#MYRsports: CCU Football sees first victory under Moglia

Photo Coutrtesy: James Sturgeon

Tom Michienzi reporting:

With a new month comes a new era in Coastal Carolina University football. Saturday’s game versus North Carolina A&T marked the beginning of the Joe Moglia era.

With a packed crowd of 9,314 at Brooks Stadium, the Chanticleer’s in their new black jerseys secured their first victory of the year by a final score of 29-13. 

Aramis Hillary came out slinging the ball setting a career high in passing with 274 yards. His favorite receiver of the night was Junior Wide Receiver, Niccolo Mastromatteo, who only had one reception last year for seven yards. Tonight Mastromatteo went for 114 yards on six receptions. 

The sixth year senior David Durran set the Big South career reception record for a tight-end by hauling in his 60th reception.  

The standout performance on the defensive side of the ball in the Chanticleer’s first game was Senior, Dontavais Johnson, who brought in three interceptions. This was the first time a player has had three interceptions in a game since Josh Norman did it against Gardner Webb in 2009.  Johnson’s second interception came with two minutes left in the first quarter which led to a 22-yard Jeremy Height rushing touchdown. Johnson added after the game that he was doing the job and that he was letting the plays come to him. 

Going into the half, Coastal was back peddling as A&T cut the lead to seven with a 23-yard pass from the true freshman Kwashuan Quick to Marquis Gorham. Junior quarterback Lewis Kindle was not leading the Aggies’ on offense due to a one game suspension for violating team rules.  Quick finished the game 11-for-23 for 155 yards and one touchdown. Quick also showed his strength of running the ball with 77 rushing yards. 

The Chants took command of the game back in the first drive of the second half by capping off a 10 play drive with a 33-yard pass from Hillary to Hazel. Coach Moglia spoke after the game about what he told his team at half, “We reminded the team that some mistakes will be made, let’s be poised, let’s come back and eliminate mistakes in the second half.” 

The Coastal defense shut the door in the second half, holding the Aggie’s to only three points. 

Hillary, Mastromatteo, Height, and McClure all cashed in for career days versus the Aggie’s. Coach Moglia not only recognized their career days, but the other players on the field that contributed saying, “a lot of guys are up front blocking, a lot of guys are making blocks down field, a lot of guys are doing good things when someone has an individual standout day.”  

In the second half Hillary came out of the game and was replaced by red shirt freshman Alex Ross for a couple plays. Hillary said after the game that he came out with a cramp in one of his fingers and that he wasn’t worried with Ross in control of the offense, “he’s well prepared, he did a great job,” said Hilary. Hillary also added that each week is a new season and that he looks forward to next week’s opponent. With this victory now in the rear-view-mirror, Coastal looks ahead to Furman who fell to Samford 24-21 this evening. 


Written by, Tom Michienzi. Tom is a producer for ESPN Radio 100.3 'The Team' and the beat report for Coastal Carolina Football for ESPN 100.3 and TheDigitel Myrtle Beach. You can follow Tom on Twitter @Tmichienzi18 or for questions call 774-254-4165.

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