CHARLOTTE – In a surprising turn of events, the Charlotte 49ers have dismissed head football coach Biff Poggi after just over a year at the helm. The decision comes following a challenging season marred by injuries and a 3-7 start to the current campaign.

Poggi, known for his unique sideline style and impressive resume from his time at Saint Frances Academy and The Gilman School, took over the Charlotte program in 2023. Despite his efforts to revamp the 49ers through extensive use of the transfer portal, the team struggled to find consistent success, finishing 3-9 last season and starting this year with a 3-7 record. 

Poggi's tenure was marked by his commitment to the team and his unique approach to coaching, but ultimately, the results on the field did not meet the expectations of the administration and fans alike. “I am thankful to Biff Poggi for his leadership and mentorship of our student-athletes over these past two seasons,” Charlotte Athletics Director Mike Hill said. “No one can question Biff’s passion for helping young people succeed in life, both personally and professionally, but our on-field results have unfortunately fallen short of everyone’s expectations. As we move forward into the next chapter of Charlotte 49er Football, we will be looking for a leader to take our program to the next level as a consistent bowl and championship contender.”

The 49ers will now look to regroup and rebuild under new leadership as they continue their journey in the American Athletic Conference. Tight ends coach and associate head coach Tim Brewster will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season.

GREENVILLE – East Carolina quarterback Katin Houser threw for a career-high 343 yards and five touchdowns as the Pirates dominated Florida Atlantic 49-14 in a Thursday night American Athletic Conference matchup at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

The Pirates (5-4, 3-2 AAC) wasted no time getting started, scoring on their opening drive when Houser connected with Chase Sowell for a 50-yard touchdown just 24 seconds into the game. That quick strike set the tone for what would become ECU’s most productive offensive performance of the season, as they accumulated 581 total yards.

“We got off to a great start putting points up early,” said ECU interim head coach Blake Harrell, who improved to 2-0 since taking over the program on October 20. “The offense and Katin, those guys are clicking over there right now. I’m so proud of them and it’s not just Katin or one player. It’s receivers, running backs, O-line, quarterback, all on the same page and having the same mindset.”

Houser continued his hot streak by finding Winston Wright Jr. for two first-quarter touchdown passes of 47 and 8 yards, helping the Pirates build a 21-0 lead. The junior quarterback has now thrown 10 touchdowns in his last two games and added a 35-yard rushing touchdown before halftime.

East Carolina’s offensive explosion included 418 first-half yards, their highest total in a half since September 2014 against North Carolina. Anthony Smith had a career night with 120 receiving yards on just three catches, including a 64-yard reception and a touchdown. It marked Smith’s second consecutive game with over 100 receiving yards.

The Pirates’ ground game complemented the aerial attack effectively, with Jhari Patterson leading the way with a career-best 61 yards on three carries. Rahjai Harris added 55 yards and a touchdown on eight attempts as ECU averaged 7 yards per rush.

Florida Atlantic (2-7, 0-5 AAC) struggled to contain ECU’s offense throughout the night, though they did manage two second-half scoring drives. The Owls’ touchdowns came on a 2-yard pass from Kasen Weisman to Jabari Smith in the second quarter and another 2-yard touchdown pass to CJ Campbell, Jr. late in the fourth quarter.

The Pirates’ defense continued its opportunistic play, forcing two interceptions. Ja’Marley Riddle recorded his third pick in the last two games, while Gavin Gibson added another interception. Linebacker Zakye Barker led the defensive effort with eight tackles, including 2.5 for loss.

Under the lights at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, a crowd of 30,573 watched as ECU improved to 4-1 at home this season. The strong fan turnout didn’t go unnoticed by Harrell.

“For our student section to show out like that, for Pirate Nation to show out like that for an ESPN nationally televised game — that was freaking awesome and our kids fed off of that,” Harrell said. “They love playing here and playing in front of Pirate Nation.”

The victory puts East Carolina one win away from bowl eligibility with three games remaining. The Pirates will look to secure that crucial sixth win next Thursday when they travel to face Tulsa.

“These guys are playing with confidence and to get these seniors to a bowl game, the way they’ve worked — it’s easy in life when things don’t go right to give up or turn away. These young men are going to finish what they started,” Harrell said. “I told them during the bye week that it’s the fourth quarter. It’s no quarter time. It’s time to go finish this thing off the right way.”

The win marked East Carolina’s third all-time victory over Florida Atlantic and improved their record to 2-0 against the Owls in Greenville. The Pirates have now forced at least one turnover in 46 of their last 52 games, continuing a trend of defensive opportunism that has helped fuel their success this season.

CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte 49ers secured their most decisive conference win in program history Saturday, defeating East Carolina 55-24 at Jerry Richardson Stadium in front of 17,102 fans.

The 49ers’ offense operated with precision from the start, opening with back-to-back touchdown drives for the first time under head coach Biff Poggi. Running back Cartevious Norton scored on an 11-yard rush, followed by Deshawn Purdie’s 1-yard touchdown run to give Charlotte an early 14-0 lead.

East Carolina responded with a 38-yard field goal by Noah Perez, but struggled to match Charlotte’s offensive output throughout the game. The Pirates did show signs of life in the second quarter when quarterback Jake Garcia connected with Tyler Savage for a 13-yard touchdown, Savage’s first career score.

Charlotte’s ground game proved unstoppable, with the 49ers rushing for six touchdowns, tying a program record set in 2013 against Morehead State. Hahsaun Wilson led the charge with 164 yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns, while Norton added 88 yards and two scores.

Charlotte's Hahsaun Wilson scores one of his three touchdowns Photo Credit: Ed Conway

The 49ers’ quarterback Deshawn Purdie had his most productive game of the season, throwing for a career-high 206 yards. Purdie effectively utilized his receivers, connecting with Jairus Mack for gains of 32 and 23 yards to set up scoring opportunities.

Charlotte’s defense matched the offense’s intensity. Elijah Culp intercepted Garcia in the second quarter, leading to a Wilson touchdown that extended the lead. The defensive highlight came in the fourth quarter when Stone Handy returned an interception 53 yards for a touchdown, the third-longest interception return in program history and the longest ever by a Charlotte defensive lineman.

The Pirates’ offense showed occasional flashes, particularly in the run game. London Montgomery broke free for a 48-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, finishing with a team-high 56 yards on just three carries. Chase Sowell led East Carolina’s receivers with 82 yards on four receptions.

East Carolina’s special teams provided a bright spot late in the game when Winston Wright Jr. returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. Wright finished the game with 161 all-purpose yards.

Charlotte’s Stephen Rusnak had a notable performance, scoring 13 points on two field goals and seven extra points, the second-highest point total for a kicker in program history.

The victory marked several milestones for Charlotte. The 55 points scored were the most under Coach Poggi and the fifth-highest in program history. The 31-point margin of victory ranks as the second-largest against a conference opponent. The win also gave Charlotte its first 2-0 start in conference play in program history.

For East Carolina, the loss dropped their record to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in conference play. Head coach Mike Houston’s record against Charlotte fell to 0-2.

Defensively, Charlotte held East Carolina to 343 total yards. The Pirates split quarterback duties, with Jake Garcia completing 6 of 8 passes for 111 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, while Katin Houser went 11 for 28 for 84 yards and an interception.

The game marked a significant shift in momentum for Charlotte, who had previously relied on comebacks for victories. This time, they controlled the game from start to finish, amassing 517 total yards of offense, including 311 on the ground.

On defense, Charlotte’s pressure was evident, with Lacota Dippre recording his first career sack. The 49ers’ defensive performance was particularly impressive in the first half, holding East Carolina to just 10 points while the offense built a 31-10 lead.

The Pirates’ defense struggled throughout the game, with Ja’Marley Riddle leading the unit with a career-high nine tackles. East Carolina’s defensive line managed only two sacks and five tackles for loss against Charlotte’s efficient offense.

The victory represents a significant step forward for Charlotte’s program under Poggi, demonstrating their ability to compete and win decisively in the American Athletic Conference. For East Carolina, the loss highlights areas needing improvement as they move deeper into their conference schedule.

Up Next

Both teams now enter their scheduled bye week. Charlotte (3-3, 2-0 AAC) will travel to face Navy on October 19, while East Carolina (3-3, 1-1 AAC) will head to West Point to face Army on the same date.

GREENVILLE – In a back-and-forth affair that featured over 800 yards of combined offense, the App State Mountaineers outlasted the East Carolina Pirates 21-19 on Saturday at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

App State’s quarterback, Joey Aguilar, had a stellar day, completing 32 of 47 passes for 424 yards and two touchdowns. However, his performance was not without flaws, as he threw two interceptions that kept the Pirates in contention. East Carolina’s signal-caller, Jack Garcia, held his own with 18 completions on 28 attempts for 226 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

The game began with East Carolina seizing early control. Wide receiver Wyatt Wright Jr. electrified the home crowd with a 65-yard touchdown reception from Garcia just 31 seconds into the contest. The Pirates extended their lead to 16-0 in the first quarter, capitalizing on a field goal and a 50-yard pick-six by Shavon Revel, Jr.

Facing a significant deficit, the Mountaineers rallied in the second quarter. Aguilar connected with E. Wilson for a 6-yard touchdown pass, followed by a successful two-point conversion. Kicker Michael Hughes added two field goals before halftime, narrowing the gap to 16-14.

The Mountaineers took their first lead late in the third quarter when Aguilar found Milan Jackson for a 36-yard touchdown strike. East Carolina responded with a field goal early in the fourth, but App State’s defense held firm for the remainder of the game.

Despite the loss, East Carolina’s ground game showed promise, with Rahjai Harris gaining 87 yards on 18 carries. App State’s rushing attack was less effective, managing only 81 net yards on 36 attempts.

The Mountaineers’ receiving corps had a field day, with Kaedin Robinson leading the way with 7 catches for 129 yards. Christian Horn added 5 receptions for 108 yards, while Jackson’s game-changing touchdown was part of his 6-catch, 86-yard performance.

Defensively, East Carolina linebacker Zachary Barker was a standout with 13 total tackles, including 1.5 for loss. For App State, Chandler Sullivan led the team with 9 tackles.

While slipping by on the scoreboard, the Mountaineers greatly controlled the clock, holding possession for 39 minutes compared to the Pirates’ 21 minutes.

Up Next

App State hosts South Alabama on Thursday night in Boone while East Carolina travels to take on Liberty.

ANNAPOLIS, MD – East Carolina’s football woes continued as they dropped to a 2-9 overall record and 2-4 in Annapolis, suffering a 10-0 defeat at the hands of Navy. The loss concluded the ECU’s road schedule for the season, with the Pirates finishing 1-5 away from home.

In a challenging offensive outing, ECU failed to score for the first time since October 4, 1997, when they suffered a 56-0 loss to Syracuse, ending a remarkable streak of 322 consecutive games with points on the board. The Pirates managed only 189 yards of total offense, including a season-low 34 rushing yards, highlighting the struggles on that side of the ball.

Despite the offensive difficulties, East Carolina’s defense showcased its resilience by holding Navy to 10 points. This marked the fourth time this season that the Pirates limited an opponent to 13 points or less. 

In individual player performances, quarterback Alex Flinn faced immense pressure from Navy’s defense but completed a career-high 24 of 38 pass attempts for 155 yards. However, he failed to secure any touchdowns and threw two interceptions. Flinn also led the team in rushing with 31 yards on 12 carries.

Chase Sowell emerged as a bright spot for the receiving corps, totaling 62 yards on 11 catches. On the defensive side, Teylor Jackson recorded his first career forced fumble, while Jason Shuford achieved his first career fumble recovery. BJ Davis stood out with a team-high 10 tackles, reaching double figures for the second consecutive week.

Looking ahead to their final game of the 2023 season, East Carolina is set to face Tulsa in an American Athletic Conference matchup on Saturday, November 25. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m., and the game will be streamed live via ESPN+.

As the Pirates prepare to conclude their season, Coach Mike Houston remains focused on ending on a positive note against Tulsa, stating, “We have a chance to finish things off on a positive note with a win at home next week against a very talented Tulsa team."

TULSA, OK – The Charlotte 49ers pulled off a stunning comeback, overtime victory Saturday afternoon on the road against the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Walk-on quarterback Trexler Ivey led the 49ers offense back from a 17-0 deficit to secure the 49ers’ second win as a member of the American Athletic Conference.

The first quarter began with the Charlotte 49ers receiving the kickoff at their own 18-yard line. However, after an exchange of punts and a couple of turnovers on downs, it was the Tulsa Golden Hurricane who struck first. Cardell Williams, the Golden Hurricane' star running back, found the end zone twice with impressive rushes, and Chase Meyer added the extra points with successful kicks, putting Tulsa ahead 14-0.

Jairus Mack led the 49ers with 124 receiving yards Photo Credit: Sam Roberts/FreezeFrame

The 49ers didn't give up, and in the second quarter, Kyle Cunanan finally got Charlotte on the board with a 22-yard field goal. Terron Kellman later contributed a one-yard rushing touchdown to narrow the gap, making it 10-17 at halftime.

The third quarter saw Charlotte's defense and special teams stepping up their game, earning a safety after a Reid Williford blocked punt out of the back of the end zone and forcing a missed field goal attempt by the Golden Hurricane. Kyle Cunanan continued to prove himself as Charlotte's savior, drilling a 23-yard field goal to close the deficit to 15-17.

The fourth quarter was a rollercoaster of momentum and emotions for both squads. Cunanan's 49-yard field goal put Charlotte ahead, 18-17. However, Anthony Watkins responded with a one-yard rushing touchdown for the Golden Hurricane, taking back the lead at 23-18. Trexler Ivey led the 49ers on an impressive drive, connecting with Jack Hestera for an 18-yard touchdown pass, giving Charlotte a 26-23 lead. Tulsa's Chase Meyer forced overtime with a 27-yard field goal in the closing moments of regulation.

In overtime, the 49ers received the ball and wasted no time, as Trexler Ivey sneaked into the end zone for a one-yard touchdown. Kyle Cunanan's successful kick put Charlotte ahead 33-26.

Tulsa had its chance to respond, but Charlotte's Dontae Balfour intercepted a pass, sealing the breathtaking victory for the 49ers. The crowd erupted in celebration as the home team completed the comeback.

Key Players and Stats

-Trexler Ivey, Charlotte's quarterback, completed 20 of 36 passes for 277 yards and one touchdown.
-Nikhai Hill-Green led Charlotte with 11 tackles, 2.0 TFL, a forced fumble and a pass break-up.
-Terron Kellman was Charlotte's standout running back, carrying the ball 21 times for 53 yards and one rushing touchdown.
-Jairus Mack has seven catches for 124 yards.
-Jack Hestera caught 2 passes for 53 yards, including a crucial 18-yard touchdown reception.
-Kyle Cunanan's field goals were pivotal, making three of four attempts, including the game-tying 49-yarder.

Next Week

The 49ers will face Memphis at home next Saturday in an American Athletic Conference game set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+.

GREENVILLE – Charlotte’s stout defense had a record-setting performance as the 49ers picked up their first-ever American Athletic Conference victory, defeating East Carolina 10-7 on a chilly Saturday afternoon at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.

The 49ers displayed their dominance right from the outset, with quarterback Jalon Jones engineering an impressive 73-yard drive on the opening possession, consuming a season-long 7 minutes and 28 seconds of play. Kicker Jake Larson then converted a 35-yard field goal, giving Charlotte an early 3-0 lead. The 49ers’ defense complemented the strong start, holding ECU to a mere 49 yards of total offense in the first half, maintaining their lead heading into the break.

The second half began with Charlotte extending their lead as Jones executed a 30-yard pass play to Duane Thomas Jr., setting up his own one-yard touchdown run. This score marked Jones’ team-leading fourth rushing touchdown of the season.

Charlotte QB Jalon Jones Photo Credit: Sam Roberts/FreezeFrame

The 49ers’ defense continued to stifle ECU, limiting them to 10 yards or less on eight of their first nine possessions, preserving the 10-0 lead well into the fourth quarter.

However, a muffed punt changed the course of the game, as it set up ECU at the Charlotte 10-yard line with 13:22 to play. ECU capitalized on the opportunity, narrowing the lead to 10-7 with a 10-yard pass from Alex Flinn to Shane Calhoun.

In a nail-biting final quarter, Charlotte had a chance to seal the victory but failed to convert on a 45-yard field goal attempt. The 49ers’ defense stepped up once again, forcing ECU into a three-and-out, with Stone Handy contributing an 11-yard sack to protect their slim lead.

ECU had one last opportunity, taking over with 2:29 on the clock. After three first downs moved the ball to the Charlotte 29, Eyabi Okie-Anoma delivered an eight-yard sack, pushing the Pirates back to the 37. One play later, ECU managed to gain six yards on third-and-18, moving to the 31. However, the 48-yard field goal attempt went wide, securing Charlotte’s first-ever victory as a member of the AAC.

Key statistics of the game included Jalon Jones rushing for a career-high 127 yards, marking the first 100-yard rushing performance by a 49er this season. Charlotte’s defense recorded 6.0 tackles for loss, the fifth time this year that they achieved this feat. Eyabi Okie-Anoma registered his fifth sack of the season, tying for the fifth-most in a single season by a 49er. He also recorded one quarterback hurry, bringing his season total to nine, just one shy of Larry Ogunjobi’s school record.

For ECU, Julius Wood led the defense with 10 tackles and logged his third career interception. Kingston McInstry collected his first career fumble recovery, and Alex Flinn, who entered the contest in the second half, completed 11 of 18 pass attempts for 69 yards and a touchdown. Shane Calhoun caught his second touchdown reception of the season and sixth of his career.

The game was East Carolina’s first meeting with Charlotte on the gridiron, and the Pirates are now 55-13 in Homecoming contests. Despite the loss, ECU has an impressive streak of not being shut out in 319 games, setting a school record.

Charlotte head coach Biff Poggi expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, emphasizing their inaugural AAC victory as a historic achievement. ECU head coach Mike Houston acknowledged the close game and the missed opportunities, vowing to improve for future contests.

Charlotte’s win marks a significant milestone in their young program’s history, while ECU will be looking to bounce back in their upcoming games.

Up Next: East Carolina takes on American Athletic Conference newcomer UTSA next Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., with the game streaming live via ESPN+. Charlotte plays host to fellow American Athletic Conference newcomer Florida Atlantic this Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte 49ers went into Saturday’s homecoming matchup against Navy looking for their first win as a member of the American Athletic Conference. Standing in their way were the Midshipmen from the US Naval Academy. In a game marked by stellar defensive play and a total of twenty punts, the visiting Navy squad was able to sail away with a 14-0 win over the 49ers in front of a sellout crowd.

An uneventful first half saw both teams punting six times while their offenses struggled to find rhythm. The second half started as the first half ended, but the stalemate was finally broken on a busted coverage by the Charlotte defense. When Navy quarterback Braxton Woodson, in a relief role after starter Tai Lavatai was injured early in the game, hit an open Eli Heidenreich in the middle of the secondary, the sophomore raced sixty-nine yards to the end zone to give the visiting Midshipmen a 7-0 lead.

It took until the fourth quarter for more points to be scored. A fumble by Charlotte set up Navy with good field position and the Midshipmen took advantage of another defensive miscue as Alex Tecza took a simple dive play up the middle and sprinted sixty-two yards to set the final margin for the game.

Demetrius Knight II led Charlotte with seven total tackles and Nikhai Hill-Green added five solo tackles and a sack. Aside from the two long touchdown plays, the Charlotte defense stymied Navy’s triple-option offense, forcing seven three-and-outs and eleven punts. Although the Charlotte offense never found the end zone, Shadrick Byrd effectively ran the ball, tallying ninety-two yards on the afternoon.

Up Next

Charlotte travels to Greenville to take on East Carolina in the first-ever football game between the two in-state conference foes. Both teams are looking for their first conference win of the season. Kickoff is set for 2 pm.

BOONE – It had been forty-four years since the East Carolina Pirates had made the trip to Kidd Brewer Stadium to take on the App State Mountaineers. After agreeing to a four-game series that featured one neutral site game in Charlotte and two trips to Greenville in upcoming seasons, Mountaineers and Pirates fans had circled today on their calendar as the matchup to look forward to for the 2023 football season. They game on the field lived up to the hype off of it as App State held off East Carolina 43-28 in front of a raucous crowd of 40,168, the largest in Kidd Brewer Stadium history.

East Carolina started with a strong nine-play, seventy-five-yard drive to open the game. After methodically moving the chains, junior running back Rahjai Harris punched it in from six yards out to give the visiting Pirates an early 7-0 lead. App State came out swinging when they received the ball for the first time. On the second play from scrimmage, Nate Noel burst like a rocket through the line and raced down the home sideline for a sixty-eight-yard score. The App State defense stepped up on the next drive as Nick Ross picked off a Pirate pass and returned the ball to the Mountaineers offense. App State took the lead on a thirty-six-yard Michael Hughes field goal, a lead the home took into the second quarter.

After pinning the Mountaineers deep in their own territory after a tremendous special teams effort to down a punt inside the one-yard-line, the Pirates’ Antoine Jackson stepped in front of an App State pass and walked nine yards to the end zone for the pick-six. After trading punts throughout the middle of the quarter, the Pirates found momentum on offense, mounting an eleven-play drive culminating with Rahjai Harris’s second rushing score of the day. Just like the opening drives of the game, App State responded to another long ECU drive with an explosive play. Milan Tucker took the kickoff and returned it into ECU territory, aided by a facemask penalty. Four plays later, Kanye Roberts burst through for an eighteen-yard rushing touchdown to make it a five-point game going into the half.

Starting the second half, the App State wanted to come out and make a statement and did so with Kaedin Robinson’s thirty-four-yard scoring reception from Joey Aguilar. Aguilar threw another long touchdown to Milan Tucker later in the third quarter. The Mountaineers offense was also responsible for ECU’s third-quarter scoring, however as a fumble was picked up by the Pirates defensive back Shavon Revel. The former Reagan High and Louisburg standout raced fifty-seven yards for the Pirates’ second defensive touchdown on the afternoon. The App State defense stepped up as well as Omar Philyaw’s interception set up the Mountaineers just inside the red zone late in the quarter. Joey Aguilar put an exclamation point on the short drive six plays later, scoring on a keeper around the right side to give the Mountaineers a 36-28 lead going into the final stanza.

A light rain started to fall as the fourth quarter began but it was a happy rain for the Mountaineer faithful in attendance when Joey Aguilar hit tight end David Larkins to make it a two-score lead for the home team. A late attempt by East Carolina to get back in the game fell incomplete as a fourth-down pass sailed out of bounds. The App State offense then ran out the clock and celebrated a 43-28 win. 

Next Week

App State is on the road next week facing a tough Wyoming squad while East Carolina hosts in-state FCS foe Gardner-Webb.

Going into the season, Poggi’s stated goals were to dominate the line of scrimmage so the 49ers run game would set the tone. Although it took a few drives to work out the kinks, the 49ers were finally able to push their way down the field for their first score of the game. A one-yard Jalon Jones keeper capped off a sixty-eight-yard drive with each yard coming on the ground. Charlotte’s running game kept the momentum going on their next drive. Freshman Durell Robinson showed flashes of what made him such a highly sought-after recruit out of high school. With lightning-quick cuts behind the line of scrimmage, Robinson racked up seventy-one yards over two drives and scored the first of what fans hope will be many touchdowns for the green and gold. Kyle Cunanan’s forty-five-yard field goal gave the 49ers a two-touchdown lead going into the half.

South Carolina State had their first sustained drive of the evening midway through the third quarter. As the Bulldogs faced a fourth down inside the two-yard line, the 49ers defense lived up to their “Bad Company” moniker and held South Carolina State out of the end zone. After punting it back to the Bulldogs, the 49ers defense again held on fourth down, turning South Carolina State over on downs for the second straight drive. The Charlotte offense saw itself facing a fourth down on its next drive, but a quarterback sneak kept the chains moving. Facing another fourth down a few plays later, the 49ers opted to attempt a field goal, but the kick sailed wide.

Charlotte’s first passing touchdown of the season came on some impressive improvisation by quarterback Jalon Jones, who scrambled and tossed a quick pass to tight end Bryce Kennon, who raced thirty-six yards down the home sideline to hit paydirt. The big play ignited the Charlotte sideline, and the defense came out blazing on the next drive. Freshman defensive back Kameron Howard stepped in front of a South Carolina State pass, picked it off and raced to the Bulldog twenty-two-yard line.

Jalon Jones was 13 of 19 for 125 yards and a touchdown through the air with sixty-three yards and a touchdown on the ground. Durell Robinson led a balanced 49ers rushing attack with seventy-four yards and a touchdown. Terron Kellman and Shadrick Byrd also saw time at running back and combined for ninety-two yards rushing.

Wayne Jones led the defensive effort with ten tackles (five solo) with Demetrius Knight and Nikhai Hill-Green each tallying seven tackles to guide the strong defensive effort. Prince Bemah, and Eyabi Okie-Anoma each had a sack, and Michael Kelly and Demon Clowney shared a sack. Kameron Howard had the team’s lone turnover, a fourth-quarter interception.

Charlotte (1-0) travels to College Park next Saturday to take on Maryland from the Big Ten. The game will be broadcast on NBC, marking the first time the 49ers will have played on a national, over-the-air broadcast network.

ANN ARBOR - The Michigan Wolverines soared past the East Carolina Pirates in their season opener, winning 30-3 in front of a Michigan Stadium crowd of 109,480. Despite the absence of Jim Harbaugh, who is serving a suspension to start the season, the No. 2 Wolverines were nearly flawless in their victory over ECU, the first time the two schools have played each other.

East Carolina put up a valiant effort but was seemingly outmatched from the opening whistle. Quarterback Mason Garcia did everything he could to move the Pirates' offense down the field, but the Michigan defense held the Pirates to 235 total yards with Garcia leading the team in both passing and rushing yards. Julius Wood paced the team on defense with nine total tackles (five solo) while Mike Edwards III notched eight tackles (seven solo) including one for a loss. Kicker Andrew Conrad’s field goal as time expired kept the Pirates from being shut out.

Michigan was led by quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who passed for 280 yards and threw for three touchdowns. Running back Blake Corum also had a strong game, with seventy-three rushing yards and a touchdown. The Wolverines’ receiving corps also had a standout performance. Roman Wilson led the way with seventy-eight receiving yards and six receptions, including three touchdowns. Cornelius Johnson also contributed with seventy-one receiving yards and five receptions.

Overall, it was a strong start to the season for Michigan, while East Carolina will look to bounce back in their next game next week against Marshall.

Last Meeting

Players to Watch

What the Coaches are Saying

“Memphis is a very, very talented football team that’s also coached well. We’ve been against speed before and this team is a fast team as well. This is probably the most skilled football team. We talk about speed a whole lot; this team has done a good job. Coach [Mike] Norvell has done a good job putting together a team that is skilled on offense. When you look at what [Riley] Ferguson is able to do with his arm, he extends plays and he has probably one of the more exciting players at receiver [Anthony] Miller. On tape he can stretch the field with speed, run exceptional routes, catch the quicks and make people miss. So we’ll have our hands full with him and we’re looking forward to the challenge." 

“They’ve done a really good job on defense of making sure that their offense always has the chance to keep the pressure on the team that they’re playing against. I think throughout the year you can see that they are playing with fewer returners on defense than they are on offense and they are continuing to get better. I see coach working both sides of the ball to play new people. But this is a football team that has played well, played with skill and will continue to get better. This is a team that you look at and from a skill standpoint, you have to get to this level to be able to compete for championships in this league and they’ve done a really, really good job at it.”

Worth Mentioning

What the Coaches Said:

Notable North Carolinians:

Next Week: