CCU-Gardner-Webb quarter-by-quarter breakdown

By Josh Hoke, jhoke@thesunnews.com

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First quarter

Key moment | Coastal Carolina scored a touchdown on the first drive of the game, but tailback Tommy Fraser fumbled away a pitch on the Chanticleers' next drive. After taking over at Coastal's 9, the Bulldogs needed just three plays to drive nine yards for the tying score.

The man | Coastal quarterback Zach MacDowall was 7-for-10 passing for 78 yards and a touchdown to Akeem Wesley in the opening stanza. He was completing just 56 percent of his passes and throwing for just 121.5 yards per game entering Saturday.

CCU running back Marcus Whitener celebrates his 39-yard touchdown.

Second quarter

Key moment | After Coastal took a 10-7 lead with a field goal, the Chants were called for unsportsmanlike conduct on the ensuing kickoff, giving Gardner-Webb excellent field position. The Bulldogs, who needed just five plays to drive 48 yards, scored on Stan Doolittle's nine-yard pass to slotback David Montgomery to take a 14-10 halftime lead.

The man | Doolittle, Gardner-Webb's senior signal caller, was just 3-of-6 passing for 32 yards before halftime, but he made several plays with his feet, rushing seven times for 38 first-half yards.

Third quarter

Key moment | Coastal led 17-14 and was looking for more on Justin Durham's 46-yard field goal attempt late in the quarter. However, Gardner-Webb corner Bryce Nixon blocked the kick and teammate Mario Brown returned it 51 yards into Coastal territory.

The man | Gardner-Webb tailback Patrick Hall scored his second touchdown of the game on the ensuing drive. He carried five straight times from the 11, finally scoring from one yard out on third down to give the Bulldogs a 21-17 lead.

Fourth quarter

Key moment | Coastal took the lead for good on Fraser's four-yard scoring run with 4:17 left. The touchdown was set up by Marquel Willis' 20-yard completion on third-and-15 to midfield.

The man | Coastal corner Josh Norman finished with three interceptions, picking off Doolittle on Gardner-Webb's final two possessions. The third pick came in the end zone with 23 seconds left.