Charlotte produces second-highest point total since joining FBS after dominating ECU in the run game.
Since joining the FBS in 2015, the 49ers have struggled with lackluster offensive performances. Last season, they averaged just 17.5 points per game, ranking 126th nationally. Over their first nine FBS seasons, Charlotte finished 115th or worse in scoring four times and only managed to break the 75th mark once, achieving 59th in 2019 with an average of 29.8 points during their only winning season in FBS history.
However, on Saturday, the team appeared transformed. Last year, Charlotte had narrowly defeated in-state rival East Carolina 10-7 in a defensive struggle. This time, under head coach Biff Poggi, the 49ers dominated, scoring 55 points in a 55-24 victory over the favored Pirates in front of a sellout crowd of 17,102 at Jerry Richardson Stadium.
This 55-point performance was Charlotte’s third game scoring 50 or more points and their second highest since joining the FBS in 2015. They had only previously surpassed that mark once, scoring 56 against Rice two years ago in a notable upset.
The 49ers amassed 517 yards of offense, their highest since racking up 548 against Louisiana Tech in November 2021. They quickly ignited their scoring, finding the end zone on their first two possessions for the first time during the Poggi era.
The running game was crucial to this offensive explosion, with Charlotte accumulating 311 rushing yards and a program-record six rushing touchdowns, averaging 6.0 yards per carry. Hahsuan Wilson and Cartevious Norton led the charge, with Wilson rushing for 164 yards and three touchdowns, marking his second performance with over 160 yards, while Norton added 88 yards and two touchdowns. Thanks to this successful ground attack, Charlotte controlled the clock, holding the ball for nearly 41 minutes, while East Carolina managed only six punts due to their inability to maintain drives.
Freshman Deshawn Purdie, who led a comeback against Rice, started for the 49ers. Although he didn’t deliver the explosive passing plays seen previously, he was effective, completing 15 of 23 passes for 206 yards without turnovers.
In contrast, East Carolina struggled with turnovers, committing the most in the FBS with 18. The Pirates have yet to finish a game without multiple turnovers, and this trend continued on Saturday. Starting quarterback Jake Garcia threw two interceptions, leading to a change in quarterbacks as coach Mike Houston brought in former Michigan State starter Katin Houser shortly before halftime. However, Houser also struggled, throwing a critical pick-six early in the fourth quarter.
Garcia finished 6 of 8 for 111 yards with one touchdown and one interception, while Houser went 11 of 28 for 84 yards, failing to generate a consistent passing game during the overwhelming defeat.
With the loss, East Carolina (3-3, 1-1 AAC) falls back to .500 after their first double-digit loss of 2024. This matchup marked the first game this season where the Pirates didn’t lead by double digits, as Charlotte took control from the outset. Following their second consecutive win over Charlotte, the 49ers will enjoy a bye week before resuming play on October 19 against undefeated Army.
Charlotte (3-3, 2-0 AAC) is one of four teams in the AAC with multiple conference wins this year, alongside Army, Navy, and Tulane. They have now secured back-to-back victories for the first time since the start of the 2021 season but will next face a tough challenge on the road against undefeated Navy on October 19.
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