CHARLOTTE – Charlotte kept finding answers Saturday night. The problem was The Citadel always seemed to have one more.

The Bulldogs outlasted the 49ers 43-41 in triple overtime at Jerry Richardson Stadium, handing Charlotte a season opening loss despite 538 yards of offense and a resilient performance from quarterback Cole Gonzales.

Charlotte twice answered The Citadel touchdowns in overtime before the Bulldogs ultimately prevailed on a two-point conversion.

“They out-executed us,” Charlotte coach Tim Albin said. “I mean, that’s what happened.”

The Citadel improved to 1-1 while Charlotte fell to 0-1. The Bulldogs were outgained 538-400 but rushed for 268 yards and six touchdowns on 50 attempts. Charlotte finished with 322 passing yards and 216 on the ground. 

The 49ers hurt themselves early.

Gonzales threw two first-quarter interceptions, the first helping set up a short field for The Citadel. Gaven Garcia finished the ensuing possession with a 2-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead.

Charlotte responded immediately. Khamani Alexander broke loose for a 66-yard touchdown, part of a career night in which he rushed for 138 yards on just 14 carries. 

Gonzales settled down after the early turnovers. His 43-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Eley put Charlotte ahead 14-7 in the second quarter, and the 49ers carried that advantage into halftime.

“He’s a playmaker. He’s tough,” Albin said of Gonzales. “He had two picks in the first quarter and I liked his body language. He’s a leader. He’s under the fire, and he didn’t get rattled.”

The Citadel turned to Nick Billoups at quarterback in the second half, and the Bulldogs found their rhythm.

Sebastien Boyle tied the game with a 56-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Gonzales responded with an 11-yard touchdown run before Garcia scored from a yard out, leaving the teams tied 21-21 entering the fourth. 

Billoups gave The Citadel a 28-21 advantage on a 2-yard touchdown run with 12:11 remaining.

Charlotte refused to go away.

The 49ers put together a 14-play, 72-yard drive late in the fourth quarter, capped by Gonzales' 6-yard touchdown pass to Jaylen Hampton with 24 seconds remaining to force overtime.

That resilience stood out to Charlotte defensive back Kadin Schmitz.

“I think we didn’t have any quit,” Schmitz said. “We continued to fight.”

Garcia scored from 25 yards out on The Citadel’s first offensive snap of overtime. Gonzales answered with an 8-yard touchdown run, sending the game to a second overtime tied at 35.

Charlotte then grabbed the advantage when Gonzales connected with Hampton for an 18-yard touchdown. But the 49ers failed on the required two-point conversion, leaving the score 41-35.

Billoups answered with another 2-yard touchdown run for The Citadel. A diving tackle by Dy’Lon Womack forced the game into triple overtime, beginning a series of two-point conversion plays. The Bulldogs were successful on their attempt and a Charlotte pass went wide, giving the visitors a 43-41 victory.

The loss overshadowed one of Charlotte’s most productive offensive performances in recent memory.

Gonzales completed 28 of 41 passes for 322 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for two more scores. Hampton caught eight passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns, and Jaden Barnes added seven receptions for 93 yards. Alexander averaged 9.9 yards per carry. 

The Citadel countered with Garcia’s 137 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries. Boyle added 70 rushing yards, while Billoups rushed for two scores and completed 7 of 10 passes for 91 yards. 

Charlotte converted 11 of 17 third downs and produced 21 first downs, but its two interceptions and failed fourth-down attempt helped swing the game. The 49ers’ defense did not force a turnover. 

“We had chances to win the game,” Albin said. “Didn’t get it done.”

For Schmitz, the question now is what Charlotte does with it.

“It’s not at all how we wanted things to go,” he said. “But just to see the continued fight, to see the more positivity on the sideline – I like to see that a lot.”

The road only gets harder for the 49ers, who travel to Oxford Mississippi next week to take on an Ole Miss team fresh off a berth in the College Football Playoff.

CHARLOTTE – The scoreboard flashed three points for Mississippi State, and Koredell Bartley erased them in a hundred-yard flash less than twenty seconds later.

That opening sequence set the pattern for a Friday night at Bank of America Stadium where Wake Forest found answers for everything Mississippi State attempted, pulling away for a 43-29 victory in the Duke's Mayo Bowl that secured nine wins in Jake Dickert's debut season as head coach.

Robby Ashford accounted for five touchdowns, including three through the air and two on the ground, completing 20 of 33 passes for 303 yards while rushing 14 times for 50 yards. The redshirt senior quarterback from Hoover, Alabama earned MVP honors for a performance that answered every Mississippi State scoring threat with an offensive counter.

"I just think back to a year ago today when we actually had our first portal visits," Dickert said. "We brought in over 40 new players. The guys that were here accepted everything that we wanted to do. I think we laid a tremendous foundation. Nine wins is really special and I'm proud of these guys."

The Bulldogs opened the game with purpose, as Kamario Taylor connected with Brenen Thompson for 51 yards on the first play from scrimmage. But the Wake Forest defense tightened inside the red zone, forcing Kyle Ferrie to attempt a 33-yard field goal that gave Mississippi State an early 3-0 advantage.

Bartley, a freshman from Dudley High School in Greensboro, fielded the ensuing kickoff at his own goal line and found a seam up the right side. The return covered all hundred yards and gave Wake Forest the lead 22 seconds after losing it. Sawyer Racanelli threw a two-point conversion pass to Eni Falayi, putting the Demon Deacons ahead 8-3 just over two minutes into the contest.

Mississippi State responded with Ferrie's second field goal, a 50-yarder that cut the deficit to 8-6. Wake Forest needed its offense to establish rhythm after the special teams spark, and Ashford delivered on a nine-play, 75-yard drive that consumed 3:23. He found Kamrean Johnson in the corner of the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown with 3:49 remaining in the first quarter. Connor Calvert's extra point extended the lead to 15-6.

The Demon Deacons held Mississippi State on downs at the Wake Forest 10-yard line early in the second quarter. Frank Cusano and Nuer Gatkuoth combined to stop Fluff Bothwell for a two-yard loss on fourth-and-one, ending a nine-play drive that had covered 53 yards from the Bulldogs' 37.

Ferrie added his third field goal from 23 yards following a 10-play, 56-yard possession that consumed 5:11. Nick Andersen recorded a sack on the drive, helping force the field goal attempt that made it 15-9 with 6:15 left in the half.

Wake Forest opened the second half with three plays that covered 75 yards in 54 seconds. Ashford dropped back on third-and-10 and launched a pass down the middle that Jack Foley caught at the Mississippi State 19 and carried into the end zone. The 64-yard touchdown marked Foley's first career reception. Ashford kept the ball on the two-point conversion, extending the advantage to 23-9.

Dallas Afalava sacked Taylor on Mississippi State's next possession, contributing to a drive that ended with Ferrie's fourth field goal of the game from 36 yards. The Bulldogs trailed 23-12 with 9:24 remaining in the third quarter.

Wake Forest responded with its most methodical drive of the night, marching 75 yards over 11 plays and 5:05. Ty Clark gained 12 yards on a rush to the Mississippi State 49, and Ashford converted a third-and-one with a 10-yard rush to the 24. After a pass interference penalty moved the ball to the two-yard line, Ashford powered into the end zone. Calvert's extra point made it 30-12 with 4:19 left in the third.

Mississippi State needed just 4:19 to answer, driving 65 yards in eight plays. Luke Kromenhoek connected with Anthony Evans III for 39 yards to the four-yard line, and Taylor scored from one yard out on the final play of the third quarter. Taylor then threw a two-point conversion pass to Seydou Traore, cutting Wake Forest's lead to 30-20.

The Bulldogs forced a Wake Forest punt and needed just 1:09 to cover 84 yards in four plays. Taylor found Sanfrisco Magee for 42 yards and a touchdown, with Ferrie's extra point pulling Mississippi State within 30-27 with 10:17 remaining.

Wake Forest absorbed the punch and drove 63 yards in 10 plays, taking 6:03 off the clock. Ashford completed passes to Clark for nine yards and to Racanelli for 25 yards, reaching the one-yard line. He scored on a quarterback sneak with 4:07 left in regulation.

Nevaeh Sanders blocked Calvert's extra point attempt, and Kelley Jones fielded the ball at the 14-yard line, racing 86 yards for a defensive two-point conversion that pulled Mississippi State within 36-29.

The Demon Deacons needed one first down to seal the victory but instead delivered a knockout. On third-and-seven from the Wake Forest 38, Ashford flipped a pass to Clark in the flat. The sophomore from Tampa found space along the left sideline and covered 62 yards for the touchdown with 2:15 remaining. Calvert's extra point restored the 14-point margin at 43-29.

Mississippi State attempted one final drive but turned the ball over on downs at its own 32 with 1:02 left. Wake Forest took two kneel-downs to end the contest.

Clark finished with 91 rushing yards on 17 carries and added three receptions for 73 yards, including the game-sealing touchdown reception. Carlos Hernandez caught six passes for 73 yards, and Sterling Berkhalter had five receptions for 34 yards.

For Mississippi State, Taylor completed 13 of 22 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown but was sacked three times. Kromenhoek completed three of five passes for 53 yards but was sacked twice. Taylor rushed 18 times for 63 yards and a touchdown. Thompson caught four passes for 106 yards, and Evans hauled in four receptions for 80 yards.

Andersen led Wake Forest with 12 tackles, including six solo stops and a sack. The Demon Deacons recorded five sacks and nine tackles for loss as a team. Jalen Smith led Mississippi State with 12 tackles.

Wake Forest's nine victories equal the program's fourth-highest win total in 118 years of football, joining the 2021 (11-3), 2006 (11-3) and 2007 (9-4) teams. The Demon Deacons have won three consecutive bowl games, matching program streaks from 1992-2002 and 2016-18.

Dickert's nine wins represent the most by a first-year head coach in Wake Forest history, surpassing the seven victories Bill Dooley recorded in 1987. The Demon Deacons improved to 5-1 against SEC opponents in the College Football Playoff era.

Bartley's kickoff return marked Wake Forest's second such touchdown this season, the first time the program has recorded two in the same year since 1952. The return tied the longest play in program history, matching Demond Claiborne's kickoff return at Miami in 2024 and Alphonso Smith's 100-yard interception return against Maryland in 2007.

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