Coastal Carolina beats San Jose State, as one-handed catch helps secure Hawai’i Bowl win

Coastal Carolina will leave Hawaii with its second bowl game win in program history.

The CCU Chanticleers (8-5) bested the San Jose State Spartans (7-6) 24-14 in the EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl. Despite a late-game rally from the Spartans, Coastal led most of the game, not surrendering a touchdown until the fourth quarter.

The win also marks CCU’s second bowl game victory, their last being the 2021 Cure Bowl, and fourth straight bowl appearance. Coastal wide receiver Sam Pinckney also made history.

Aside from extending his NCAA record of most consecutive games with a catch to 58, Pinckney became the third wide receiver in CCU history to record a 1,000-yard season. Pinckney finished the game with eight catches and 123 yards, the highlight of his performance being a one-handed touchdown catch late in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Ethan Vasko— who finished the game with 199 yards passing and three touchdowns and was named Hawai’i Bowl MVP— said throwing the ball to Pinckney was an easy choice.

“The safety was kind of in the middle of the field. When I see that, I mean you’ve got to throw it to Sam (Pinckney),” Vasko said after the game. “He made an incredible catch.”

Sam Pinckney’s performance could get him into the NFL

Pinckney’s play spoke for itself.

Pinckney’s eight catches represented 40% of Coastal’s receptions in the Hawai’i Bowl, and he accounted for four of Coastal’s five plays that went for more than 15 yards. Quarterback Ethan Vasko routinely looked to Pinckney over the middle. The 6-foot-4 receiver did not disappoint, hauling in pass after pass.

CCU’s 17-0 lead in the fourth quarter got cut to 17-14 as San Jose State scored two touchdowns on successive drives. Momentum was swinging in the Spartans’ favor, especially after Coastal went three and out between San Jose scores.

With more than eight minutes left in the game, Pinckney helped snuff out any hope of a San Jose State comeback. His three catches for 34 yards pushed CCU into the Spartans’ endzone and were the only receptions CCU had for the quarter, Pinckney’s final catch being the one-handed touchdown.

Head Coach Tim Beck said CCU does try to feed Pinckney the ball sometimes late in the game, especially in one-on-one coverage.

“We put our best player on a one-on-one route and give them an opportunity to win,” Beck said after the game. “We run that many times this year, haven’t always executed like we did today, and Sam made a great play.”

With more than 3,600 receiving yards in his collegiate career, Pinckney has shown that he could be a viable player at the NFL level. Pinckney’s size and propensity to get open, one who doesn’t break an NCAA record for most consecutive games with a catch without that skill, might land him on an NFL roster in 2024.

Ethan Vasko proved he can be CCU’s quarterback of the future

The circumstances surrounding redshirt freshman Ethan Vasko’s promotion to starting quarterback could have been better, but he’s run with the opportunity.

In seven appearances in 2023, he completed about 63% of his passes for almost 800 yards and seven touchdowns while chipping in another 368 yards rushing. Vasko consistently created problems for opposing defenses with his legs, sparking Coastal’s offense with his play making, particularly against Old Dominion.

In a post game press conference after CCU’s win against San Jose State, Vasko said he’s gotten more comfortable since that win versus the Monarchs.

“All year, just learning behind Grayson (McCall) and Jarrett (Guest), that’s helped out a ton,” Vasko added. “Just being able to calm down, see the field better, read the defense, and coach Beck and (offensive coordinator Travis) Trickett have helped me a ton. ... I think the growth has been great.”

Against San Jose State, Vasko once again threw Spartan defenders off with his duel-threat abilities and finished the game with 50 yards rushing. Vasko also looked comfortable passing in pressure situations, finishing with a 70% completion percentage on third down.

He also showed his maturation on his first two touchdown passes. CCU drove to San Jose’s two-yard line late in the first quarter. On third and goal, Vasko looked to pass, and he found tight end Matt Alaimo running across the middle for the 7-0 score.

Vasko again drove to the Spartans’ two-yard line in the third quarter and, on first and goal, rolled to his right, extended the play and fit a tight window pass to tight end Kendall Karr to put CCU up two scores.

Before the game, Beck said there’d be an open competition for the starting quarterback position, although Vasko had the best chance to win it. Vasko does miss some throws, particularly short passes against San Jose State, but his arm talent and potential provide a lot of upside.

Vasko added after the game that he wants to get better at reading defenses and be comfortable in the pocket during the offseason.

“Just being a better leader on the team, becoming more vocal, and I’m excited to get into it,” he said.

His performance in 2023 has shown he can be a competent starting quarterback, and Beck may be a coach who can maximize Vasko’s potential.

Beck has a track record for developing mobile, college quarterbacks.

In 2019, current Indianapolis Colts quarterback Sam Ehlinger had his best statistical season passing and rushing in Beck’s final season as offensive coordinator at Texas, and Beck helped Devin Leary achieve the best year passing of his college career in 2021 at N.C. State.

Vasko will face competition from freshman Blake Boda, newcomers such as Michigan State transfer Noah Kim, and incoming freshman DJ Moore, but he has already flashed what he’s capable of if he wins the job.

“I’m really proud of him,” Beck said after the game. “For a redshirt freshman to be able to play the way he played and get thrown in the circumstances that he did, the future’s definitely bright.”