CHARLOTTE – Rice turned a balanced offensive attack into a statement victory Thursday night, defeating Charlotte 28-17 at Jerry Richardson Stadium behind 255 rushing yards that controlled the game's tempo and outcome.
The Owls (3-1, 1-0) established their ground dominance early and never relented, with three different players combining for 224 rushing yards on 32 carries. Daelen Alexander led the charge with 73 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, while quarterback Chase Jenkins added 71 yards and a score on 10 attempts. Quinton Jackson contributed 80 yards on 12 carries to round out the trio's balanced assault.
Charlotte (1-3, 0-1) managed just 75 rushing yards on 32 attempts, a stark contrast that defined the game's flow and ultimately determined its winner.
The 49ers struck first with a methodical 12-play, 63-yard opening drive that consumed over six minutes and ended with Liam Boyd's 29-yard field goal. Rice answered quickly, needing just nine plays to cover 75 yards, capped by Jenkins' 9-yard touchdown pass to Dean Dickmann with 4:25 remaining in the first quarter.
Charlotte kicker Boyd proved reliable early, converting field goals from 25 and 40 yards in the second quarter to keep the 49ers within striking distance at 7-6 and 9-7 respectively. The 40-yarder came with 2:23 left in the half following an eight-play, 45-yard drive that showcased Charlotte's ability to move between the twenties.
Rice's response proved decisive. Jenkins orchestrated a six-play, 75-yard drive that took just 1:05, breaking free for a 34-yard touchdown run with 1:18 remaining in the second quarter. The score gave Rice a 14-9 halftime advantage and momentum they would never surrender.
The third quarter belonged entirely to Rice. Alexander punched in a 13-yard touchdown run to cap a seven-play, 75-yard drive that extended the lead to 21-9 with 11:33 remaining in the period. The Owls' ground game had found its rhythm, averaging 5.5 yards per carry while controlling possession.
Rice put the game away early in the fourth quarter when Alexander scored his second touchdown, a one-yard plunge that concluded a nine-play, 57-yard drive. The touchdown made it 28-9 with 10:31 remaining, giving Rice breathing room despite Charlotte's late rally attempt.
Charlotte finally found the end zone with 7:27 left when quarterback Grayson Loftis, who came on in relief of injured starter Connor Harrell, connected with Javen Nicholas for a 31-yard touchdown. The 49ers successfully converted a two-point attempt on another pass to Nicholas, cutting the deficit to 28-17, but the comeback effort came too late.
The statistical story told the tale of two different offensive philosophies. Rice ran 46 rushing plays compared to Charlotte's 32, controlling the line of scrimmage throughout. The Owls averaged 6.1 yards per play while Charlotte managed just 4.4 yards per snap.
Charlotte's passing attack showed flashes, with Loftis completing 15 of 31 attempts for 186 yards and one touchdown. Nicholas led all receivers with five catches for 93 yards and the lone touchdown, while Sean Brown added three receptions for 47 yards.
Rice's passing game remained efficient if not spectacular. Jenkins completed 8 of 11 attempts for 87 yards and one touchdown, while backup Derek Devillier added one completion for 11 yards.
The defensive battle favored Rice significantly. The Owls recorded six sacks for 45 yards while Charlotte failed to bring down Rice quarterbacks behind the line of scrimmage. Rice also won the turnover battle, recovering one fumble while committing none themselves.
Charlotte's red zone struggles continued, settling for field goals on multiple drives that reached deep into Rice territory, while the Owls converted all three of their chances inside the 20-yard line.
The victory marked Rice's third win in four games to open the season, while Charlotte dropped to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
Key Performers
Rice:
- Daelen Alexander: 10 carries, 73 yards, 2 TDs
- Quinton Jackson: 12 carries, 80 yards
- Chase Jenkins: 10 carries, 71 yards, 1 TD; 8/11 passing, 87 yards, 1 TD
Charlotte:
- Javen Nicholas: 5 catches, 93 yards, 1 TD; 2 punt returns, 36 yards
- Rod Gainey Jr.: 8 carries, 51 yards
- Grayson Loftis: 15/31 passing, 186 yards, 1 TD
- Liam Boyd: 3/4 field goals (29, 25, 40 yards)
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