Photo Credit: Ed Conway

CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte 49ers came into November as a team looking to fight its way into possible bowl contention. After a come from behind win against North Texas the previous Saturday, Charlotte was looking to continue its momentum, facing its second Conference USA opponent at home in as many weeks.

But the 49ers were going to have to do without the services of top running back Benny Lemay, who was suffering from a leg injury. With backup running back Aaron McAllister and quarterback Chris Reynolds each running for over one hundred yards, the Charlotte offense did not skip a beat on its way to a 34-20 win over Middle Tennessee.

The visiting Blue Raiders took the opening drive of the game and went the length of the field to open up scoring for the day with a 19-yard Asher O’Hara to Zach Dobson touchdown pass. Charlotte was quick to respond, going on a seventy-five-yard drive of their own with Aaron McAllister’s two-yard run putting the punctuation on the 49ers opening possession.

The Charlotte defense stepped up on the next two drives, forcing two Middle Tennessee punts. The Charlotte offense, however, kept on rolling like it had on its opening drive, scoring with runs both times. Chris Reynolds scampered in from nineteen yards out on a fourth down to give the 49ers the lead and Aaron McAllister hit pay dirt for the second time on a five-yard run to extend the lead to 21-7 early in the second quarter. A thirty-eight-yard field by Jonathan Cruz with no time remaining made it a 24-7 lead going into the locker room.

Charlotte was determined to impose its will to start the second half. Going seventy-five yards in twelve plays, the 49ers took six minutes off the clock and put the margin at twenty-four after Christian Roberson scored his first career touchdown on a one-yard pass from Chris Reynolds.

Although Middle Tennessee tried to make it a game in the second half and got within two scores after two more O’Hara touchdowns, the 49ers offense decided to play keep-away with the football, going on a fifteen-play, eight-and-a-half minute drive to take all of the remaining time off of the clock. “We wanted to put our foot on their neck and end it,” offensive lineman Cam Clark, recalling a conversation he had with the offense, stated after the game.

“Great team win. Huge win. At home. From start to finish this is probably the best we have played all year,” Coach Will Healy said after the game. “I’m extremely proud of where we’re heading, and I think these guys would be the first to tell you we’re not there yet. We made a big step forward today and now we’ve got a tough one on the road at UTEP.”

Noteworthy Notes
With seven tackles on the afternoon, Jeff Gemmell became the 49ers all-time leading tackler
Brelin Faison-Walden forced an O’Hara fumble that was recovered by Nafees Lyon to set up a Jonathan Cruz field goal and Charlotte’s final points on the day.

Notable North Carolinians
Chris Reynolds (Davie) – the redshirt sophomore threw for 192 yards on 14 of 20 passing, but also rushed for 103 yards and a score on the day.
Jeff Gemmell (Heritage) – the senior linebacker had seven tackles on the day, including two solo, and one tackle for a loss that sent the stadium into a frenzy

Next Week
Charlotte (4-5, 2-3) travels to El Paso to take on UTEP while Middle Tennessee (3-6, 2-3) hosts Rice.

NEW ORLEANS — The R+L New Orleans Bowl turned into a season-ending coronation for the Sun Belt champions.

Malik Williams and the rest of the Mountaineers threw quite a Black and Gold party in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Williams delivered two trick-play touchdowns on wide receiver passes, including one to quarterback Zac Thomas, and the defense made several important stops under tough circumstances to help Appalachian State maintain its perfect bowl record with a 45-13 victory against Middle Tennessee on Saturday night.

With App State alum Mark Ivey serving as the interim head coach, college teammate Shawn Clark making aggressive play calls for the offense and 23-year App State assistant Dale Jones coordinating the defense, the Mountaineers (11-2) rolled after persevering through a slow start against the Conference USA runners-up.

"We knew, as tough as these players were, if they smelled any fear or weakness or confusion out of us, you can't fake it," Ivey said. "We decided we'd have fun with it and make sure they'd get exactly what they've been getting all along. If we did that, they'd give us exactly what they've been giving. That's what they did, and they were phenomenal."

App State is the only FBS program with no losses or ties in at least four bowl appearances, and it has accomplished that feat in just four postseason-eligible seasons. It also matched the 2015 team for the best final record since the transition.

Appalachian led 24-6 at halftime Saturday even though Middle Tennessee (8-6) reached the App State 30 on four first-half drives, with Josh Thomas' red zone interception in the first quarter serving as a key momentum swing, and senior Okon Godwin accounted for 2.5 of the defense's six sacks. Anthony Flory, Demetrius Taylor, and Chris Willis contributed in that category, and Tae Hayes also posted a first-half interception.

In addition to becoming the first App State quarterback to catch a touchdown pass in at least 35 yards, New Orleans Bowl MVP Zac Thomas threw three touchdown passes, including his ninth and 10th connections of the season with Corey Sutton. With Thomas Hennigan catching Williams' first touchdown pass and Henry Pearson also scoring on a Thomas throw, the Mountaineers totaled five TDs through the air.

Darrynton Evans rushed for 108 yards to go over 100 for the seventh time in the last nine games, and true freshman Camerun Peoples' 63-yard score on his second carry of the night gave the Mountaineers a 38-6 lead midway through the third quarter.

"The culture we have here at App State, you really can't explain it," said two-year captain MyQuon Stout, whose work at nose tackle played a key role for a defense that didn't allow 20 points in any of the team's 11 wins. "It's great coaches, great staff, great players. We break it down on 'Family' every day, like two or three times a day. We really care about each other and work hard for each other."

App State's first two touchdowns came on passes from Williams, but two turnovers in the first five offensive plays created an uphill battle for the Mountaineers.

Middle Tennessee, which had missed a 47-yard field goal to cap the game-opening series, followed a quick interception on App State's first series with a 24-yard field goal. The Blue Raiders faced a second down from the Appalachian 5 before Godwin and Noel Cook combined on a tackle for loss, and Desmond Franklin broke up a third-down pass to the end zone.

A fumble on the second play of App State's next series gave Middle Tennessee possession at the Mountaineers' 21, but Cook's pressure contributed to an interception by Josh Thomas at the 15 as left-handed quarterback Brent Stockstill rolled to his right.

"Making turnovers, that's just what our defensive backs have talked about all year," Thomas said. We're real greedy when it comes to picks."

Zac Thomas' 35-yard completion to Jalen Virgil was the big play on a drive that ended with a 22-yard field goal from Chandler Staton, whose kick followed a long snap from fill-in true freshman Max Durschlag.

Hennigan and Tyler Bird helped stuff a fourth-and-2 rush on a fake punt from the Middle Tennessee 43 a few minutes later, and Hennigan gave the Mountaineers the lead for good with a 30-yard touchdown on an accurate deep throw from Williams, the former high school quarterback who had caught a backward pass from Thomas near the right sideline.

That was the second time in two seasons that App State had scored with Hennigan catching a pass from Williams, whose next TD throw of the night followed a Hayes interception that resulted from Elijah Diarrassouba's quarterback pressure.

"Before the game, Coach (Justin Watts) told me I was going to have two passing touchdowns before this game was over," Williams said. "After that, I told Zac it felt better throwing him a touchdown than receiving one from him."

In last year's bowl win, Williams tried to throw a short touchdown pass to quarterback Taylor Lamb but kept the ball for a score when Lamb was unavailable as a target. On Saturday, after taking a reverse handoff from Evans, Williams rolled right and lofted an 8-yard touchdown pass to Thomas in the right side of the end zone for a 17-3 advantage with 6:38 remaining in the half.

The only other touchdown with an App State quarterback reaching the end zone on a pass play in recent memory occurred in 2010 when DeAndre Presley was credited with a TD "reception" on a play in which he recovered his receiver's fumble against Chattanooga and ran the final 33 yards with the ball.

"I've had my eyes on that play for a while, so today it was the perfect call," Thomas said.

Evans' 62-yard run set up Pearson's 1-yard touchdown reception in the final minute of the half, and Middle Tennessee advanced to the Appalachian 16 before settling for a 33-yard field goal as time expired in the second quarter.

Clark, App State's run game coordinator and offensive line coach before Scott Satterfield's departure created the need for a new play-caller, had planned to coach from the seventh-floor booth for one half and then make a decision about the second half. He stayed upstairs instead of returning to his familiar spot on the sidelines, in part so he could maintain his bigger-picture approach to directing the offense.

"I knew if I was on the sideline I'd be more involved watching the offensive line than trying to watch the whole game," Clark said. "For me personally, I had to get away from it. (QB coach) Pete Thomas did a great job, and it was the offensive staff calling the plays. I told them that it can't be hectic on the headset. We're going to think about it, and we're going to take our shots, and we're going for broke."

The view from the top of the Superdome remained just as clear after halftime.

The Mountaineers marched 75 yards in 10 plays to begin the third quarter, with Sutton catching a 17-yard touchdown pass from Thomas, and back-to-back sacks of Stockstill led to a punt that paved the way for Peoples to make his bowl debut.

Able to not lose a year of eligibility because he was playing in just his third game, Peoples gained 1 yard on his first carry before breaking free down the right sideline on his 63-yard score.

"The feeling is indescribable," Peoples said. "I've been preparing all year, waiting on it. With the redshirt rule, I've been patient, waiting my turn. To get in, see that opening, I'm asking God to give me everything in my legs and let me get in this end zone. The bulls up front, they did a great job, so it's really just a team thing."

Middle Tennessee posted a third-quarter touchdown to cut into its deficit, but App State's defense applied constant pressure to Stockstill the rest of the way, and Sutton capped the scoring on an 11-yard touchdown with 13:06 remaining.

Willis and Godwin recorded sacks on the next series, enabling App State's coaches to play senior quarterback Zeb Speir, senior receiver Brad Absher and many other reserves in the closing minutes.

As time wound down, players repeatedly chanted Ivey's name. He was even lifted into the air and carried across part of the field.

As the celebratory, Ivey-led song suggests, it wasn't nothin' but an App State party.

That's all for a memorable, record-setting 2018 season

"For me personally, this was my last game," Godwin said, "and I just wanted to leave everything on the field."

MURFREESBORO, TN – The Charlotte 49ers dominated time of possession and total offense, boasted a 100-yard runner for the second straight game, but fell at host Middle Tennessee, 21-13, Saturday. The 49ers defense put up its best performance of the year, holding the Blue Raiders to just 144 yards of total offense, but Middle Tennessee cashed in on two interceptions in 49ers territory to post the win.

"I thought everyone on defense played well," head coach Brad Lambert said. "I thought (defensive coordinator) Glenn (Spencer), the defensive staff, the kids -- they had a really good plan and executed extremely well. That's a good offense, an offense that I was really nervous about because of (Blue Raider quarterback) Brent (Stockstill). I thought our defense really stood up. Bottom line is we've got to make a couple more plays and give ourselves a chance to win the game."

Charlotte (3-4; 2-2) struck quick, taking a 6-0 lead on Benny LeMay's 57-yard run on the 49ers first possession. It was the 49ers longest rushing TD of the season and the 10th TD of LeMay's career. LeMay had three carries for 64 yards on the opening drive to post the 49ers to the early lead.

LeMay (129 yards rushing) finished the game with his third 100-yard performance of the season. He finished the game with 187 yards of total offense, more than the Blue Raiders team.

Charlotte's defense held the Blue Raiders to 144 yards of total offense, their lowest offensive output of since 2007, when #2 LSU held them to 90 yards.

The Blue Raiders, however, took the lead midway through the second quarter on Stockstill's 29-yard TD pass to Ty Lee following a missed 48-yard field goal attempt by Jonathan Cruz. After Evan Shirreffs first interception of the year gave the Blue Raiders the ball at Charlotte's 15-yard line, Stockstill hit Lee for a second TD, this time from five yards out, to give the Blue Raiders a 14-6 halftime lead.

Another Shirreffs' INT, after being hit while he passed, landed Middle Tennessee at Charlotte's 22-yard line in the fourth quarter. A pass from Stockstill to Gatlin Casey was fumbled into the endzone, where Casey recovered for the touchdown and a 21-6 lead.

Charlotte scored late in the fourth on Shirreffs 23-yard TD pass to Mark Quattlebaum to cut the lead to one score, 21-13, but the Blue Raiders recovered the ensuing onside kick to preserve the win.

 "You want to give yourself a chance to win the game," Lambert said. "The drive that really hurt us was the drive right out of the first half. We really moved the ball well, made first downs, tied up the clock and then we stalled. That's where we've got to learn to get better. Once we get in the score zone pushing the ball right down there."

LeMay has his second straight 100-yard rushing performance. Charlotte forced two turnovers, including r-Fr. LB Henry Segura's strip sack which landed the 49ers at the Middle Tennessee 23-yard line in the first half, but was unable to convert them into points. After the fumble recovery, an offensive pass interference call sent Charlotte back and Cruz was unable to connect on a 52-yard field goal attempt.

Charlotte returns home Saturday to face Southern Miss at 2:00 p.m. on ESPN3.

Charlotte (3-3; C-USA: 2-1) heads to Middle Tennessee, Saturday to take on the Blue Raiders who have an identical 3-3 record; 2-1 in Conference USA. Charlotte is coming off a 40-14 victory over WKU in the 49ers Homecoming Game.

Charlotte exploded for three third-quarter TDs and 34 unanswered points en route to the Homecoming win. The 49ers set school records for most points and largest margin of victory in a Conference USA game. RB Benny LeMay put up 152 yards of total offense (121 rushing) and scored two TDs, backup QB Evan Shirreffs replaced injured Chris Reynolds and engineered the second-half outburst and LB Juwan Foggie had a team-high eight tackles and tied a school record with two INTs that translated into TDs for the 49ers.

Charlotte had 448 yards of total offense, its most since the opener vs. Fordham, while the defense held WKU to 256 yards, the fewest allowed this season. The C-USA leader in rushing defense held the Hilltoppers to 42 rushing yards and forced a season-high three turnovers, all of which came in WKU territory and led to TDs.

Versatile Jr. RB Benny LeMay is second in C-USA in rushing (89.2/gm) and third in all-purpose yards (117.0/gm). He has scored five rushing TDs, which rank third in C-USA. R-Fr. WR Victor Tucker leads C-USA rookies with 6.0 rec./gm and a 77.7 rec. avg.

The 49ers defense, which leads C-USA in rushing defense (92.2 rush yds allowed) and ranks third in total defense (329.8 yds/gm), is paced by several veterans, including 2017 leading tackler R-Jr. LB Jeff Gemmell (team-high 42 tackles; 3.0 TFL; 8 QBh) and preseason all-C-USA Jr. S Ben DeLuca (40 tkls). Sr. LB Juwan Foggie leads C-USA with 4 INTs.

CHARLOTTE – The air was brisk at Charlotte's Jerry Richardson Stadium as the Forty-Niners hosted Middle Tennessee State in Conference USA action. The Blue Raiders had been Charlotte's first-ever opponent in Conference USA play when the Niners joined in 2015 and the Charlotte faithful was hoping for the 49ers' first victory in three tries against Middle Tennessee, but it was the Blue Raiders who moved to 3-0 in the overall series as the Blue Raiders defeated the Charlotte 49ers, 35-21.

Charlotte came into the game off a tough defensive battle at Old Dominion in which the 49ers lost 6-0 and was looking to find the same spark as in Charlotte's previous home game, a memorable 25-24 win over UAB in overtime.

Charlotte started off the game well, forcing a three-and-out on the first drive of the game. After taking possession, the Charlotte offense marched down the field, scoring on a 16-yard Benny LeMay run, giving the home team a 7-0 lead.

MTSU RB Tavares Thomas ran for 195 yards (Photo Credit: Ed Conway)

From there, it was all Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raider scored 28 unanswered points with two touchdown runs from Tavares Thomas (who finished with 195 yards on the day) and two passes from Brandon Stockstill. Stockstill finished the game with 255 yards passing and three touchdowns.

Charlotte tried to get back in the game with a Mark Quattlebaum touchdown reception in the third quarter and a Trent Bostick touchdown late in the fourth quarter, but it was not enough for the 49ers as they fell to 1-5 in conference play.

Worth Noting

With the 49ers and the college football community celebrating Veterans' Day, it is worth noting that Charlotte offensive lineman Jean Eason is a three-year Army veteran who served from 2009 to 2012 and served a tour in Afghanistan. At 27, he is the oldest member of the 49ers roster.

Notable North Carolinians

Benny LeMay (So., Butler) scored the opening touchdown of the game on a 16-yard run.

Jeff Gemmell (R-So., Heritage) led the defense in total tackles with 10, including 4 solo.

Hasaan Klugh (R-Jr., Central Cabarrus) passed for 258 yards and two touchdowns.

Next Week

Charlotte (1-9, 1-5) travels to Hattiesburg, Mississippi next Saturday to take on Southern Miss (5-4, 3-2) while Middle Tennessee (5-5, 3-3) will face Western Kentucky (5-4, 3-2) on Friday night in a bid to become bowl eligible for the sixth straight season.