Marable leads Coastal Carolina past Texas State 24-21

CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — CJ Marable rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown and Coastal Carolina snapped a three-game skid with a 24-21 victory over Texas State on Saturday in the season finale for both teams.

Marable topped the 100-yard mark for the sixth time this season and finished the season with 1,085 yards on the ground to become the fourth Chanticleer to accomplish the feat.

Coastal Carolina (5-7, 2-6 Sun Belt Conference) took a 7-0 lead midway through the second quarter when backup quarterback Fred Payton hit Shadell Bell for a 1-yard score. It was Bell’s only catch of the game. Texas State (3-9, 2-6) used just one play to pull even — Tyler Vitt’s 64-yard scoring strike to Mason Hays on first down with 3:07 left in the quarter.

The Chanticleers took a 14-7 lead in the third quarter when starting QB Bryce Carpenter connected with Isaiah Likely for a 28-yard TD with 3:42 remaining.

Massimo Biscardi’s 47-yard field goal early the fourth quarter stretched Coastal Carolina’s lead to 17-7, but the Bobcats drove 67 yards in four plays — using a pass from wide receiver Hutch White to Vitt to pull within 17-14.

Marable took over for the Chanticleers on the ensuing drive. The junior rushing for 46 of the 69 yards in the 10-play march that end with Marable’s 3-yard TD run and a 24-14 lead with 4:03 left.

Vitt led Texas State on a nine-play, 71-yard drive and hit J. Hopkins for an 18-yard TD to get the Bobcats within three points again, but Likely recovered an onside kick and Coastal Carolina ran out the clock.

Carpenter completed 10 of 11 passes for 114 yards a TD, while Payton was 7 of 11 for 43 yards and a score. Likely hauled in six passes for 107 yards.

Vitt was 23-of-33 passing for 285 yards and two TDs with one interception for the Bobcats, who lost their final three games. Hays had five catches for 117 yards.