Carolina Gridiron: CGCollege

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Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Will Homecoming Bring the First Win of the Season for Charlotte?

Charlotte (0-7; 0-3) hosts UAB (3-2; 1-1) in the 49ers Annual Homecoming Game. Charlotte has dropped three straight league games and is looking for its first win if the 2017 campaign. With injuries mounting, the 49ers saw four players make their first start and a total of eight lineup changes in last week’s 45-14 loss at two-time C-USA defending champ WKU. In addition, all-time leading tackler Karrington King left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury. UAB meanwhile returned from a bye week to win back-to-back home games against Louisiana Tech (W, 23-2) and Middle Tennessee (W, 25-23).

This is the 49ers first meeting with UAB and the last game before the bye week.

Charlotte R-Fr. RB Aaron McAllister rushed for a career-high 157 yards at WKU, the third different 49er (Benny LeMay; Hasaan Klugh) to post a 100-yard rushing game this year. LeMay and Klugh both missed the WKU game. At WKU, McAllister (89-yd TD run) and backup QB Brooks Barden (77-yd run) had the two longest runs in school history.

Jerry Richardson Stadium

QB Hasaan Klugh has accounted for 10 of the 49ers 12 TDs with 5 passing TDs and 5 rushing TDs. Charlotte rushed for the program’s FBS record of 349 yards in a one-point, 30-29 loss at FIU. Soph. RB Benny LeMay has had two games of over 150+ rushing yards, including a career-high of 178 at FIU. He ranks 6th in C-USA with an 81.3 rushing avg.

The 49ers defense suffered a blow with the loss of all-time leading tackler Karrington King (62 tackles; 8.9/gm) at WKU. He became the first 49er to record 50+ tackles in four straight seasons. Soph. DB Ben DeLuca is second on the team with 58 tackles after back-to-back double-digit tackle games (49ers’ FBS record 17 vs. Marshall; 10 at WKU). He became the 12th 49er to reach 100 career tackles (126). DE Zach Duncan leads the team with 5.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks and 4 QBh.

What the Coaches are Saying

Charlotte coach Brad Lambert
“We’re looking forward to coming back home and playing UAB. They’re a pretty old team and are hot right now. They have beaten two really good opponents on the last play of the game in Middle Tennessee and Louisiana Tech. They present a lot of problems and Coach Clark has done a good job of building the program… They’re a really old football team. Just because they dropped football and starting back, you can’t be deceived. They have a lot of old guys and are a very mature football team. It all starts with their QB. He’s an older guy, playing extremely well and has got great balance. They have the ability to throw and run the ball at a high level. UAB also has a freshman tailback who I really like… It’s a tough challenge this week and it’s good to back home but we have a tough task at hand. We’re going to need to have a great week of preparation to get ready for this UAB football team that is very confident right now."

UAB coach Bill Clark
"As we start to look at the next game it’s time to get a road win. I would say that I think Charlotte has been really close and has started to make some changes a few weeks ago offensively that has really made a big change for them. They should have beaten FIU and played Marshall right to the wire and last week the quarterback was out and the leading rusher was out and they also had some defensive guys out. To me that game is not indicative of who they are and they’ve got us for their homecoming and we’ve got to go on the road and play well and do our jobs. We should not be anything other than humble and guys wanting to work and I think we’ve got some guys that are really starting to believe in what we’re doing and we need a great week of practice."

Game Information

UAB (4-2; C-USA: 2-1) at Charlotte (0-7; C-USA: 0-3)
Kickoff: 6:30 pm
Jerry Richardson Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
TV: beIN Sports
Series Record: First meeting

Tags # 49ers # Blazers # CGCollege Continue Reading

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Davidson Loses Late Lead at Stetson, Falls 28-17

Justin Jones 4:26 PM

DELAND, Fla. – For the second straight season, Davidson football let a late lead slip away at the hands of Stetson, falling on the road in Pioneer Football League action at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium Saturday, 28-17.

With the loss, Davidson falls to 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the PFL, while with the win Stetson improves to 2-5 and 1-3 in league play.

The ‘Cats headed into the final frame up 17-14 after a back and forth three quarters powered by a pair of Tyler Phelps rushing touchdowns and a 22-yard Trevor Smith field goal.

With the lead and defensive stop, the Wildcats looked in good shape down the stretch, but a muffed punt gave the Hatters the ball back in Davidson territory and the Hatters were able to capitalize. Stetson quickly went 5-plays and 135 yards as quarterback Colin McGovern found Justin Jordan on a left fade to the back of the end zone for the go-ahead score, 21-17.

After a few more change of possessions in the fourth, the Wildcats came within the edge of their own goal line, propelled by a Wesley Dugger 35-yard run into Stetson territory, but a few close spots left the ‘Cats just shy of a first down and the ball went back over to Stetson late.

The Wildcat front line had stuffed the Hatter rushing game all day, allowing just 41 yards on the ground through three quarters, but Hatter running back Gordon Stetson broke one for 95 yards to put the game away with under a minute to go, 28-17.

The Wildcats outgained the Hatters 457 yards to 354 including another big rushing day of 236 yards, led by Dugger’s 160-yard game. The freshman has eclipsed 100 yards three times this season. Phelps completed 20-of-33 passes for 186 yards and an interception. Sophomore William Wicks, a former Terry Sanford standout, caught seven passes for 97 yards, including a 46-yard, third down grab to set up the first Davidson touchdown of the day.

The Wildcats got on the board first after junior Boo Jordan blocked a kick to give his ‘Cats great starting field position. The Wicks catch came on the third down of that series that set up a 4-yard Phelps scoring scamper, his first of two in the day.

The Davidson defense was stout early as sophomore linebacker Geroge Hatalowich recorded eight first-quarter tackles, 1.5 for loss, and broke up a pass in the end zone. He ended with a career-high 12 tackles and 2.5 for loss. Former Pine Forest standout Bryce Perry-Martin made 9.0 tackles, while he and senior Brendan Simpkins each tallied a sack. Senior corner and former Eastern Alamance Eagle Ryan Woods had another strong day in the secondary, making life difficult for the Stetson downfield weapons.

Smith’s second-quarter field goal broke a seven-all tie in the second and gave Davidson a 10-7 halftime lead. Stetson regained the lead on an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third, before the momentum shifted back the ‘Cats way, capping an eight-play, 65-yard drive with a 28-yard Phelps scoring scamper helped along by great blocking downfield from sophomore tight end and former Hoggard Viking Hunter Louthan.

The muffed punt came shortly after as Stetson took control and cruised to victory late for the second consecutive season.

Davidson returns home Saturday, Oct. 21 when Dayton comes to Richardson Stadium. Kickoff with the Flyers is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Davidson Sports Information contributed to this story.

Tags # Bryce Perry-Martin # CGCollege # college football Continue Reading

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Wingate Remains Undefeated With 27-24 Win Over Catawba

Justin Jones 4:42 PM

SALISBURY – A recovered fumble with a minute left in the game led to 27-yard Freddy McCollum field goal as time expired and Wingate (6-0) continued its unbeaten season with a 27-24 win over Catawba (5-2) on Saturday at Shuford Stadium.

Freddy McCollum kicks the game-winning field goal (Photo credit: Brian Barnes)

Wingate got on the board first with a six-yard touchdown run by Lawrence Pittman (Mallard Creek) on the opening drive of the game. After stopping Catawba on the next drive of the game, a Freddy McCollum 31-yard field goal gave Wingate what seemed like a commanding 10-0 lead in the first quarter, especially after recovering a Catawba fumble near midfield.

A Caleb Allen interception deep in Catawba territory appeared to wake up the Indian sideline and the offense came out pumped and ready to move the chains. Eleven plays, a fake punt, and 88 yards later, Eamon Smart found paydirt from one yard out and it was not a three-point affair early in the second quarter.

The third quarter belonged to the home team as Catawba opened the third quarter with a 65-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard Lee Brackman field goal and closed with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Patrick O'Brien (Mooresville) to Sam Mobley (Parkwood).

Wingate seemed to own the fourth quarter, however, as JT Stokes and Blake Hays scored on the ground with against a Catawba defense that was having trouble stopping the run late in the game. But, Catawba was not to be denied and when O'Brien found Kenyatta Greene with less than three minutes left in the game, the junior running back made three defenders miss on his 48-yard run to the end zone to tie the game at 24. Catawba had a chance to win the game, but a lost fumble gave the ball back to Wingate and the Bulldog offense got in field goal range for the winning score.

Notable North Carolinians

Patrick O'Brien: Went 25 for 33 with 356 yards and two scores; former Mooresville and UNC-Pembroke standout

Sam Mobley: Former Parkwood star had a touchdown grab in the third quarter that put the Catawba Indians ahead for a while late in the game; finished with five receptions for 96 yards

Jourdan Osinskie: Junior tight end from Southern Alamance led the Indians with six receptions for 76 yards

Lawrence Pittman: ran for 155 yards and a score, had big fourth down conversion in the final quarter to extend a Wingate drive; seeing same success as when he was in the backfield for Mallard Creek

Next Week

Both teams are on the road in South Atlantic Conference action as Catawba travels to Tusculum (4-3) while Wingate will take on Mars Hill (2-5).

Tags # Bulldogs # Catawba # CGCollege Continue Reading

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Charlotte Takes on Defending C-USA Champion, Looking for First Win

Justin Jones 10:50 PM

Charlotte (0-6; 0-2) travels to WKU (3-2; 1-1) to take on the defending Conference USA Champions for the first time, Saturday at 4:30 p.m. (FloSports.tv). Charlotte is 0-2 in league play despite setting a school-record for fewest points allowed to an FBS foe (14) vs. Marshall and the posting second-most yards of total offense vs. an FBS foe (504) at FIU. The two losses have been by a combined 12 points. Charlotte won three C-USA games, last year, and lost two by a single point. Each of the 49ers three C-USA wins, last year, came on the road (at FAU, at Marshall, at Southern Miss). Those three road wins are tied for 2nd in C-USA over the last two years.

Charlotte's offense is led by QB Hasaan Klugh, who has accounted for all 10 of the 49ers TDs with 5 passing TDs and 5 rushing TDs. Charlotte rushed for the program's FBS record of 349 yards in a one-point, 30-29 loss at FIU. Soph. RB Benny LeMay has had two games of over 150+ rushing yards, including a career-high of 178 at FIU. He ranks 6th in C-USA with an 81.3 rushing avg.

The 49ers defense is led by all-time leading tackler Karrington King (55 tackles; 9.2/ gm), who has had two games with double-digit tackles and at least eight tackles in each game. King became the first 49er to record 50+ tackles in four straight seasons. The rs-Sr. LB ranks third in C-USA with 9.2 tackles per game. Soph. DB Ben DeLuca is second on the team with 48 tackles after a 49ers' FBS record 17 vs. Marshall. He became the 12th 49er to reach 100 career tackles (116). LBs Jeff Gemmell (4.0) tops the team in TFL while Zach Duncan has 3.0 TFL and has or shares the team lead with 2.0 sacks and 3 QBh. WKU has won two straight. The Hilltoppers are 1-1 in league play with a one-point loss to Louisiana Tech and a one-point win, last week, at UTEP.

Tags # 49ers # CGCollege # Charlotte Continue Reading

NC State and Pitt Meet For the First Time as Conference Rivals

Justin Jones 10:40 PM

NC State and Pittsburgh will not be meeting for the first time in the history of the two programs, but they will be meeting for the first time as ACC rivals. The Panthers joined the ACC in 2013 and are the only team the Wolfpack has not faced since the latest round of conference expansion took place in 2013 and 2014.

NC State has moved into the top-20 in both major polls this week. The Wolfpack checks in at No. 20 in both the Associated Press and Amway Coaches’ Polls at the midway point of the 2017 regular season. NC State is ranked in the top-20 nationally for the first time since 2003, a No. 14 ranking two games into that season. The Wolfpack has already racked up a pair of wins over ranked teams this season, a 27-21 win at 12th-ranked Florida State and a 39-25 victory over No. 17 Louisville on Thursday night. This season marks the first time the Pack has defeated two ranked ACC foes in the same season since 2006, the first time it has beaten two ranked foes since 2010, and the first time it has defeated two ranked teams in the regular season since 2008.

NC State will face the Panthers at Heinz Field, which also doubles as the home of the NFL’s six-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. It will mark the fourth time the Wolfpack has played in an NFL Stadium under head coach Dave Doeren. NC State is 1-2 in those games, with both losses in neutral site matchups at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium (the 2015 Belk Bowl and earlier this season vs. South Carolina). The Pack is 1-0 as a visitor on a pro field, winning at USF’s Raymond James Stadium in 2014, 49-18.

NC State’s 5-1 start in 2017 ties as the sixth best for a Wolfpack squad since joining the ACC in 1953. Last week’s win over Louisville marked the first time NC State has opened the season 3-0 in ACC play in 15 seasons. In 2002, the most successful season in school history, the Wolfpack opened 4-0 in the ACC and went on to 11 victories. The 2002 campaign was the last time an NC State squad posted a five-game winning streak as well. The Wolfpack started off 9-0 that season.

Tags # CGCollege # college football # Heinz Field Continue Reading