Coastal Carolina-The Citadel Matchup Preview

No. 18 The Citadel (8-3) at No. 9/10 Coastal Carolina (9-2)

When: 2 p.m. Saturday

Where: Brooks Stadium, Conway

TV/Internet: ESPN3.com

Radio: WSEA-FM 100.3

Weather Forecast: 71 degrees and sunny

Series History: Coastal Carolina leads 1-0

Last Meeting: The Chanticleers defeated The Citadel 31-16 in the teams’ 2014 season opener in Charleston. That was the Bulldogs’ first game under coach Mike Houston, though, and it looks like they’ve come a long way since then.

Chanticleers Breakdown

Coastal Carolina was hoping to have a bye in the first round of the FCS playoffs, but that plan was undone when the Chants lost at Liberty in their regular-season finale last week. So the big key Saturday is how well the players have truly put that defeat behind them and refocused for an earlier-than-hoped start to the postseason.

At this point, the Chants are what they are, and if everything goes well that’s certainly enough to keep pushing toward their goal of an FCS national championship. The offense is capable of piling up the points – ranking 19th in the FCS in scoring at 34.8 points per game – and the defense has had its moments. Overall, the Chants rank 14th among FCS teams in allowing an average of 18.2 points per game.

That said, Coastal Carolina has been inconsistent defensively all season and most frustratingly has had a hard time getting off the field on third and fourth down in key moments. The unit also ranks 64th nationally in rushing defense (168.4 yards per game allowed on the ground) and will receive its toughest test yet in that regard from The Citadel’s triple-option attack.

The Chants have now been in the playoffs in all four of coach Joe Moglia’s seasons with the program, and they’ve won at least one game in each of those first three years – including reaching the third round each of the last two years. They’re hoping to go even further this time, but first they must overcome a significant obstacle in this first round game.

Bulldogs Breakdown

The Citadel has advanced quickly in coach Mike Houston’s two seasons at the helm, improving from 5-7 last year to 8-3 this season with their only losses coming against FBS-level Georgia Southern and Charleston Southern and Chattanooga teams that finished the regular season ranked in the top-10 of the FCS national polls.

And the Bulldogs made quite the statement last weekend in stunning South Carolina with a 23-22 upset win at Williams-Brice Stadium.

The Bulldogs boast the FCS’s second-best rushing offense, averaging 344.3 yards per game on the ground with their triple-option attack. They rushed for 350 yards in that win over the Gamecocks and have six players who have rushed for at least 400 yards this season. Overall, they rank 26th nationally in scoring at 32.1 points per game.

That’s no surprise as Houston and offensive coordinator Brent Thompson came from Division II Lenoir-Rhyne, where their 2013 team set a record for all NCAA divisions with 5,563 rushing yards and reached the Division II national championship game.

As for The Citadel, this is the program’s first playoff appearance since 1992.

Key Matchup

The Citadel’s triple-option against Coastal Carolina’s defensive front: Obviously, the story of the game will be how the Chants can contain or at least slow down the Bulldogs’ rushing attack. Coastal Carolina gave up 358 rushing yards when the teams met in their 2014 season opener and that was only the Bulldogs’ first game together under the new coaching staff. The Chants faced another true triple-option team this year in their win over Kennesaw State and faced a version of the option in a loss at Charleston Southern, but this will be as challenging as any offense they’ve faced this season.

Spotlight Players

CCU quarterback Alex Ross: Knowing any game now could be his last, Chants fans have to feel confident that Ross will be at the top of his game in this one. He’s passed for 2,594 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions this season and threw for 263 yards last year against The Citadel.

CCU running back De’Angelo Henderson: The junior ranks eighth among all FCS players with 1,245 rushing yards, in addition to 37 catches for 343 yards, and has totaled 17 touchdowns. Henderson has scored a touchdown in 25 straight games overall.

CCU defensive end Roderick Holder: The senior has had another productive season for the Chants with a team-best 11 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. He’ll be a key on the edge for the defense in this one.

The Citadel quarterback Dominique Allen: The sophomore is the leader offensively for the Bulldogs with a team-high 717 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground and 771 yards and four touchdowns through the air.

The Citadel B-back Tyler Renew: He is second on the team with 652 rushing yards and four touchdowns. His 174 rushing yards and two touchdowns last week helped propel the Bulldogs to a win over South Carolina.

The Citadel quarterback Cam Jackson: Jackson, a sophomore, has made a big impact when on the field as well, rushing for 625 yards and five touchdowns and averaging a team-best 8.0 yards per carry. He had a 59-yard touchdown run against South Carolina.

Scouting Reports

CCU defensive coordinator Clayton Carlin: “They certainly have grown, that’s for sure. They have certainly grown. It’s an extremely physical football team, extremely well coached. Schematically they’re still the same; they’re just doing it way better than they were a year ago.”

CCU offensive coordinator Dave Patenaude: “They’re always going to have six, seven, eight guys on the ball. They run to the ball very well. Their run defense has been good. The interior guys are very effective and strong up front, and they’ll mix up the coverages. It’s a similar look to some of the stuff we’ve seen the last few weeks, but in true Citadel fashion, they’re going to try to muscle you, try to get to the ball, try to knock you back. Statistically, they’re really good pass-defense wise, so it will be a fun test.”

Notes

▪ While The Citadel’s offense has continued to progress in year two with this coaching staff, head coach Mike Houston said it’s the improvement the Bulldogs have made defensively that pleases him as much as anything.

That’s a tribute to defensive coordinator Maurice Drayton, who served as Coastal Carolina’s special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach from 2010-11.

After giving up 28.7 points and 442 yards per game last season, the Bulldogs enter the postseason giving up 21.0 points (30th in the FCS) and 350.5 yards per game (37th).

▪ Coastal Carolina will likely be without cornerback Dontay Hears, who sustained a head injury against Liberty. In his place, sophomore Ray Lewis III was listed atop the depth chart in the team’s weekly game notes. It would be Lewis III’s first career start if that holds true.

Freshman safety Michael Billings will also remain sidelined while recovering from a concussion.

Offensively, senior wide receiver John Israel remains day-to-day with a knee injury that has kept him out the last four games.

▪ Coastal Carolina is one of just six teams to reach the FCS playoffs in each of the last four years, along with North Dakota State, Jacksonville State, New Hampshire, Sam Houston State and South Dakota State.

The winner Saturday between the Chants and The Citadel will play Charleston Southern in the next round.

▪ As of Friday afternoon, Coastal Carolina had dispensed about 6,100 tickets for the playoff game, according to assistant athletic director for ticket sales and revenue Michael Jacobs.

The school is covering the cost of any student tickets claimed, though student turnout has typically been low on games played during the Thanksgiving break.

Fans can purchase tickets online, following the link available at www.goccusports.com, or at the stadium starting at 10 a.m. Saturday.

By The Numbers

4 | The Citadel is tied for first in the FCS with four interceptions returned for touchdowns.

8 | The Citadel’s eight wins this season are tied for the second-best in program history, trailing only an 11-win season in 1992.

13 | Mike Houston’s 13 wins are the most by a Bulldogs head coach in his first two seasons.

21 | Including the playoffs, Coastal Carolina has won 21 of its last 23 non-conference games with both losses coming to reigning FCS national champion North Dakota State.

33 | Coastal Carolina’s 33 wins over the last three seasons is second-best in the FCS behind only North Dakota State’s 39.

299 | Sophomore Chris Jones has 299 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the last two games for the Chants.

344.3 | It bears repeating, The Citadel ranks second in the FCS in averaging 344.3 rushing yards per game.

Prediction

Coastal Carolina 34-31. This game is a total toss-up, but Coastal Carolina has home-field advantage and has plenty of recent playoff experience. The Chants also know this is their last chance for postseason success for a few years with their upcoming move to the Sun Belt Conference.

This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 4:56 PM with the headline "Coastal Carolina-The Citadel Matchup Preview."