CI Week 12 Football Highlights
11/23/2020
In what might have been the most successful weekend of the season thus far, CI coaches enjoyed several marquee wins. In the NFL, Saints Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael improvised in engineering an offensive gameplan for backup QB Taysom Hill that worked to perfection as the Saints improved to 8-2 with a 24-9 win over the Falcons. The Texans and Defensive Analyst Deon Broomfield (@CoachBroomy) also picked up their biggest win of the season, knocking off the Patriots, 27-20. In the SEC, congratulations to Florida CB Coach Torrian Gray (@togray14) and Missouri Special Teams Coordinator Erik Link (@CoachErikLink) who each won on Saturday! Another special teams coordinator with reason to celebrate was East Carolina’s Byron Thweatt (@Thweattster32) . ECU returner Tyler Snead earned AAC Specialist of the Week honors after racking up 169 return yards, including a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Pirates’ 28-3 win over Temple. Congratulations to Thweatt as well as to ECU RB Coach De'Rail Sims (@DeRailSims), who saw his freshman running back, Keaton Mitchell, eclipse 100 rushing yards for the second time in as many weeks. Keep reading for more highlights from Week 12.
No. 15 Coastal Carolina rallies past Appalachian State, 34-23
Three weeks ago, Coastal Carolina made history when it became the first Sun Belt program to be ranked in the top 15 of the AP Poll after starting 6-0. Two wins later, the Chanticleers have showed no signs of slowing down and on Saturday they made more history by defeating Appalachian State for the first time in school history. Coastal found itself down, 23-21, with less than three minutes to play, but RB Reese White scored from three yards out to put the Chants up by four. The Mountaineers had one more chance to comeback, but CCU put the game on ice when CB D’Jordan Strong returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown. For the game, Coastal running backs White and C.J. Marable combined for 95 total yards in the statement win. Congratulations to Coastal Carolina Co-Offensive Coordinator/RB Newland Isaac (@coachisaacFB) on the win! Now in his third year with the program, Isaac was promoted to co-offensive coordinator last season after serving as the team’s running backs coach in 2018. He began his coaching career working with the running backs and slot receivers at North Greenville, where he helped the Crusaders win a national title in 2010. He went on to coach at Delta State, Charleston Southern and Albany State before arriving at CCU. In 2018, Isaac was selected to participate in the NCAA-NFL Coaches Academy.
Beavers pick off Bears, 31-27
Defense and special teams provided the lift that Oregon State needed to knock off Cal on Saturday afternoon at Reser Stadium. The Beaver defense’s first big play came in the second quarter with OSU holding a 14-10 lead. On a 4th and goal from the two-yard line, Oregon State DB Nahshon Wright slid in front of the intended receiver for an interception in the corner of the end zone. While Wright’s takeaway preserved the Beaver lead at the time, the Bears would later seize control and held a 27-24 advantage in the fourth quarter. This time, it was the OSU punt block team’s time to shine. With six minutes to go, OSU WR Jesiah Irish blocked a Cal punt to set the Beaver offense up deep inside Cal territory. After a one-yard touchdown rush by QB Tristan Gebbia, the Cal offense had one last chance, but was stopped in its tracks when OSU OLB John McCartan intercepted a deflected pass in the red zone. Congratulations on the win to OSU DB Coach Blue Adams (@CoachAdamsOSU)! Adams arrived in Corvallis in 2019 after a two-year stint as the defensive backs coach at USF and one season at West Virginia. With the Mountaineers, he molded Rasul Douglas from second string to Second Team All-American and a third-round draft pick. Adams previously served as the assistant defensive backs coach for the Miami Dolphins and has also coached at Northern Iowa.
Kent State’s unstoppable offense fuels 69-35 Wagon Wheel victory over Akron
Try explaining to college football outsiders why a program that prides itself on “FlashFast Football” would take such pride in securing a wagon wheel and you might get some confused faces. Paradoxes aside, Kent State retained the Wagon Wheel in the annual rivalry game between northeast Ohio programs. Highlighted by QB Dustin Crum’s five touchdowns, the Kent State offense put up an eye-popping 750 yards of offense en route to tying a school record with 69 points. On the defensive side, Kent State safety Dean Clark had a career game, totaling seven tackles and a forced fumble in addition to blocking a punt. With the win, the Golden Flashes improved to 3-0 heading into Saturday’s matchup at Buffalo in a battle of undefeated teams. Congratulations on the win to Kent State Safeties Coach Will Windham (@CoachWindham)! Windham is in his third season with the Flashes and second working with safeties after coaching the team's inside linebackers in 2018. Before arriving at Kent, he spent two years as a defensive assistant at Georgia, where he helped the Bulldogs win the SEC and reach the National Championship Game in 2017. Previously, Windham coached the defensive line at Davidson and has also served on staffs at Penn State and Mississippi State.
Air Force’s Roberts scores 3 TDs in 28-0 win over New Mexico
After having their previous two games postponed and canceled, the Air Force players and coaches were champing at the bit to face a live opponent again. When Friday night’s game versus New Mexico finally kicked off, Air Force QB Haaziq Daniels wasted little time leaving his mark. Daniels scored on a four-yard rush midway through the first quarter to put the Falcons up 7-0. From there on, it was the Brad Roberts show. The sophomore running back scored on rushes of 5, 12 and 44 yards to account for the final three touchdowns as Air Force cruised to a 28-0 win. With a commanding lead, there was little need for the Falcons’ option-based attack to take to the air, but WR Brandon Lewis did haul in two passes for 32 yards. Last month, Lewis caught a career-high six passes in Air Force’s game versus San Jose State. Congratulations on the win to Air Force WR Coach Ari Confesor (@CoachAC3)! Confesor is in second season with the Falcons after serving as the pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach at Holy Cross in 2018. He previously spent eight seasons at Rhode Island, where he worked in a variety of capacities including coaching wide receivers, defensive backs, linebackers and co-coordinating special teams. From 2012-13, Confesor served as a scouting assistant for the Kansas City Chiefs.
In what might have been the most successful weekend of the season thus far, CI coaches enjoyed several marquee wins. In the NFL, Saints Offensive Coordinator Pete Carmichael improvised in engineering an offensive gameplan for backup QB Taysom Hill that worked to perfection as the Saints improved to 8-2 with a 24-9 win over the Falcons. The Texans and Defensive Analyst Deon Broomfield (@CoachBroomy) also picked up their biggest win of the season, knocking off the Patriots, 27-20. In the SEC, congratulations to Florida CB Coach Torrian Gray (@togray14) and Missouri Special Teams Coordinator Erik Link (@CoachErikLink) who each won on Saturday! Another special teams coordinator with reason to celebrate was East Carolina’s Byron Thweatt (@Thweattster32) . ECU returner Tyler Snead earned AAC Specialist of the Week honors after racking up 169 return yards, including a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Pirates’ 28-3 win over Temple. Congratulations to Thweatt as well as to ECU RB Coach De'Rail Sims (@DeRailSims), who saw his freshman running back, Keaton Mitchell, eclipse 100 rushing yards for the second time in as many weeks. Keep reading for more highlights from Week 12.
No. 15 Coastal Carolina rallies past Appalachian State, 34-23
Three weeks ago, Coastal Carolina made history when it became the first Sun Belt program to be ranked in the top 15 of the AP Poll after starting 6-0. Two wins later, the Chanticleers have showed no signs of slowing down and on Saturday they made more history by defeating Appalachian State for the first time in school history. Coastal found itself down, 23-21, with less than three minutes to play, but RB Reese White scored from three yards out to put the Chants up by four. The Mountaineers had one more chance to comeback, but CCU put the game on ice when CB D’Jordan Strong returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown. For the game, Coastal running backs White and C.J. Marable combined for 95 total yards in the statement win. Congratulations to Coastal Carolina Co-Offensive Coordinator/RB Newland Isaac (@coachisaacFB) on the win! Now in his third year with the program, Isaac was promoted to co-offensive coordinator last season after serving as the team’s running backs coach in 2018. He began his coaching career working with the running backs and slot receivers at North Greenville, where he helped the Crusaders win a national title in 2010. He went on to coach at Delta State, Charleston Southern and Albany State before arriving at CCU. In 2018, Isaac was selected to participate in the NCAA-NFL Coaches Academy.
Beavers pick off Bears, 31-27
Defense and special teams provided the lift that Oregon State needed to knock off Cal on Saturday afternoon at Reser Stadium. The Beaver defense’s first big play came in the second quarter with OSU holding a 14-10 lead. On a 4th and goal from the two-yard line, Oregon State DB Nahshon Wright slid in front of the intended receiver for an interception in the corner of the end zone. While Wright’s takeaway preserved the Beaver lead at the time, the Bears would later seize control and held a 27-24 advantage in the fourth quarter. This time, it was the OSU punt block team’s time to shine. With six minutes to go, OSU WR Jesiah Irish blocked a Cal punt to set the Beaver offense up deep inside Cal territory. After a one-yard touchdown rush by QB Tristan Gebbia, the Cal offense had one last chance, but was stopped in its tracks when OSU OLB John McCartan intercepted a deflected pass in the red zone. Congratulations on the win to OSU DB Coach Blue Adams (@CoachAdamsOSU)! Adams arrived in Corvallis in 2019 after a two-year stint as the defensive backs coach at USF and one season at West Virginia. With the Mountaineers, he molded Rasul Douglas from second string to Second Team All-American and a third-round draft pick. Adams previously served as the assistant defensive backs coach for the Miami Dolphins and has also coached at Northern Iowa.
Kent State’s unstoppable offense fuels 69-35 Wagon Wheel victory over Akron
Try explaining to college football outsiders why a program that prides itself on “FlashFast Football” would take such pride in securing a wagon wheel and you might get some confused faces. Paradoxes aside, Kent State retained the Wagon Wheel in the annual rivalry game between northeast Ohio programs. Highlighted by QB Dustin Crum’s five touchdowns, the Kent State offense put up an eye-popping 750 yards of offense en route to tying a school record with 69 points. On the defensive side, Kent State safety Dean Clark had a career game, totaling seven tackles and a forced fumble in addition to blocking a punt. With the win, the Golden Flashes improved to 3-0 heading into Saturday’s matchup at Buffalo in a battle of undefeated teams. Congratulations on the win to Kent State Safeties Coach Will Windham (@CoachWindham)! Windham is in his third season with the Flashes and second working with safeties after coaching the team's inside linebackers in 2018. Before arriving at Kent, he spent two years as a defensive assistant at Georgia, where he helped the Bulldogs win the SEC and reach the National Championship Game in 2017. Previously, Windham coached the defensive line at Davidson and has also served on staffs at Penn State and Mississippi State.
Air Force’s Roberts scores 3 TDs in 28-0 win over New Mexico
After having their previous two games postponed and canceled, the Air Force players and coaches were champing at the bit to face a live opponent again. When Friday night’s game versus New Mexico finally kicked off, Air Force QB Haaziq Daniels wasted little time leaving his mark. Daniels scored on a four-yard rush midway through the first quarter to put the Falcons up 7-0. From there on, it was the Brad Roberts show. The sophomore running back scored on rushes of 5, 12 and 44 yards to account for the final three touchdowns as Air Force cruised to a 28-0 win. With a commanding lead, there was little need for the Falcons’ option-based attack to take to the air, but WR Brandon Lewis did haul in two passes for 32 yards. Last month, Lewis caught a career-high six passes in Air Force’s game versus San Jose State. Congratulations on the win to Air Force WR Coach Ari Confesor (@CoachAC3)! Confesor is in second season with the Falcons after serving as the pass game coordinator and wide receivers coach at Holy Cross in 2018. He previously spent eight seasons at Rhode Island, where he worked in a variety of capacities including coaching wide receivers, defensive backs, linebackers and co-coordinating special teams. From 2012-13, Confesor served as a scouting assistant for the Kansas City Chiefs.
