CLINTON, S.C. – Quarterback Kyle Copeland came on to lead an 8-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter to rally Charleston Southern to a 10-7 win over Presbyterian at Bailey Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.  

The Buccaneers' defense held PC 145 total yards – including four punts and two interceptions in the second half – to improve to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in Big South play. PC falls to 1-6 and 0-2 in league play.   

Copeland had three carries for 58 yards and Darius Hammond had a 4-yard touchdown run as the Bucs seized the lead with just under nine minutes to play. The drive – and touchdown – were the decisive blows in a 60-minute defensive battle. 

"They do a great job and I have great respect for Coach Nichols, and especially their defense, with how hard their play," CSU head coach Jamey Chadwell said of PC following the win. "We knew it was going to be one of those grind it out games because they make it tough on you, and it was. It wasn't looking good there for about three quarters with that same score as last year and I think our guys started doubting a little. I thought Kyle came in and gave us the spark we needed, got us the touchdown and you could just see our energy level." 

The Bucs' defense handled the rest. A pair of late sacks by Mike Taylor and Solomon Brown of PC quarterback Kaleb Griffin sealed the CSU win.  

CSU held PC to 41 total yards in the second half. The Blue Hose finish with only 55 yards passing and averaged 2.5 yards a rush as the Bucs' defense controlled a win for the second consecutive week. 

"Our defense really put the clamps on there in the fourth quarter," Chadwell added. "This was a great team win and you gotta win some like this. You're not going to play your best all the time, but to be able to play like this and get a win, especially on the road, to be 2-0 in the conference, we're going to celebrate it." 

CSU had a scary moment late in the game. Copeland was shaken up on a keeper near the PC goalline as the Bucs tried to go up two touchdowns. He was taken off in an ambulance for precautionary reseason, but did return to the stadium following the game to make the trip back to Charleston with the team.  

CSU controlled both side of the ball early, but couldn't set the tone on the scoreboard.  

The Bucs struck first with a 33-yard field goal from Tyler Tekac. The score capped a 13-play, 57-yard drive that marked the only scoring in the opening 20 minutes. Alan Barnwell had 25 yards rushing on the drive to give the Bucs a 3-0 lead late in the first.  

PC capitalized on a Buccaneer turnover to take a 7-3 lead just before the half. Ben Robinson's fumble at the PC 41 at the midway point of the second quarter gave PC a short field. PC quarterback Kaleb Griffen would find Acey Palmer for a 4-yard touchdown to give the Blue Hose a four-point lead at the break. 

CSU held Monmouth to 115 total yards last week, and limited PC to 142 total yards today. Griffin was only 9-for-18 for 55 yards in the loss. He did find Palmer for a touchdown pass, but also threw a pair of interceptions in the fourth quarter.  

CSU outgained PC, 275-142.  Hammond led the Bucs with 12 carries for 70 yards, while Copeland added 62 yards on five carries with his late jolt. Starter Austin Brown was 7-for-14 passing for 70 yards.  

Linebacker Solomon Brown added two tackles for loss and a sack in the fourth quarter. The Bucs had eight tackles for loss in the win.

The Bucs hit the road again next week to face Gardner-Webb. Kickoff is at 1:30 p.m. in Boiling Springs, N.C. 

-CSU-