CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte 49ers staged a remarkable fourth-quarter comeback to edge out the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs 27-26 at Jerry Richardson Stadium on Saturday night.
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| Photo Credit: Ed Conway |
First Half Domination
Gardner-Webb dominated the first half, building a commanding 17-0 lead. The Runnin' Bulldogs opened the scoring with a 30-yard field goal by Jay Billingsley in the first quarter. Their defense then made a significant impact, with Trevor Moffitt returning an interception 45 yards for a touchdown. Gardner-Webb's offense continued to shine, capping off an impressive 99-yard drive with a 30-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Riddell to Anthony Lowe just before halftime.
Charlotte managed to get on the board with a 54-yard field goal by Stephen Rusnak as time expired in the second quarter, leaving the halftime score at 17-3 in favor of Gardner-Webb.
Second Half Turnaround
The third quarter saw Gardner-Webb extend their lead to 20-3 with another Billingsley field goal. Charlotte responded with a field goal of their own, making it 20-6 heading into the final quarter.
The game took a dramatic turn in the fourth quarter as Charlotte mounted an impressive comeback. The 49ers scored 21 unanswered points, beginning with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Trexler Ivey to O'Mega Blake. Ivey, who came in to replace the injured starter Deshawn Purdie, then connected with Sean Brown for another touchdown and a successful two-point conversion, tying the game at 20-20.
Charlotte's defense forced a crucial turnover, and the offense capitalized immediately with Hahsaun Wilson breaking free for a 39-yard touchdown run, giving the 49ers their first lead of the game at 27-20.
Final Minutes Drama
Gardner-Webb showed resilience, responding with a touchdown drive of their own. Carson Gresock punched in a 1-yard run to bring the Runnin' Bulldogs within one point. However, the ensuing two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving Charlotte with a narrow 27-26 lead.
The 49ers managed to recover the onside kick attempt and held on for the victory, completing their largest comeback in the program's FBS history.
Key Statistics
- Total Yards: Gardner-Webb 390, Charlotte 349
- Passing Yards: Gardner-Webb 340, Charlotte 336
- Rushing Yards: Gardner-Webb 50, Charlotte 13
- Turnovers: Gardner-Webb 3, Charlotte 3
Standout Performances
- Gardner-Webb's Tyler Riddell: 23-38 for 340 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs
- Charlotte's Trexler Ivey: 11-12 for 142 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs
- Gardner-Webb's Jaylen Bly: 8 receptions for 74 yards
- Charlotte's Hahsaun Wilson: 6 rushes for 52 yards, 1 TD
Up Next
Charlotte travels to take on the Big Ten’s Indiana while Gardner-Webb takes on Presbyterian from the Pioneer League.
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