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown and also rushing for touchdown, and redshirt freshman Josh Stilley saw his first collegiate action, completing 1-of-2 passes.

Henderson making history

With Henderson needing to find the end zone to extend his streak to a Big South-record 19 straight games with a touchdown, it seemed like the Chants were intent on taking care of that as early as possible Saturday.

Henderson got three straight carries from inside the 5-yard line on Coastal Carolina’s first possession, eventually punching it in for a 1-yard touchdown.

He also scored two more times during the first half while setting the Big South record and moving closer to the FCS record of 20 straight games with a touchdown, held by Monmouth’s David Sinisi (2006-07).

“I don’t really think about it. I let the guys talk about it,” Henderson said. “Other guys, they mention it a lot. I just want to go out and be the best person I can be, best player I can be. If that’s scoring, blocking, catching, it doesn’t matter what it is – I just want to help my team win.”

Win No. 100

The win Saturday was the 100th in program history for Coastal Carolina as the Chants moved to 100-49 all-time, now in their 13th season.

“I think that winning the 100th game is a wonderful milestone,” Moglia said. “And I think for us as a university, we do have a good legacy, we do have a good tradition, we do have a good foundation. To be able to win our 100th game halfway through our 13th season is something I certainly think Coastal should be proud of. ... Every coach and every player that has been part of the Coastal Carolina football program should be proud of that.”

Ross takes pick in stride

Senior quarterback Alex Ross threw only his second interception of the season Saturday as Alabama A&M’s Justin Brown picked him off on the Chants’ second offensive series.

He’s still posting the best interception rate of his collegiate career, averaging one every 66.5 passing attempts this fall. Last season he threw seven interceptions in 422 attempts for an average of one every 60.3 passes.

After the game, he explained that the defender simply got the better of him on that pick Saturday.

“He kind of baited me into that one,” Ross said. “I turned and I looked and I tried to bait him into going into the flat because there was a flat route over there, and when I turned towards the flat he took two steps toward it. And I came back to the curl and he had dropped right back under the curl, so he kind of baited me into that one, which is unfortunate, but I didn’t let it happen again.”

Ross’ 10-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio puts him on pace for the best mark of his career. The past two seasons he’s finished with a 2.86 and 2.89 TD/INT ratios.

Punters continue to compete

Freshman punter Evan Rabon was available Saturday after missing the last game with a non-football injury, but sophomore Masamitsu Ishibashi remained the Chants’ starter.

Ishibashi averaged 34.0 yards on four attempts to move his season average to 36.6. Rabon, who started the first three games, had one punt Saturday for 32 yards and is averaging 36.7 yards for the season.

Moglia said the two continue to compete for playing time.

“Masa actually had a better week in practice,” Moglia said. “Masa was cramping in the fourth quarter so we [put Rabon in]. I wouldn’t say he’s got the job, but I’d say we’ve got two guys that can punt.”

This story was originally published October 4, 2015 at 12:28 PM with the headline "CCU Football Notebook: Chants’ young reserves show well in extended action."