CHARLOTTE – Will Henderson III rushed for 185 yards and a touchdown, and Owen McCown threw for 306 yards and two scores as UTSA defeated Charlotte 28-7 at Jerry Richardson Stadium on Saturday.
The Roadrunners (5-5, 3-3 American) controlled the game from start to finish, outgaining the 49ers 521-197 in total offense. UTSA averaged 6.9 yards per play compared to Charlotte's 3.4, and the visitors converted 7 of 13 third-down attempts while holding the 49ers to 6 of 15.
McCown connected with Devin McCuin for a 45-yard touchdown on UTSA's second possession of the game, capping an 85-yard drive that took just over two minutes. The Roadrunners reached the red zone three times in the first half but had to settle for a 7-0 lead at intermission after Michael Petro missed field goals from 33 and 35 yards.
Charlotte's defense kept the game close through 30 minutes, allowing just seven points despite UTSA crossing midfield on four of five first-half possessions. Gavin Shipman intercepted McCown in the end zone on the Roadrunners' second drive, and Randy Franklin broke up a fourth-down pass in the end zone to end the half.
"We had our chances; it was a one-score game at halftime," Charlotte head coach Tim Albin said. "We couldn't get anything going offensively, consistently. The run game is a problem and it's no fun to play quarterback when you can't run the ball consistently."
The 49ers (1-9, 0-7 American) managed just 51 rushing yards on 30 attempts, an average of 1.7 yards per carry. Charlotte has now been held to fewer than 100 rushing yards six times this season and under 200 total yards twice.
UTSA broke the game open in the second half. Petro missed another field goal attempt from 35 yards to open the third quarter, but Henderson took over on the next possession. The running back carried 19 times for 190 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown run that put the Roadrunners ahead 14-0 with 3:17 left in the third quarter.
The touchdown run was part of an 80-yard drive that required just five plays and took 2:02 off the clock. Henderson averaged 9.7 yards per carry and accounted for more than half of UTSA's 215 rushing yards.
McCown added his second touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter, finding David Amador II from seven yards out to cap a 67-yard drive and push the lead to 21-0. The touchdown came just 13 seconds into the fourth quarter after UTSA converted a fourth-and-two on the previous play.
Derrick Eley provided the lone highlight for Charlotte on the ensuing kickoff. After a penalty moved the kickoff to the 20-yard line, Eley fielded the ball at the 12 and returned it 88 yards for a touchdown. The return marked the fifth kickoff return touchdown in program history and the first since Aaron McAllister's 97-yarder. Eley's return is the fourth-longest in school history and the sixth-longest all-purpose play the program has produced in its 13 seasons.
"Coach [Brian] Haines has done a tremendous job on those [special teams] units," Albin said of his special teams coordinator. "Derrick is obviously very exciting and electric. Every time he gets the ball in his hands, you think he's going to score. I thought he should've scored last week at East Carolina."
UTSA answered quickly, putting together a 65-yard touchdown drive on its next possession. McCown capped the seven-play march with a two-yard rushing touchdown with 5:46 remaining, restoring the three-touchdown advantage at 28-7.
McCown completed 24 of 37 passes with one interception. His top target was McCuin, who caught seven passes for 100 yards and the touchdown. AJ Wilson added five receptions for 87 yards, while Houston Thomas had four catches for 54 yards.
The Roadrunners controlled possession for 31:14 compared to Charlotte's 28:46. UTSA also held a 29-13 advantage in first downs and forced four sacks.
Charlotte quarterbacks Grayson Loftis and Zach Wilcke combined to complete 16 of 28 passes for 146 yards and an interception. Loftis was 13 of 24 for 100 yards and was sacked three times, while Wilcke went 3 of 4 for 46 yards with an interception and one sack.
Javen Nicholas led Charlotte's receiving corps with six catches for 45 yards. Sean Brown had four receptions for 43 yards. On the ground, Cameren Smith rushed nine times for 37 yards, and Jariel Cobb added 26 yards on six carries.
The 49ers reached the red zone just once, and that possession ended with Wilcke's interception on fourth down at the UTSA 17-yard line with 2:15 remaining in the game.
Charlotte honored 26 seniors before the game in a pregame ceremony. The group combined for 393 games played and 136 starts as members of the program.
"I'm very proud of our 26 seniors," Albin said of his first senior class at Charlotte. "They could've chosen to walk out of here with the coaching change but they chose to stay. I thanked every one of them today on the field for probably the 1,000th time and I thanked them after the game. We are building something from the inside out and they helped lay the foundation. We have an unbelievable fan base that has supported us all year long. I know our football team appreciates it."
UTSA's defense forced one fumble and recorded one interception. Tyan Milton intercepted a pass and returned it 50 yards. The Roadrunners recorded five tackles for loss totaling 31 yards and had three sacks for 26 yards.
Charlotte's defense registered four tackles for loss for 31 yards but did not record a sack. Gavin Willis led the 49ers with seven solo tackles and nine total stops. Thailand Baldwin and Kadin Schmitz each finished with six tackles.
For UTSA, Shad Banks Jr. led the defense with seven solo tackles and eight total. Tyan Milton and Zach Morris combined for 10 tackles from the secondary.
Charlotte closes the regular season with road games at No. 5 Georgia on Nov. 22 and at Tulane on Nov. 29. UTSA returns home to face Army West Point on Nov. 23.
Key Performers
UTSA
- Will Henderson III: 19 rushes, 185 yards, 1 TD (59-yard long)
- Owen McCown: 24-37, 306 yards, 2 passing TDs, 1 rushing TD
- Devin McCuin: 7 receptions, 100 yards, 1 TD
Charlotte
- Derrick Eley: 88-yard kickoff return TD
- Javen Nicholas: 6 receptions, 45 yards
- Gavin Willis: 9 total tackles
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