The Good, The Bad and The Ugly- Coastal
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 12:01 pm
The Mountaineers lose a disappointing homecoming game to Coastal 45-37. Coastal has now beaten App 3 games in a row and 4 out of the last 5. I know many don't consider them a real rival, but perhaps we should as they seem to get up for our games and handle us better than most other teams.
The Good-
You really couldn't ask for a better weather game in mid October in Boone. Between the clear skies, pleasant temps and beautiful fall foliage, it was a perfect day for football in the high country, until it wasn't.
Quick starts- The Offense came out on fire and scored TDs on its first 3 possessions. Really can't ask for more than that on the first drives. We all complained about the deep holes we started in last year, and those are now gone. We start fast, just can't seem to finish.
Jayden Barnes with a 77 yard punt return for a TD putting us up 31-17 early in the third quarter. Jayden also caught a TD pass on the day.
The Bad- I have waited to write this so I could relax a bit and maybe not see the game so negatively (it didn't work).
Offensive Lull- After jumping out and scoring 3 straight TDS on 3 straight drives to open the game, the offense sputtered and didn't account for another TD on the day. Dropped balls, penalties, fumbles, you name it we had it all.
Offensive line- We seem to be paper thin and once a guy or two go down with injuries, it gets bad. Kohl was under pressure most of the game, getting sacked 4 times and having 3 forced fumbles. Coastal also got enough pressure to account for 7 tackles for loss.
Rushing Defense- What seemed like a strength heading into the game was exposed as Coastal ran for 246 yards on 41 attempts for a 6 yard per attempt average and 4 TDs on the day. We couldn't stop them at all even though everyone knew they would run. Usually with a mobile qb, the defense will have someone assigned to shadow that QB. If App did this, I missed it the entire game. The QB was big, quick, and ran for 74 yards and 2 TDs against us. It was a very bad showing for the rush defense.
Sloppy play- after a fairly clean game against a bad Ga State team, we reverted back to what we have been all year. 7 penalties for 70 yards, dropped passes and key turnover at the worst time. In a close game, sloppy play will often cost you a win.
Dismal 4th quarter play- For whatever reason we play very poorly in the 4th quarter. We were outscored 14-3 in the 4th and have been outscored and outgained in the 4 quarter in almost every game this year. This is a persistent problem and needs to be fixed by the coaching staff.
Kick off returns- late in the 4th, trailing, we decide to attempt not 1 but 2 kickoff returns from our end zone and neither got to the 25. In a close game, when the offense has gone cold and can't find the end zone, every yard matters so why not take 25 free ones? I get that the staff must have thought they saw something, we did get a 77 punt return for a TD, but I just didn't get those calls.
The Ugly-
Losing a game at the Rock is a rare feat and we are all fortunate and spoiled because of that. But losing a game that you have a 2 TD lead in the 3rd quarter is another thing altogether, it is wholly unacceptable. This team certainly lacks the killer instinct to put games away and seems to forget how to play late in the game. This is a top down issue and needs to be fixed. It is not all on the coaches, don't get me wrong. The players have to execute as well. We had a chance to go up by 10 in the 4th but a dropped ball negated a sure fire TD and we had to settle for a FG and a 6 point lead that quickly evaporated.
The Refs- I hate blaming the refs and will not put the loss at their feet, but they certainly missed a lot of huge calls. Late in the 4th, after going down for the first time all game, we attempt a reverse on a kick off return. Juan Berchal is forced out and then clearly is the recipient of a late hit out of bounds, no call. On the same drive, third down and Kohl tries to connect with a defended but open Stroman and the defender literally climbs his back, another no call. I am not saying that those calls cost us the game, but we would have maintained possession with deeper field position in a close game. There are other examples but those really stood out.
The Good-
You really couldn't ask for a better weather game in mid October in Boone. Between the clear skies, pleasant temps and beautiful fall foliage, it was a perfect day for football in the high country, until it wasn't.
Quick starts- The Offense came out on fire and scored TDs on its first 3 possessions. Really can't ask for more than that on the first drives. We all complained about the deep holes we started in last year, and those are now gone. We start fast, just can't seem to finish.
Jayden Barnes with a 77 yard punt return for a TD putting us up 31-17 early in the third quarter. Jayden also caught a TD pass on the day.
The Bad- I have waited to write this so I could relax a bit and maybe not see the game so negatively (it didn't work).
Offensive Lull- After jumping out and scoring 3 straight TDS on 3 straight drives to open the game, the offense sputtered and didn't account for another TD on the day. Dropped balls, penalties, fumbles, you name it we had it all.
Offensive line- We seem to be paper thin and once a guy or two go down with injuries, it gets bad. Kohl was under pressure most of the game, getting sacked 4 times and having 3 forced fumbles. Coastal also got enough pressure to account for 7 tackles for loss.
Rushing Defense- What seemed like a strength heading into the game was exposed as Coastal ran for 246 yards on 41 attempts for a 6 yard per attempt average and 4 TDs on the day. We couldn't stop them at all even though everyone knew they would run. Usually with a mobile qb, the defense will have someone assigned to shadow that QB. If App did this, I missed it the entire game. The QB was big, quick, and ran for 74 yards and 2 TDs against us. It was a very bad showing for the rush defense.
Sloppy play- after a fairly clean game against a bad Ga State team, we reverted back to what we have been all year. 7 penalties for 70 yards, dropped passes and key turnover at the worst time. In a close game, sloppy play will often cost you a win.
Dismal 4th quarter play- For whatever reason we play very poorly in the 4th quarter. We were outscored 14-3 in the 4th and have been outscored and outgained in the 4 quarter in almost every game this year. This is a persistent problem and needs to be fixed by the coaching staff.
Kick off returns- late in the 4th, trailing, we decide to attempt not 1 but 2 kickoff returns from our end zone and neither got to the 25. In a close game, when the offense has gone cold and can't find the end zone, every yard matters so why not take 25 free ones? I get that the staff must have thought they saw something, we did get a 77 punt return for a TD, but I just didn't get those calls.
The Ugly-
Losing a game at the Rock is a rare feat and we are all fortunate and spoiled because of that. But losing a game that you have a 2 TD lead in the 3rd quarter is another thing altogether, it is wholly unacceptable. This team certainly lacks the killer instinct to put games away and seems to forget how to play late in the game. This is a top down issue and needs to be fixed. It is not all on the coaches, don't get me wrong. The players have to execute as well. We had a chance to go up by 10 in the 4th but a dropped ball negated a sure fire TD and we had to settle for a FG and a 6 point lead that quickly evaporated.
The Refs- I hate blaming the refs and will not put the loss at their feet, but they certainly missed a lot of huge calls. Late in the 4th, after going down for the first time all game, we attempt a reverse on a kick off return. Juan Berchal is forced out and then clearly is the recipient of a late hit out of bounds, no call. On the same drive, third down and Kohl tries to connect with a defended but open Stroman and the defender literally climbs his back, another no call. I am not saying that those calls cost us the game, but we would have maintained possession with deeper field position in a close game. There are other examples but those really stood out.
