CHARLOTTE – Charlotte's late drive for the go-ahead/possible game-winning TD ended quickly when Chris Reynolds' long pass towards Elijah Spencer was picked off at the UTEP 22-yard line with 1:19 left to play, securing the Miners' 41-35 Conference USA victory over the 49ers, Saturday night.

Charlotte (1-5; C-USA: 0-2) trailed by 17 at the half, and rallied to within three early in the second half before the Miners (3-3; C-USA: 1-1) stormed ahead by 20 late in the third quarter.  Again, Charlotte rallied – and despite the two large deficits, had a chance to take the lead in the closing minutes after a pair of fourth-quarter TDs.

Charlotte WR Grant DuBose hauls in a TD Photo Credit: Ed Conway

“We shot ourselves in the foot way too many times, whether it be penalties, turnovers, or whatever else,” said 49ers head coach Will Healy.  ”I am always amazed at the fight of this football team. I am always impressed by the character of the young men that are in our locker room. We got the ball back with a (1:26) on the 36-yard-line with no timeouts down six and there wasn't a more confident group in the country but us. We shouldn't have left it up to that. I don't want to make life hard on ourselves and have to fight back from so much.”

Trailing 34-21 late in the third quarter, Charlotte was driving deep into UTEP territory with a chance to close to within one score. The 49ers fumbled at the goal line, however, and Jadrian Taylor returned it 100 yards to push UTEP ahead, 41-21. It was the Miners' second defensive touchdown of the game.

Down 20, Reynolds engineered a 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive to bring the 49ers within 13, 41-28 with 9:27 to play. He hit a diving Tucker on a fourth-down conversion to keep the drive alive and then connected again with his longtime target for a six-yard TD.  It was Tucker's fourth straight game with a touchdown.

“Just the fight of this team,” Healy said. “There were some incredible performances from our players. Chris Reynolds kept getting back up. Markees (Watts) and Amir (Siddiq) were huge to our football team. Grant (DuBose), Vic (Tucker), Elijah, and so many guys played hard and put their heart on the line tonight.”

Charlotte's defense held the Miners to a short, four-play drive that gained just 18 yards and one first down before punting. Again, Reynolds went to work – A 14-yard pass to DuBose.  A 16-yarder to Spencer. A 14-yarder to Shadrick Byrd. Byrd's 13-yard run to the left side found the endzone and suddenly Charlotte was within six, 41-35 with 3:07 to play.

The defense forced its second three-and-out of the game, forcing a punt with 1:26 left to play.

With the ball at its own 36 and nearly a minute-and-a-half left to play, thoughts of Reynolds' six career game-winning drives sprung to mind, including his last-minute heroics in the 49ers' 42-41 win at Georgia State earlier this year.

On the first play, however, his long pass attempt was intercepted to seal the win for the Miners.

“Hard fought football game and congrats to UTEP coming on the road and finding a way to get the win,” Healy said. “When we play well we are capable of beating anyone that is on our schedule. I know our guys will continue to fight hard and give us chances to win football games.”

Notable North Carolinians

Chris Reynolds (Davie) – the senior quarterback was 22 of 38 for 335 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Aidan Laros (Northwood) – the redshirt freshman kickoff specialist boomed kickoffs throughout the evening, landing three touchbacks.

Up Next

The 49ers (1-5, 0-2) head into a bye week before hitting the road for a Conference USA road game at UAB, Saturday, October 15.

ATLANTA — Georgia State (1-2) won a defensive battle in Atlanta, 20-9, Saturday night at Center Parc Stadium to hand Charlotte (2-1) its first loss of the football season in the 49ers' first road game.

"They made the plays they needed to make to win the game," head coach Will Healy said.  "Missed an opportunity.  Humbled, frustrated, but not deterred. The response for what happened tonight is going to be the most important part."

Charlotte took a 9-7 lead early in the second half after forcing a safety but the Panthers scored the final 13 points to come away with the victory.

Charlotte benefited from two big turnovers in building its lead but their own fumble in the red zone kept GSU within striking distance.

"We missed some opportunities," Healy reiterated. "Credit to them for making it hard on us. (Panther head coach) Shawn (Elliott) did an unbelievable job. They're  0-2 and their backs against the wall."

Chris Reynolds threw a touchdown pass for the eighth straight game to give the 49ers a 7-0 lead in the second quarter but Georgia State answered with its own TD to knot the score by halftime.

The 49ers' TD was set up when Charlotte graduate student safety Jon Alexander, a transfer from Kansas State, chased down Panthers running back Destin Coates and forced a fumble at the five-yard line to stop a Panthers scoring opportunity.

Charlotte responded on the next drive and converted a pair of fourth downs to extend the possession before Reynolds hit freshman Elijah Spencer with a 36-yard crossing TD for the first score of the game.  Kicker Jonathan Cruz connected on the point after, breaking the record for consecutive PAT's made with 47 straight.

GSU answered with a 35-yard touchdown pass from Darren Grainger to Jamari Thrash with 4:03 remaining in the half.

Charlotte's defense came up big again on the Panthers' first drive of the second half.  After a false start on third and one sent GSU back to its 14, a bad snap sent Grainger into the end zone, where he recovered the snap but threw wildly as Kofi Wardlow applied pressure.  The intentional grounding call resulted in a safety and gave Charlotte a 9-7 lead.

After Charlotte failed to convert on 4th down on the ensuing drive, the Panthers took their first lead, 13-9, on a 28-yard pass from Grainger to Ja'Cyais Credle.  DE Markees Watts blocked the PAT to keep Charlotte within four.

Charlotte drove into the red zone late in the third quarter but fumbled to turn the ball over to the Panthers.

Alexander thwarted another promising Panther drive with an INT at the 49ers' 17-yard line early in the 4th quarter but the 49ers were not able to capitalize.

The Panthers scored again in the closing minutes to ice the victory.

Charlotte will host Middle Tennessee in the 49ers' Conference USA opener, Friday at 6:30.

DALLAS – Conference USA released its 2021 preseason watch list, as selected by the league’s 14 head coaches on Monday. Five student-athletes from each of the conference’s 14 member institutions are recognized as key players to watch ahead of the 2021 season.

The Conference USA slate opens on Saturday, Aug. 28, and the league’s 17th Conference USA Football Championship Game is scheduled for the first week in December.

DALLAS (July 19, 2021) – A panel of media members that cover Conference USA schools forecast a rematch of the 2020 C-USA Championship Game, selecting Marshall and last year’s conference champions, UAB to win their divisions, respectively.

The Thundering Herd, who went 7-3 and 4-1 in C-USA play in 2020, welcome back nine starters on offense and four more on the defensive side of the ball, including QB Grant Wells, who was the C-USA Freshman of the Year last season. Wells threw for 2,091 yards and 18 touchdowns in 10 appearances, helping guide Marshall to the East Division crown. The Herd return six all-conference performers from 2020 in Wells, TE Xavier Gaines, OL Alex Mollette, DB Steven Gilmore, DT Jamare Edwards and DB Nazeeh Johnson.

UAB captured its second conference crown in the past three seasons, knocking off Marshall 22-13 in Huntington last season. The Blazers return eight offensive starters and nine starters on its dominant defense from a team that finished 6-3 and 3-1 in C-USA play. The Blazers return four all-conference defensive performers from a year ago in LB-turned-S Kristopher Moll, DT Antonio Moultrie, LB Noah Wilder and DB TD Marshall, as well as three all-conference returners offensively in OL Sidney Wells, OL Colby Ragland and TE Hayden Pittman.

Florida Atlantic received six first place votes, and returns 21 of 22 starters from a team a year ago that finished 5-4 and 4-2 in league play. DB Zyon Gilbert (46 total tackles, one interception, five PBUs) and WR Brandon Robinson (team-high three receiving touchdowns) are back for the Owls, who look to build off head coach Willie Taggart’s first season in Boca Raton. Closing out the media picks in the East Division are WKU, Charlotte, Middle Tennessee, FIU and Old Dominion.

UTSA has been tabbed to contend for the West Division crown, earning nine first place votes. The Roadrunners come off a strong first season under head coach Jeff Traylor, going 7-5 and 5-2 in C-USA play in 2020 on its way to a bowl berth. The Roadrunners are armed with preseason All-America and reigning Offensive Player of the Year, RB Sincere McCormick, (1,467 yards on 249 carries with 11 touchdowns). Also back for UTSA is S Rashad Wisdom (95 total tackles and four interceptions), helping to lead a defense poised for a strong season. Key special teamers P Lucas Dean (preseason second team All-America selection by Sporting News) and K Hunter Duplessis (17-20 on field goals) are also back in tow for the Roadrunners. Rounding out the media picks in the West are Louisiana Tech, Southern Miss, Rice, North Texas and UTEP.

The 17th annual Conference USA Football Championship Game, pitting the champions of the East and West Divisions, will be held in the first week of December. The 2021 C-USA Football season kicks off Saturday, August 28.

EAST DIVISION

1. Marshall (17)
2. Florida Atlantic (6)
3. WKU (1)
4. Charlotte
5. Middle Tennessee
6. FIU
7. Old Dominion

WEST DIVISION

1. UAB (15)
2. UTSA (9)
3. Louisiana Tech
4. Southern Miss
5. Rice
6. North Texas
7. UTEP

(first place votes in parentheses)