Brooks Stadium - Conway, S.C.
Head coach Jamey Chadwell’s Chanticleers finished 2018 at 3-9 in Chadwell’s first year at the helm. However, the sub-.500 record certainly wasn’t for lack of offense. CCU led or was near the top of several Sun Belt Conference offensive categories and averaged 379.3 yards per game.
Of course, with a potent offense, finishing a 3-9 means the defense has some issues.
Eastern Michigan, meanwhile, is coming off a 7-6 mark in 2018. That included a heartbreaking 23-21 loss to Georgia Southern in the Camellia Bowl.
Coach Chris Creighton’s team went 2-2 in non-conference play last year, opening the campaign with wins over Monmouth and Purdue. It was the second straight year in which EMU defeated a Big Ten team. Non-conference losses were to San Diego State (23-20 in OT) and Army (37-22).
ABOUT COASTAL CAROLINA
➤➤ Head coach Jamey Chadwell was previously offensive coordinator for the Chanticleers, so while this is his second season as head coach, the offense reflects three years of his influence.
➤Coastal Carolina ranked first in the conference in fourth-down conversion percentage (68.8) and in time of possession (32:47). It was second in third-down conversion percentage (42.2), third in passing efficiency and fourth in both rushing offense (198.7 ypg) and first downs (248)
➤➤ CCU brings back 49 letterwinners, including 19 starters (8 off, 7 def, 4 st).
Four offensive linemen are among the returnees.
➤➤ Coastal Carolina runs a spread option offense with either Fred Payton or Bryce Carpenter (both sophomores) at quarterback.
➤➤ Ky’Jon Tyler grabbed 26 aerials in 2018, providing 397 yards and a pair of TDs.
➤➤ Junior C.J. Marable is back after carrying 118 times for 719 yards (6.1 ypc) with six scores.
➤➤ This is the Chanticleers first meeting with EMU.
ABOUT EASTERN MICHIGAN
➤➤ The Eagles won their first two games last year and also claimed victories in five of their last six regular season contests. The slump that took them out of the MAC West race came with four straight losses (three in conference) starting in mid-September. Two losses were in overtime. The other two were by seven and three points.
➤➤ EMU returns 13 starters (6 off, 4 def, 3 sp), along with 45 letterwinners.
➤➤ Quarterback Tyler Wiegers is gone, but Mike Glass - a dual threat - returns after completing 72 of 117 passes (61.5%) of his passes, good for 1,024 yards and nine TDs against just one interception.
➤➤ RB Shaq Vann ran for 590 yards on 135 attempts, contributing five scores, last year.
➤➤ Arthur Jackson caught 46 passes for 592 yards and five TDs.
For more on EMU, check out the season preview HERE.