Conway, S.C. - Stony Brook turned three Coastal Carolina turnovers into touchdowns, getting four turnovers all together, as the Seawolves scored a 28-24 Big South football win at Brooks Stadium tonight. Freshman Dayne Hoffman (Ada, Mich.) and senior Dwayne Eley (Bowie, Md.) connected on three scoring passes in the win, which was the second straight for the Seawolves as well as their first-ever Big South road win.
"Certainly those turnovers helped provide a spark," said Stony Brook head coach Chuck Priore. "But that is how the game is played. We told the team if they win the turnover battle they will have a chance to win the game. At the end of the day I think the physical play of our team was the difference."
Stony Brook (3-5, 2-1 Big South) got a big special teams play to start the game, recovering a Coastal Carolina (4-5, 0-3 Big South) fumble on the opening kickoff at the CCU 25. Facing a 3rd and 15, Hoffman hit junior Donald Lee (Clifton, N.J.) for a first down before junior Conte Cuttino(Uniondale, N.Y.) finished off the drive with a six-yard run that put the Seawolves up 7-0 just 1:53 into the game. But Coastal came back on its next possession, getting a big 56-yard pass play from Zach MacDowall to Trent Usher that led to a one-yard run for the tying score by MacDowall. Both teams drove into the other's territory in the opening quarter, but neither put any more points on the board and it remained tied at 7-all after the first 15 minutes.
A minute into the second quarter Stony Brook had a chance to go ahead again, but senior Luke Gaddis (East Patchogue, N.Y.) saw his 44-yard field goal attempt miss just wide right. On Coastal's next drive a 31-yard pass play combined with a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty put the Chanticleers on the SBU 23 midway through the second. Despite another personal foul called on SBU, the Seawolves defense held, and Coastal came away with no points after missing a 28-yard field goal.
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Coastal Carolina finally broke the tie late in the second quarter when it took possession on its own 44 and drove 56 yards, taking six plays and just 1:24 to score when MacDowall hit Marquel Willis on a 30-yard play. The extra point was missed, however, leaving the Chanticleers on top 13-7. Stony Brook had one more chance to score, but Gaddis' attempt from 48 yards as time expired was wide left.
Stony Brook was stopped on the first possession of the second half, but Coastal Carolina muffed the punt and junior Chris Richards (Quartz Hills, Calif.) recovered for the Seawolves at the CCU 15. Three plays later Hoffman found Eley (Bowie, Md.) for the score and Gaddis' extra-point gave Stony Brook a 14-13 advantage at the 11:19 mark. Coastal answered on its next possession, however, going 68 yards in nine plays, taking a 21-14 lead after a 20-yard MacDowall to Usher pass play and a two-point conversion.
With a bit less than six minutes left in the third, sophomore Arin West (Toms River, N.J.) recovered another muffed punt by Coastal Carolina, giving the Seawolves the ball at the CCU 29. Stony Brook again turned the miscue into points, with Hoffman and Eley hooking up for a second time, this time for 30 yards to tie the score back up at 21-all.
After Coastal retook the lead on a 30-yard field goal early in the fourth, Stony Brook struck again, this time coming up with its longest pass play of the season. Hoffman hit a wide-open Eley down the middle of the field for a 61-yard score that put the Seawolves up 28-24 with 13:40 left.
On Coastal's next possession they faced a fourth and one at their own 29 and went for it with less than six minutes left. Junior Tyler Santucci (New Kensington, Pa.) and seniorAdam Soivilien (Dorchester, Mass.) stopped Racheed Gause for no gain and the Seawolves took over. They then drove down and picked up a first and goal at the six, but on third and goal Cuttino carried down to the one where a jarring hit knocked the ball lose. The ball went out of the end zone for a touchback and Coastal took over with 3:15 left from its own 20.
Coastal drove down to the Stony Brook 25, but with 1:11 left in the game Arthur Sitton fumbled after picking up 13 yards and junior Cory Giddings (Ocean, N.J.) recovered for the Seawolves to seal the win.
Cuttino finished with 136 yards on 23 carries, while Eley grabbed six passes for 120 yards and three scores. Hoffman finished the night completing 14 of his 27 pass attempts for 197 yards and three scores.
