Funviralpark In what would likely be McCall’s last play in a Coastal Carolina uniform, the quarterback created a 9-yard touchdown run. There was no.
Chanticleers interim coach Chad Stags said at the post-game press conference that he did not know the exact nature of the injury, other than saying “upper body.”
Jarrett Guest replaced McCall in the first half and played most of the second half. McCall’s scoring run gave Coastal Carolina (9-4) a 14-10 lead from him. By half-time, however, Chanticlears had him going into the 24-14 hole.
For the Pirates (8-5), Holton Ahlers stole the show, throwing a Birmingham Bowl-record five touchdown passes and scoring a game-record six. Named Game MVP, the Ahlers threw for 300 yards on 26 of 38 passes, rushed for 37 yards and a touchdown, and for the Pirates he caught a pass for 14 yards.
McCall, who missed three games late in the season with an injury, was playing well before his injury. He carried the ball 11 of 14 for 75 yards and 4 for 12 yards. His Ivy his 25-yard pass to Toulon set up his 1-yard scoring run by Reese White.
He entered the transfer portal earlier this month after an outstanding career at Chanticleers. He wore a red shirt during his first season on campus in 2019, but suddenly burst onto the scene in 2020 as a red shirt freshman. He was a Manning Trophy finalist and Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award semi-finalist. He was also named the Year and First Team All Sun Belt Conference Quarterback.
McCall threw for 2,488 yards and 26 touchdowns with three interceptions while rushing for 569 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games during the 2020 season.
He continued his stellar play in 2021, throwing for 2,873 yards and 27 touchdowns, recording three interceptions and also rushing for four touchdowns. He won the league’s Most Valuable Player Award again and was a semi-finalist for the Maxwell Award, which is given to the best college football player.
McCall had 2,633 yards and 24 touchdowns and two interceptions this season, perhaps the last time he won the league’s top player honor. Although he has played his three seasons, he will still be eligible during the 2020 season if he decides to use the additional one year he has been given by the NCAA due to restrictions due to COVID-19. I have 2 seasons left to qualify.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
