Troy Athletics

CONWAY, S.C. – C.J. Marable scored from three yards out with 30 seconds remaining and added the two-point conversion to lift Coastal Carolina past Troy, 36-35, Saturday afternoon in Sun Belt Conference play at Brooks Stadium.

The successful two-point try came after officials called a controversial pass interference on Troy on a ball in the end zone on Coastal’s first attempt for two points.

Troy (3-5, 1-3 Sun Belt) took a 35-28 lead with 8:34 to play on Kaleb Barker’s third touchdown pass of the game, a 23-yard strike to Kaylon Geiger. Barker completed 26-of-35 passes for 385 yards while Geiger caught 12 passes for 145 yards; his 12 receptions rank as the fifth most in a game in school history.

After Troy led 21-17 at the half, the Chanticleers (4-4, 1-3) jumped in front, 28-21, on an early field goal and then a 3-yard run from Jacqez Hariston – his second of the game – late in the third.

Barker connected with Reggie Todd for a 19-yard touchdown pass in the waning seconds of the third quarter to tie the game; it was Todd’s second touchdown reception of the game. Todd finished with four catches for 89 yards.

Coastal’s game-winning 11-play drive started with 2:15 on the clock and the Chants on their own 29-yard line.

The first quarter featured a flurry of points with Troy striking for three touchdowns – one from Barker on the air and on the ground and a Jabir Daughtry-Frye rushing touchdown. Coastal scored twice in the opening period and added a field goal in the second quarter.

Carlton Martial once again led the Troy defense with a pair of tackles for loss and his sixth career forced fumble; he is just a sophomore. Martial entered the week second among active players in forced fumbles per game and fifth in tackles for loss per game.

Hariston rushed for 72 yards on seven carries, Bryce Carpenter completed 32-of-45 pass attempts for 285 yards and Jaivon Heiligh had 12 catches for 107 yards to lead Coastal.