Behind Vasko and Wright, #CCU takes ODU 45-37 to open Sun Belt Conference (AUDIO) – SportsTalkSC

Conway, SC: A year ago, Ethan Vasko picked up his first win as a Chanticleer with a 28-24 win over Old Dominion in Norfolk. On Saturday evening, Vasko continued to haunt his home school.

The Chesapeake, Virginia native, who played his high school football just fifteen miles from ODU's campus, fueled the Monarchs with over 300 passing yards and three touchdowns as Coastal defeated Coastal 45-37 in their Sun Belt Conference opener. Both teams won against Old Dominion at Brooks Stadium.

Game story by Rixon Lane, CCU Media Relations: In its annual Whiteout game in front of 18,522 fans, Coastal scored at least 40 points for the third time this season and racked up 515 total yards of offense while forcing three Monarch turnovers.

Vasko had a career night, throwing for 367 yards and three touchdowns on 19 of 26 passes. Cameron Wright led the receivers with four catches for 148 yards and a touchdown, while Christian Washington rushed eight times for 92 yards. Braydon Bennett accounted for two touchdowns on the ground and added a receiving touchdown, setting a career high for total touchdowns in a game. Bennett also surpassed the 2,000-yard all-purpose rushing mark in his career.

Shane Bruce and Tobias Fletcher accounted for eight tackles each, leading the Coastal defense.

Coastal fell behind in the first half and tied the score at 7-7 with 45 seconds left in the first quarter on an eight-yard touchdown pass from Vasko to Cane Berrong. ODU scored the next 10 points to take a 17-7 lead in the final minutes of the second quarter.

CCU cut the deficit to 17-14 with 2:15 left before halftime when Washington broke free on a 68-yard rush, setting up a 12-yard touchdown pass from Vasko to Wright.

Coastal's defense gave the Chants the lead on the next Monarch snap when Wyatt Gedeon's strip sack and forced fumble bounced into the hands of Juan Powell, who picked up the loose ball and swam 23 yards to bring the score to 21-17 . Gedeon ended ODU's next drive with an interception, helping the Chants take a four-point lead into the locker room.

The Chanticleer's momentum continued early in the third quarter as Bennett stormed into the end zone on a nine-yard run. Barry Brown recovered a fumble at the Monarch 29-yard line on the next possession and Bennett capped Coastal's 28-0 run with a four-yard run at 3:08 of the third quarter to put CCU within 35: 17 to bring.

Old Dominion got within five points with 10:44 left in the fourth quarter, but Coastal responded when Vasko hit Bennett with a swing pass. The running back did the rest, rushing 37 yards for the touchdown to make the score 42-30 with 7:56 left.

Kade Hensley added a 46-yard field goal with 2:47 to play. ODU cut the Chant lead to 45-37 with 29 seconds left in the game, but CCU recovered the ensuing onside kick and put the game on ice.

The Chanticleers travel to James Madison to play the Dukes next Thursday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2.

Box score

CCU HC Tim Beck – ODU press conference after the game