Last year, Coastal Carolina got obliterated in their quarter-final match up with North Dakota State, the eventual champions. This time around, however, they put up a much better fight. In a very intense, physical, battle, the Bison knocked off the Chanticleers once again by a score of 39-32.
Both sides put on an offensive display on the ground and through the air. There were four total touchdowns, including a return from Costal Carolina which would silent the crowd for a little bit before the home side were on the board once more. North Dakota State drove down the field as they took a little bit more than six and a half minutes off of the clock after 13 plays. However, the Bison would only come away with three points as Adam Keller drilled the 27 yard field goal. In one of NDSU's longest drives of the game, they marched down the field for six after nine plays, where Kevin Vaadeland came away with a 20 yard touchdown catch from Chris Wentz.
After a Bison field goal, Devin Brown took one back for 98 yards on the ensuing kickoff to give Coastal Carolina six more points and the extra point tied the game up at 17 during the middle of the second quarter. The home side likes to play quick when they're on offense and it showed on each of their scoring drives. Wentz threw a beautiful ball to Luke Albers as he hauled it down for a 21 yard reception, in a drive that lasted a little more than 2 and a half minutes. As the half came to a close, the visitors made a field goal to bring them within four of the favored Bison.
The second half started out more slowly as North Dakota State were able to force the Chanticleers into a three and out. On their first offensive drive of the second half, NDSU went back to what they do best, run the ball with force up the middle to try and wear down the opposition’s defense. Carson Wentz would cap off the drive on a naked boot leg to right to bump their lead up to eleven after they converted the extra point.
De'Angelo Henderson ran the ball from the two yard line to give Costal Carolina a point lead very early on in the fourth and final quarter. The Chanticleers defense stepped up mightily on the next drive as they were able to stop the Bison's running game and forced them to punt away with less than 13 minutes to go. John Crockett capped off a quick drive down the field as he ran around the outside to the left and in for the score from 45 yards away. However, there was plenty of time left to go in the game and CCU were raring to get back on the field as they hoped to silence the crowd again. But they were unsuccessful and were never unable to get close to scoring again as they ended the game on a failed fourth down pass with less than a minute and a half to go.