Tulane rallies, beats Charlotte in OT

The Charlotte 49ers came up 10 seconds short of a winning streak.

Tulane rallied from a 31-21 deficit, scoring a tying touchdown with 10 seconds left in the regulation, and then beat the 49ers 38-31 in overtime Friday night at Jerry Richardson Stadium.

The 49ers (1-7, 1-3 American) snapped a 15-game losing streak two weeks ago and appeared headed for a second straight victory Friday night.

Charlotte took a 31-21 lead with 10:52 left in the game on a 1-yard touchdown run by Derrick Eley.

But Tulane (4-4, 2-2) got a 27-yard field goal from Cooper Helmke with 6:29 left, then drove for the tying touchdown.

The Green Wave’s game-tying drive began with Charlotte, up 31-24, trying to run out the clock.  The 49ers had the ball in Tulane territory, but Khamani Alexander fumbled the ball at the Green Wave 39, and Garrett Mahat recovered for Tulane.

Tulane had to go 61 yards and had only 1:52 left.

And the Green Wave put together a touchdown drive without needing a time out.  The big play was a 33-yard run by Johnnie Daniels to the Charlotte 23.  Trace Johnson completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Roberts for the touchdown with 10 seconds left.

Tulane got the ball first in overtime and drove to the Charlotte 1.  On fourth down, coach Will Hall elected to go for the touchdown, and Dagan Bruno scored on a run up the middle.

Charlotte drove to the Tulane 3 on its possession, but Conner Harrell threw incomplete passes on third and fourth downs.

It was a good offensive performance for the 49ers.  Harrell completed 23-of-36 passes for 239 yards and two touchdowns, and Henry Rutledge had another big game, rushing for 125 yards.

The 49ers will be back in action next Saturday, traveling to UAB for a 3:30 p.m. contest.