College football roundup: 49ers fall again 59-8

How about some good news from the Charlotte 49ers?

Running back Henry Rutledge got the ball on the first play of the second half Saturday and dashed 75 yards for a touchdown – the 49ers’ longest play from scrimmage in nine years.

That, along with some excellent punting from the 49ers’ Ian Kelly, pretty much summed up the positives from Charlotte’s 59-8 homecoming drubbing Saturday by Memphis.

The team rated as the worst in FBS by some metrics fell to 0-5 overall after being outplayed in nearly every category of its American Conference opener.

Memphis had 36 first downs, to Charlotte’s 8.  The Tigers (4-1, 1-0) threw for 386 yards, to Charlotte’s 77.  Total yardage?  Memphis had 674, Charlotte 209.

Charlotte converted on 1-of-10 third-down plays.  Memphis converted on 10-of-16.

And according to several reports, the 49ers were entertaining more than 100 potential recruits at Saturday’s game.

“Our defense was on the field way too much,” 49ers’ head coach Tim Albin said. “Our lack of success on third down kept them out there.  We turned the ball over four times.

“The score gets out of hand when you turn the ball over on two straight series inside your 20-yard line.”

Two of Charlotte’s turnovers were inside Memphis territory in the first half, including an interception at the Tiger 14.

Backup quarterback Conner Harrell was not in uniform Saturday due to an injury, so starter Cole Gonzalez went most of the way.  He completed 6-of-14 passes for 73 yards, with two sacks and an interception.

Meanwhile, Memphis quarterback Marcus Stokes was 20-of-25 for 318 yards and five touchdowns.

The Tigers led 24-0 at halftime, and after Rutledge’s score to start the second half, Memphis scored on five of its seven final possessions.  And one of those possessions ended with a kneel-down at the end of the game.

“We’ve got to get third downs figured out,” Albin said.

Memphis head coach Charles Huff, who turned Marshall and Southern Mississippi into successes in recent years before getting the Tigers’ job, offered some soothing words for the 49ers.

“They’re only a few big plays away,” he said. “They need a few breaks, a few big plays, a few less mistakes.”

Albin was asked afterwards if he believes the team is still with him.

“We’ve got to stick together,” he said. “Not for one second am I worried about losing the locker room.”

Just Noting

Henry Rutledge’s 75-yard touchdown run was the longest since Aaron McAllister and Brooks Barden each had 75-yard scoring runs in 2017 at Western Kentucky.

Saturday’s game was moved up to 11 a.m., due to the threat of bad weather.  That means the 49ers this year have had their earliest kickoff (Saturday) and their latest (a storm-delayed 9:36 p.m. last month at App State).

Punter Ian Kelly tied a school record with four punts downed inside the Memphis 20.  Unfortunately, the 49ers’ defense couldn’t contain the Tigers after that.  After one of those punts, in the first quarter, Memphis scored on a 93-yard pass.

The 49ers are back in action next Saturday, playing at North Texas (3:30 p.m.).

Other Charlotte-area schools

App State

The Mountaineers (3-1) were idle this weekend. They open Sun Belt play at 1 p.m. Saturday in a homecoming game against Old Dominion.

Davidson

Final score: San Diego 63, Davidson 14

What it means: After a two-game winning streak, Davidson (2-4, 0-2 Pioneer Football) has now dropped a pair of conference games. The Wildcats’ ground game produced very little, but Davidson fell behind early and had to pass the ball.

How it happened: San Diego (2-3, 1-1), coming off a 50-17 loss last Saturday to St. Thomas-MN, forced turnovers on four of Davidson’s first five possessions. That enabled the Toreros to build a 42-7 lead early in the third quarter.  Dom Nankil threw four touchdown passes, three of them to Cole Monach. Casey Bullock scored both Davidson touchdowns on short runs.  Bullock completed 24-of-46 passes for 170 yards but was picked off four times.

The game was played in the midst of a West Coast heat wave, and air temperatures on in San Diego reached 100 degrees by late in the game.

What’s next?  The Wildcats, who played their first five games at home, travel again next Saturday, visiting Presbyterian with a 5:30 p.m. kickoff.

Johnson C. Smith

Final score: Johnson C. Smith 51, Bluefield State 0

What it means: The Golden Bulls (4-1, 3-0 CIAA) traveled to West Virginia and logged their fourth straight victory. The Golden Bulls outgained the Big Blue 532-60 in total yardage, in what was a complete domination.

How it happened: Johnson C. Smith scored five times on runs and twice on passes in its shutout victory. Fabian Duncan scored three times on runs in the first half and finished with 225 rushing yards on 25 carries.  With rain falling, the Golden Bulls were able to rely on Duncan’s running to control things. Vincent Blue led the defense, recording six tackles against the Big Blue (0-6, 0-4).  Golden Bulls’ quarterback Damien Mazil played an efficient game, completing 10-of-13 passes for 147 yards.

What’s next?  The Golden Bulls continue CIAA play next Saturday, hosting Shaw at 1 p.m.

Wingate-Catawba

Final score: Catawba 35, Wingate 24

What it means: Catawba (3-3, 2-2 South Atlantic) picked off three passes and got another strong game from quarterback Mason Fortune.  Wingate, hurt by turnovers, fell to 2-4, 1-3.

How it happened: Catawba intercepted three Wingate passes and got a pair of touchdown throws by Fortune, who completed 24-of-31 passes for 216 yards. Catawba took a 28-14 lead midway in the third quarter on a Kevon Rivera touchdown run, but Wingate battled back, scoring on Aaron Griffin’s 95-yard kickoff return and a Gunnar Hilsinger 40-yard field goal.  That cut Catawba’s lead to 28-24 late in the third quarter, but Catawba’s defense shut down Wingate in the final 15 minutes, and the offense added a Fortune touchdown pass.

What’s next?  Each team has home South Atlantic Conference games next Saturday. Catawba entertains Newberry (6 p.m.), and Wingate hosts Tusculum (3 p.m.).

Lenoir-Rhyne

Final score: Carson-Newman 20, Lenoir-Rhyne 17 (OT)

What it means: Lenoir-Rhyne (2-4, 1-3 South Atlantic) had knocked off a pair of nationally ranked teams earlier this season, but the Bears came up short in overtime Saturday.

How it happened: No. 23 Carson-Newman (5-1, 3-1) tied the game at 14-14 on a Kayden McCoy 6-yard run with 6:27 left.  Lenoir-Rhyne had the ball first in overtime and had to settle for a Daniel Deneen 24-yard field goal.  The visiting Eagles scored on a 2-yard run by Joshua Adams on the third play from scrimmage. Carson-Newman, which runs on about 95 percent of its plays, had 52 runs and three passes Saturday.  Lenoir-Rhyne’s ground game, which has been erratic this season, got a lift Saturday, as Eddie Clark carried 17 times for 102 yards.

What’s next?  The Bears hit the road next Saturday, visiting winless UVA Wise. With a 6 p.m. kickoff.