Minter leads South Alabama past Coastal Carolina 31-28
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) — Tra Minter ran for a career-high 203 yards and Cole Garvin and Evan Orth each threw a long touchdown pass to Jamarius Way to help South Alabama hold off Coastal Carolina 31-28 on Friday.
Minter, a junior who had never had a 100-yard rushing game, had 24 carries and added two catches for 49 yards for the Jaguars (3-9, 2-6 Sun Belt Conference), who snapped a four-game skid.
South Alabama took a 3-0 lead on Gavin Patterson's 32-yard field goal on its first possession and stretched the advantage to 10-0 on Garvin's 45-yard hookup with Way following a lost fumble by Coastal Carolina. The Jaguars upped their lead to 17-0 when backup quarterback Orth hit Way for a 73-yard scoring strike 1:32 into the second quarter.
Isaiah Likely hauled in a 31-yard pass from Bryce Carpenter to pull the Chanticleers (5-7, 2-6) within 17-7, but Kawaan Baker scored on a 6-yard run and South Alabama took a 24-7 lead into the half. Alex James' 2-yard TD run pulled Coastal Carolina within 10 points before Garvin and Way connected again for a 7-yard score and a 31-14 lead. The Chanticleers added James' 1-yard TD run early in the fourth quarter and Kilton Anderson's 16-yard TD pass to Malcolm Williams with 34 seconds remaining.
Garvin and Orth combined to complete 10 of 13 passes for 202 yards. Way finished with six catches for 141 yards and three scores.
Anderson completed 20 of 32 passes for 262 yards and a TD for the Chanticleers, who fell one win shy of qualifying for a bowl game.