NASSAU, BAHAMAS – It was the ideal setting for the Charlotte 49ers’ first-ever bowl game. The gameplay, though, was not ideal as they faced a hard-running Buffalo team that pushed out to an early lead and didn’t let up, eventually winning 31-9.



The Bulls were the first to get on the scoreboard on the afternoon. After forcing a punt to open the game, the Buffalo offense took over at their own 39-yard-line and used a series of Jaret Patterson runs to get in scoring position. The runs worked to draw the Charlotte defense in and Buffalo quarterback Kyle Vantrease took advantage of it and tossed a pass to receiver Antonio Nunn in the end zone. Nunn made an incredible grab and Buffalo saw itself in the lead in this first game of the 2019 bowl season.

Charlotte had opportunities to get on the board in the first half, but they were unable to capitalize. With the wind kicking up to over 30mph at times during the game, a gust blew a Charlotte field goal wide left in the first quarter. Charlotte’s next drive was promising as well, but the 49ers were stuffed on a fourth-and-one and gave the ball back to Buffalo.

The big stop for the Bulls’ defense was a definite game-changer for Buffalo as the offense took the field and marched seventy-six yards on fifteen plays, taking 8:26 off the clock, and making it a two-score game with Kyle Vantrease’s 1-yard keeper.

The Buffalo defense helped create even more points when James Patterson picked off a tipped pass and returned it to the Charlotte 12-yard line. The Charlotte defense stiffened, though, forcing the Bulls to settle for a 31-yard Alex McNulty field goal and a 17-0 halftime lead.

As in the first half, Charlotte found itself going for it on a fourth and short, looking to find any momentum offensively. Just like before, the Buffalo defense held and turned it into a Jaret Patterson score and the margin was extended to twenty-four points midway through the third quarter.

Down big, Charlotte tried to make it a game and finally got on the scoreboard when Victor Tucker took a Chris Reynolds pass and raced fifty-one yards to pay dirt. A Jonathan Cruz field goal made it a two-score game.

Just like they did earlier in the game, the Buffalo offense went on a long drive, taking up a whole chunk of clock as they did so. By the time Jaret Patterson went around the left side for the ten-yard touchdown, over nine minutes fell off the clock and the Bulls were only two minutes from celebrating their first win.

With the loss today, Charlotte finishes the season at 7-6. The 49ers will open the 2020 season at Tennessee on September 5th.

The Charlotte 49ers, who rode a five-game win streak to bowl eligibility, have announced that they have accepted an invitation to compete in the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl in the program's first-ever bowl appearance.
   
"We are extremely excited for our university, our team and our fans to accept an invitation to the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl," said 49ers Director of Athletics Mike Hill. "We couldn't imagine a better setting for our first-ever bowl game. This team has demonstrated incredible resilience and earned this opportunity. Niner Nation can't wait to head to the Bahamas!"
   
The 2019 Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl will be held Dec. 20 at 2:00 p.m. at 15,000-seat Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas. Charlotte (7-5) will face Buffalo, which went 7-5, this season, with a 5-3 mark in the Mid-American Conference. The Bulls have won five of their last six games.

Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium (Photo Credit: Ben Solomon/ESPN Images)

Charlotte's school-record five-game win streak to close the regular season came in Conference USA play as Charlotte finished a school-best 5-3 in the league.
   
"We are ecstatic to accept an invitation to play in the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl," said 49ers head coach Will Healy. "It means so much to me that this group, especially our outstanding seniors — our Gold Standard — will have a chance to play together one more time. To do it in paradise? We couldn't ask for anything more. Nothing will ever change the fact that this team was the first to go to a bowl game in Charlotte Football history. That's incredible, and I am so proud of everyone who worked so hard to make this a reality."
   
The 49ers powerful offense is led by versatile quarterback Chris Reynolds and 1,000-yard rusher Benny LeMay.  The 49ers defense is headlined by defensive end Alex Highsmith, the 49ers all-time sack king, and linebacker Jeff Gemmell, who recently recorded his program-best 300th career tackle.
   
"As proud as we are to be in this position after five consecutive wins, we aren't satisfied," Healy added. "We've been saying for weeks that our goal is to win a bowl game, not just to qualify for one. So we'll have to work hard in the coming weeks to prepare for an excellent Buffalo team. But we are so excited to have this challenge and an opportunity to share a bowl experience together."
   
Ticket information is available at the 49ers Bowl Central web page at Charlotte49ers.com. For those who placed deposits, the ticket office will send out communications with instructions to finalize payment. UNC Charlotte students can purchase bowl tickets online or by coming to the Halton Arena Ticket Office during regular office hours. Fans wishing to purchase rooms at the host resort for the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl, the Atlantis Bahamas, can do so by clicking the Bowl Travel tab at MakersWantedBahamasBowl.com.
   
A reminder that all U.S. citizens who wish to attend the game must have a valid U.S. Passport to enter the Bahamas.