Field Level Media
Sep 13, 2020
Redshirt freshman Grayson McCall accounted for five touchdowns Saturday in his college debut as Coastal Carolina capitalized on three takeaways and upset Kansas 38-23 at Lawrence, Kan.
McCall beat out two veteran quarterbacks who split time last season and engineered the Chanticleers (1-0) to their second victory at Kansas (0-1) in as many years. Those are Coastal Carolina's only wins in nine matchups against Power 5 opponents.
The win capped a Saturday trifecta for the Sun Belt against the Big 12 after Louisiana and Arkansas State toppled Iowa State and Kansas State earlier in the day.
McCall passed for 133 yards, completing 11 of 18 passes, three for touchdowns, and added 73 yards rushing with two scores. The game, originally scheduled at Coastal Carolina before it was moved because of COVID-19 concerns, was staged without spectators.
An interception by the Chanticleers' Derick Bush and a fumble recovery by Enock Makonzo launched first-quarter scoring drives of 62 and 26 yards. McCall then drove Coastal Carolina 87 yards for a TD before an interception by Jeffrey Ginter set up another TD strike for a 28-0 lead with 55 seconds left in the first half.
Kansas, a last-place finisher in the Big 12 each of the past five seasons, finally scored at the first-half horn when a 47-yard field goal by Jacob Borcila bounced through off the crossbar.
Nonetheless, the Jayhawks trailed 28-3 at halftime after the quarterbacks they alternated, Thomas MacVittie and Miles Kendrick, each struggled.
Kansas managed two third-quarter touchdowns on a 4-yard pass from Kendrick to Andrew Parchment and a 61-yard burst by Velton Gardner to claw within 28-17.
McCall answered, however, driving Coastal Carolina 81 yards and scoring on a 2-yard plunge with 9:55 remaining to blunt the Jayhawks' comeback hopes. Senior CJ Marable gained 75 yards to lead the Chanticleers' rushers.
Kansas managed to gain an edge in total yardage (367-318) behind a sound rushing attack, which featured 81 yards from Gardner and 67 from All-Big 12 returnee Pooka Williams, who left with a third-quarter injury.
Kendrick sparkled in the second half and finished with 156 yards passing, going 15 of 24 with two touchdowns.
--Field Level Media