After securing a hard-fought victory against Bowling Green, the Monarchs sought to maintain their success on the road facing Coastal Carolina. Freshman Quarterback Colton Joseph, stepping in for the injured Grant Wilson, made his second start of the season. His performance yielded significant outcomes, enabling the team to score 37 points against the Chanticleers. Despite this, the Monarchs fell short, with a final score of 45-37 in favor of Coastal.
In the initial phase of the 1st quarter, both teams had brief possessions culminating in punts. The Monarchs were the first to score following a 12-play, 86-yard drive, with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Junior Running Back Bryce Duke. The Chants responded with an 8-yard passing touchdown to Junior Tight End Cane Berrong after a five-play, 75-yard drive.
The Monarchs extended their lead with a 26-yard field goal by Sophomore Kicker Ethan Sanchez. Subsequently, their defense forced the Chants’ offense off the field, allowing the Monarchs to capitalize with a 55-yard touchdown pass to Isiah Page, bringing the score to 17-7.
As the 1st half approached its conclusion, the Chants urgently sought to score, managing to do so with 5 minutes remaining. A 68-yard rush by Sophomore Running Back Christian Washington placed the Chants on the 7-yard line, where they scored a touchdown with a 12-yard pass to Junior Running Back Cameron Wright.
With 2 minutes left in the second quarter, ODU attempted to secure the lead but suffered a fumble, enabling the Chants to score a 23-yard touchdown, concluding the 1st half with a 21-17 lead.
In the opening of the 2nd half, the Chants executed a five-play, 80-yard touchdown drive, culminating in a 9-yard rushing touchdown by Senior Running Back Braydon Bennet, extending their lead to 28-17 after three total drives. Coastal furthered their lead with another touchdown, a 4-yard rush by Braydon Bennet, making it 35-17.
The Monarchs, despite being 18 points down, displayed resilience as their offense executed a 7-play-65-yard drive resulting in a 40-yard touchdown pass from Colton Joseph to Diante Vines. This was followed by a crucial defensive stop at the beginning of the 4th Quarter. The Monarch offense continued their momentum with a nine-play 78-yard drive, culminating in a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Freshman Running Back Devin Roche. These consecutive touchdowns brought the Monarchs within striking distance of Coastal, trailing by only 5 points (30-35).
In the face of the Monarch defense, Ethan Vasko successfully secured his third touchdown by connecting with Braydon Bennet for 37 yards and his second touchdown, bringing the score to 42-30. Despite the Monarch offense’s attempts to respond with a touchdown of their own, they were unable to do so and concluded their drive with a punt.
A 4-minute-10 play drive by the Chants resulted in a 46-yard field goal by Junior Kicker Kade Hensley, extending their lead to 45-30. The Monarchs managed to add points to the board with a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Colton Joseph, bringing the score to 42-37. However, the Monarchs were unable to regain possession of the ball, concluding the game with the Chants kneeling and exiting their home stadium victorious.
The Monarch’s offense exhibited significant efficiency, performing at its peak during the game with their second-string quarterback, Colton Joseph. Joseph concluded the game with 262 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, 12 rushing attempts, and 68 yards, including a rushing touchdown late in the game. Freshman Running Back Aaron Roche also delivered an exceptional performance, recording 12 rushing attempts for 86 yards and one rushing touchdown, marking his best game of the 2024 season. While the Monarch’s offense performed admirably, an interception and a fumble by Joseph resulted in a costly touchdown that ultimately thwarted the team’s chance at victory.
The Monarchs, with a record of 1-4, are set to embark on the second game of their 3-game away stretch against Georgia State, who holds a record of 2-2 and is well-rested following its bye week. The forthcoming game is scheduled to take place at Center Park Stadium on Saturday, October 12th, at 3:30 p.m.