Dawg Recap: Coastal Carolina Stuns Marshall Without Starting QB

'Press Box' Photo Credit: Brandon Biskobing

Coastal Carolina pulls off the surprise win behind their backup quarterback Jarrett Guest, beating Marshall 34-6 in front of a record crowd.

Guest stepped up to the moment, throwing for 289 yards and three touchdowns. When asked about how Guest performed, head coach Tim Beck said he had no doubt that Guest could fill the void.

“I never doubted Jarrett,” Head Coach Tim Beck said. “He’s a crafty veteran, been through this before. This isn’t the first time he had to start for an injury to Grayson and play well and win games, he’s done that before. He did a great job just doing what he was chosen to do, getting the ball out on time and giving his guys a chance to go make plays. He took that to heart and did that and had a lot of success doing it.”

The Chanticleers started the game off strong, with Guest showing he is not afraid of the moment by throwing a 39-yard pass down the sideline to Jameson Tucker to put the Chanticleers into Marshall territory.

When asked about how important getting the first big play of the game out of the way early. Guest praised the rest of the offense.

“It’s always huge to get the first completion of the game,” Guest said. "Offensive line played great all night, I got sacked one time (he actually didn’t get sacked at all), so it was nice to see one of our guys go and make a play. Jameson, he made a great play and it was just good to get rolling on our first play”

The drive would fizzle out, however, with Coastal settling for a field goal to start the scoring. They would complete the drive on their next offensive possession, with Guest throwing a 30-yard touchdown pass to Jared Brown. Another field goal by Hensley on the next possession would give the Chanticleers a 13-0 lead in the second quarter. Marshall would get their first points on the board in the middle of the second quarter with a 23-yard field goal. Guest would show off his arm again on their next drive, throwing a 59-yard touchdown pass down the sideline to Jared Brown, the longest passing touchdown of his career.

The second half would start off slow, with both teams trading scoreless drives until a big defensive play by the Chanticleers would give them a very short field courtesy of a fumble recovery by Michael Mason on a strip sack he created himself. The Chants would capitalize on the short field with a one-yard touchdown rush by Reese White.

The Chants will go on the road again next week, traveling to Old Dominion.