CONWAY, S.C. (Interstat) — The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers leaned on a dominant defensive performance and a dynamic rushing attack from quarterback Samari Collier to secure a 23-8 victory over the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks on Saturday at Brooks Stadium.

In a game where offensive consistency was scarce, the Chanticleers’ defense stifled the Warhawks for three quarters, forcing two critical interceptions and repeatedly turning away promising drives. The win improved Coastal Carolina’s record to 2-3, while Louisiana-Monroe fell to 3-2.

The contest was a stark departure from pregame expectations. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a high-scoring affair with Coastal Carolina winning 42-28, and the Chanticleers were installed as 2.5-point favorites. Instead, the teams combined for just 31 total points, falling well short of the over/under line of 45.5.

Coastal Carolina established control early with a methodical, run-heavy approach. The Chanticleers opened the game with a 14-play, 53-yard drive that consumed over six minutes, culminating in a 38-yard field goal from Kian Afrookhteh. They added a second Afrookhteh field goal, this time from 26 yards, later in the first quarter to take a 6-0 lead. The drive for the second field goal was kept alive by a fortunate bounce, as a 46-yard run by Ja’Vin Simpkins ended with a fumble that was recovered by teammate Malcolm Gillie at the Warhawks’ 4-yard line.

The Chanticleers’ defense was the story of the first half, consistently pressuring Louisiana-Monroe quarterback Aidan Armenta and bottling up the run game. The Warhawks managed just 98 total yards in the half and crossed midfield only once, with that drive stalling near midfield.

Coastal Carolina extended its lead to 9-3 with another Afrookhteh field goal, a 39-yarder, with 6:59 remaining in the second quarter. The score was set up by a 16-yard scramble from Collier.

The game’s first touchdown came just before halftime, providing the Chanticleers with a commanding lead. After a 43-yard run by Jevon Edwards put Coastal Carolina in scoring position, Collier found tight end Brooks Johnson for an 8-yard touchdown pass with 12 seconds left in the half. The score gave the Chanticleers a 16-0 advantage heading into the break.

Louisiana-Monroe showed a spark to open the second half. On the first play from scrimmage, running back Braylon McReynolds broke free for a 41-yard run, quickly moving the Warhawks into Chanticleer territory. A few plays later, Armenta connected with Jonathan Bibbs on a 27-yard touchdown pass. A successful two-point conversion pulled the Warhawks to within a single score at 16-8.

The momentum was short-lived. Coastal Carolina answered emphatically on its ensuing possession. Collier took matters into his own hands, breaking a 39-yard touchdown run on a quarterback keeper to cap a seven-play, 68-yard drive and push the lead back to 23-8.

From that point, the Chanticleers’ defense resumed its suffocating play. The Warhawks’ next four possessions all ended in punts or turnovers. Cornerback Avyonne Jones and defensive back Xamarion Gordon each recorded interceptions in the fourth quarter to seal the victory, with Gordon’s pick coming in the end zone to halt a promising Louisiana-Monroe drive.

Collier, a redshirt junior from Desoto, Texas, was the offensive catalyst for Coastal Carolina. While he completed just 5 of 15 passes for 37 yards and a touchdown, he was a force on the ground, carrying the ball 11 times for 86 yards and the decisive 39-yard score.

The Chanticleers’ ground game was a collective effort, with Edwards rushing for 48 yards on six carries and Jalen John adding 30 yards on eight attempts. The defense was led by linebacker Tray Brown, who recorded six tackles, while a host of defenders, including Dante Thomas, Xamarion Gordon, and Avyonne Jones, each had four stops.

For Louisiana-Monroe, Armenta finished 14 of 28 for 176 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His primary target was Jonathan Bibbs, who caught five passes for 79 yards and the team’s lone touchdown. McReynolds was a bright spot in the backfield, grinding out 78 yards on 14 carries. Defensively, safeties Lynard Harris and Andre Mack each tallied six tackles.

The Chanticleers will look to build on this win when they travel to face Appalachian State next Saturday. The Warhawks will return home to host Troy, also on Saturday.