Trio of Chants named Players of the Week

Coastal Carolina’s win Saturday over VMI was an all-around victory.  The Big South honored in as such by giving CCU players three of the weekly awards.

Coastal Carolina quarterback Zach MacDowall has been named the Big South football Choice Hotels Offensive Player of the Week, and teammate Derrick Frasier has been named the Defensive Player of the Week for games played during Week 6 of the 2009 regular-season, it was announced today by the Conference office.  In addition, Coastal Carolina kicker Justin Durham is the Special Teams Players of the Week.

MacDowall was solid in the Chanticleers’ 20-6 win over VMI, going 14-for-20 ( =70.0 percent) for 207 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions, plus four rushes of four yards or more.  On Coastal’s opening drive, MacDowall scrambled around and eventually found wide receiver Adrian Sullivan for a 41-yard strike that gave the Chants the lead for good.  MacDowall also led the offense to conversions on 8-of-13 third-down opportunities on the night, keeping the ball out of VMI’s hands in the final three quarters with a 26:43 to 18:17 advantage, more than eight minutes difference.  Seven of the third-down conversions were directly attributable to MacDowall, with six through the air, including four of longer than nine yards needed (two of more than 18 yards needed), including five of 14 or more yards gained, and one on the ground. 

Frasier, a junior, was a key cog on the defense for the Chanticleers in shutting down the Keydets’ offense, recording seven tackles, one interception and one fumble recovery in the victory.  He ended the Keydets’ opening drive of the second half by tipping a pass over the middle and then coming down with it for an interception at Coastal’s 21.  Frasier’s fumble recovery came late in the fourth quarter and helped seal the victory.  His effort was a part of the defense that kept VMI off the scoreboard after the opening drive and limited the Keydets to just 168 rushing yards overall—more than 40 yards below its season average entering the game.  Coastal held VMI to just 2-of-14 on third down following VMI’s opening scoring drive.

Durham, a redshirt-junior, was perfect for the Chanticleers Saturday in the win over VMI, hitting both extra points and a pair of field goals of 33 and 37 yards.  The 33-yarder added to the Chanticleers’ lead, as it was on the opening drive of the second half, while the 37-yarder in the fourth quarter pushed Coastal’s margin to seven points.  Durham has now hit his last six field goal attempts in a row, a school record.