CHARLOTTE VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE · NOV. 19, 2016
1
STAFF PICKS FINAL SCORE: CHAR 21, Middle Tenn. 20 “Marshall dismantled MTSU last week 42-17, with that being the first game the Blue Raiders played without their QB. I think that Charlotte pulls out a close one after their one-point loss against Rice.”
FINAL SCORE: CHAR 17, Middle Tenn. 13 “This is a must-win game for the Niners if they want to keep their bowl dream alive. Charlotte has already come back from a heartbreaking loss earlier in the season, I still believe they have the drive to win out this season.”
FINAL SCORE: CHAR 30, Middle Tenn. 27 “With their backs against the wall, Charlotte will keep hopes for a bowl game alive. The senior class will close out their career at Jerry Richardson with a victory.”
FINAL SCORE: SCORE: CHARFINAL 28, Middle Tenn. 24 CHAR 28, Middle Tenn. 24
“The defense comes up with clutch stops and leads to the 49ers to “The defense comes up with clutch their 5thtowin.” stops and leads the 49ers to their fifth win.”
2
GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION
49ERS LOOK TO KEEP BOWL DREAMS ALIVE Charlotte hosts Middle Tennessee in their final home game of the season ANDY GUSTAFSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
The Charlotte 49ers will close the doors to Jerry Richardson Stadium this Saturday against Middle Tennessee. It may be the most important home game in school history. After a shocking loss to Rice, in which Charlotte gave up a 21-point lead, this game can be considered a mustwin. There are many reasons why Charlotte has to beat the Blue Raiders, but none as big as keeping the bowl dreams alive. The 49ers have to win out the rest of their schedule to be eligible for a bowl. Another reason, perhaps is, to show the rest of the conference that home-field advantage is a real thing in the Queen City. Charlotte has one win, opposed to their three wins away, at Jerry Richardson Stadium. Lastly, this is the final game for the first football class of Charlotte. Players like Larry Ogunjobi, Kalif Phillips and Austin Duke don’t want to close their careers with a loss in their final home game. The entire season this senior class has talked about going to a bowl game to cap off their collegiate career. A win on Saturday would keep their dream alive. Last season, Middle Tennessee dominated Charlotte 73-14. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. For those that can’t make it, the game will be streamed on ESPN3 as well.
START FAST, FINISH STRONG Read the headline: Charlotte did the first part, but not the last part last week against Rice. It was a tale of two halves as it looked like Charlotte would win their third straight game. The 49ers were up 21 points at one point and shifted into
needs to stick with what they know best.
MIDDLE TENNESSEE SCOUTING REPORT
Kalif Phillips struts into the end zone. Photo by Chris Crews
cruise control. That’s where Charlotte screwed up. Rice was able to reel off 22 unanswered points to come back and dim the lights on a bowl berth. So how does Charlotte play a complete game? Stick to what works best. Charlotte opened the game by running the ball all over the Rice defense, which is why the 49ers held a 21 point lead. After a 27-yard rush from Hasaan Klugh to begin their second half, Charlotte began to stray away from the running game. At one point in the fourth quarter, with a 21-16 lead, Charlotte went three and out on three consecutive incomplete passes. The next drive, Rice marched down the field to score the gamewinning touchdown. The 49ers have three capable runners in Phillips, Klugh and Robert Washington. When Charlotte runs the ball consistently, it allows for a successful passing attack. Not to mention, running the ball allows the 49ers to have control of possession and the game. For these two remaining games, Charlotte
The Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee sit at a 6-4 record on the season, which means they are bowl eligible. But for Middle Tennessee, things have not gone well as of late, as they are currently on a two-game losing streak. Those two teams are UTSA and Marshall, who Charlotte beat earlier in the season. Middle Tennessee has a talented trio in their offense, but their No. 1 quarterback, Brent Stockstill, broke his collarbone two weeks ago in their loss against UTSA. Stockstill has 27 passing touchdowns and a 105.52 efficiency rating on the year, so the Blue Raiders offense will definitely miss their star player. Running back I’Tavius Mathers has 1190 rushing yards and 16 total touchdowns, and Richie James has 1254 receiving yards and nine touchdowns to help out with their troubles at the quarterback position. With John Urzua taking over at quarterback for MTSU, the Blue Raiders will have to have all hands on deck to put up big numbers. Similar to Rice, Middle Tennessee is not a strong defense against the run. The Blue Raiders give up 192 rushing yards a game and 26 rushing touchdowns on the year. The previous two weeks, Middle Tennessee has given up seven rushing touchdowns. Hopefully, for Charlotte, it will go much differently against Middle Tennessee on the ground than it did against Rice. For bowl sake, may Charlotte work the ground and pound.
CHARLOTTE VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE · NOV. 19, 2016
3
A LOOK AT THE CHARLOTTE FOOTBALL SEASON ANDY GUSTAFSON ASST. SPORTS EDITOR
This is what the Charlotte 49er fan base has been patiently waiting for. The football program is on a winning streak and earning legitimacy in the Conference-USA. Preseason polls had the 49ers finishing dead last in the C-USA east division. But Charlotte has exceeded expectations, with a 3-2 conference record, as they sit tied for third place in the east division with Middle Tennessee. With thirteen seniors starting, the original class of 2012 want to go out with a bang. “Back in January, we set some goals that our players came up with,” head coach Brad Lambert said. “I think, primarily, our age has helped us. The work that the senior class has put in since 2012, much of our success today can be attributed to that group.” Winners of three of their last four games, Charlotte has a chance to become bowl-eligible by winning out the rest of the season. Also, Charlotte can match an all-time season-high in wins (five) if they can win against Middle Tennessee or UTSA. Looking back at the season,
Charlotte has gone through plenty of learning experiences. First, the Lamar Jackson’s Heisman coming out party in the opener. Then, the three-game losing streak that looked all too familiar to the past Charlotte football seasons. Lastly, the one-point defeat to FIU on homecoming. Lesson learned for Charlotte. The 49ers are showing how much they have grown in their fourth year of existence by knocking out two birds with one stone. Charlotte has turned into road warriors during the season, with a 3-2 record on the road, identical to their conference record. What’s more impressive is Charlotte ability to win these road games in such close fashion. In their three road wins, Charlotte has won by a combined 22 points, including a three-point victory over Marshall and a five-point win against Florida Atlantic. “The guys have stayed in the moment,” Lambert said of success on the road. “They’re practicing hard and preparing hard. We get on the
Hasaan Klugh showcases his running ability. Photo by Chris Crews
4
road and just try and find a way to win a game.” Speaking of moments, one that stands out was after the Marshall game. The 49ers can classify the victory as the biggest in school history, so far. But it wasn’t because of the margin of victory that made it the biggest, it was the reason behind the win that made it significant. The late Phil Ratliff, the former offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator of the 49ers, was a Marshall standout during his playing career. Ratliff recruited many of the current 49ers and established an attitude throughout the program that resonates to this day. After the Marshall victory, the game ball was delivered to his wife, Jenni, as the players embraced each other on the field. One of the last players Ratliff recruited has become the face of the program. Hasaan Klugh began the year as a backup to then starting quarterback Kevin Olsen. Klugh’s dual-threat ability has been the catalyst for the 49ers winning ways. Since taking over the offense, Klugh has nine total touchdowns, five passing and four on the ground. By the way, Klugh has two more years of eligibility. “I would like to sit in the pocket and throw the ball,” Klugh said on his preference. “It’s a great tool to have (being a dual-threat) and having great running backs, it opens up the offense for them.” Kalif Phillips is at it again. The senior is on pace to for his second 1,000 rushing yard season (741 on the season, so far), after going for 183 against Southern Miss. There’s an air to Phillips’s throne in true freshman Robert Washington. From local East Gaston, Washington has run for 431 yards and five touchdowns this season. “We want to be able to run the ball
GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION
first and foremost,” coach Lambert said. “But you want to have balance, so when we run the ball well, it bodes well for our quarterback and our throwing game.” As for the defense, the unit is bouncing back. After giving up 44.2 points a game in the first five games, the defense has nearly slashed that average in half with 25.3 points in the last four. Also, the defense has recorded the most interceptions in the conference with 12. Klugh and the offense can thank the defense for some of their recent success. Defensive star Larry Ogunjobi is proving why he was on the Bednarik watch list, with 11.5 tackles for loss. November is the most important month on the football schedule. Some of the players classify it as the “March Madness” of the football season. The 49ers began the month with an impressive victory on the road against Southern Miss, defeating the Golden Eagles by double-digits 38-27. A hiccup against Rice this past week complicates Charlotte’s chances for their first bowl bid. In order to get to an illustrious bowl game, Charlotte must win out. The 49ers will face Middle Tennesse and UTSA to close out the season. “Everything you set yourself up for in the season is for November,” Winchester said. “We’re putting ourselves in the best situation to be successful and trying to get to a bowl game.” A couple of reasons for optimism? Next week is the final home game for the original class. That means players like Ogunjobi, Phillips, Terrence Winchester, Nick Cook and Austin Duke will wear the Charlotte green for the final time at Jerry Richardson Stadium. The following week, Charlotte is on the road to close their season, where they have played much better.
NINERS HONOR THE MILITARY KATHLEEN COOK SPORTS EDITOR
This past Saturday was Military Appreciation Day in Niner Nation. The festivities included a 28-mile run, flyover, rifle drill and a tribute to a Korean War veteran as well as two World War II veterans. Captain Blake Evans of the U.S. Air Force played a vital role in connecting the ROTC with the Athletic Department to make Saturday a success. The initial plans came together in early September during a meeting with Nick Konawalik, the associate athletic director for marketing. “It was a whole lot of shots in the dark,” Capt. Evans said. “I dragged two Army captains into Nick Konawalik’s office and we started spit-balling ideas. We ended up with a long laundry list of things we wanted to do and we were able to piece together what happened today.” The first task the group worked on was the flyover. After their application was accepted, the Charlotte ANG 145th Airlift Wing agreed to provide the planes and execute the flyover that had fans ooo-ing and ahh-ing. “A lot of awesome people did a lot of awesome things to make that happen as well as it did. It was flawless,” Capt. Evans said. Also prior to the game, fans got to witness the last 50 yards of a 28-mile run with the game ball performed by cadets in the
ROTC program at Charlotte. The marathon began at the steps on the Cornelius town hall at midnight and ended with the delivery of the game ball after the coin toss. For the cadets that partook in the run, it served as one of the many ways they got to honor veterans. “I’m going to serve in the future so it’s nice to be able to look up to the people that have served and to be able to honor them,” junior Catherine O’Neil said. “Being able to do it for the veterans gives us a reminder of why we are here and it reminds us of the sacrifice those before us made,” Isiah Rainey said. After the band performed at halftime there was a rifle drill honoring the POW/MIA soldiers. There was also a recognition of three war veterans: one from the Korean War and two soldiers from World War II. “If you listen to their stories, they are absolutely incredible. What they went through for how long they went throw really makes you think about what is important. The big reason why we did that run last night is because waking up at midnight seems like a big task for us, but what those guys did was so much more difficult and trying,” Capt. Evans said. “There is no way we could have a testament to what those guys did.”
Veterans honored on field during halftime. Photo by Chris Crews
49ERS LOSES A HEART-BREAKER
ZACH TIMMONS STAFF WRITER
The Charlotte 49ers football team was unable to keep the momentum rolling in the second half as they narrowly dropped a 22-21 decision to the Rice Owls (2-8). The Niners (4-6), who were looking for their fifth win on the season, piled up 21 points in the first half, but they were held scoreless in the second as the Owls came all the way back. Things started off well for the Niners, as they forced the Owls into three-and-outs on their first two drives while scoring on their own second drive. Senior tailback Kalif Phillips ran in a 14-yard touchdown at the 6:54 mark of the first frame, capping off an eight-play, 71-yard drive. Phillips rushed 20 times for 87 yards and the aforementioned touchdown and piled up 116 total all-purpose yards. In the second quarter, Charlotte quarterback Hasaan Klugh found receiver Workpe Kofa for another 14yard touchdown that extended the Niner lead to 14-0. Kofa’s touchdown reception capped off another successful drive that had started at the end of the first frame. Klugh finished the game 11-25 for 94 yards and also rushed for 66 more. Meanwhile, Rice couldn’t get anything going. After multiple three-and-outs and punts from both teams, Charlotte defensive back Anthony Convington picked off Tyler Stehling’s pass. Charlotte didn’t capitalize on the turnover, but one drive later, the defense came up with another big play. This time, Stehling threw a pick to Terrance Winchester, who returned the ball all the way to the house to give Charlotte a 21-0 lead. Also, on the defensive side of the ball, Ed Rolle and Ben DeLuca led the way with 12 and 11 tackles respectively. Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi added six tackles, Winchester and Covington both tallied interceptionsand Randy Suydam got two tackles for a loss, including the lone sack.
CHARLOTTE VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE · NOV. 19, 2016
“The coaches are just calling good plays for us, and the offense gave us what we liked. It always works out in my favor. I’m just making the play, and it’s all based on the calls from the coaches,” Winchester said. However, after Stehling’s second pick, Rice’s offense got on a roll. Stehling drove the offense down the field, and Rice knocked in a field goal for their first points. Then, with only 52 ticks left in the half, Stehling found Temi Alaka in the end zone for a three yard touchdown. All of a sudden, Charlotte’s lead was cut to 21-10. As the third quarter rolled along, both teams struggled to score, but Stehling began making up for lost time. The Rice quarterback began picking up yards on the ground, keeping drives alive. The Owls finally scored on Stehling’s 17-yard scamper with 4:26 remaining in the third. The Owls only got six on the play though, failing the two-point conversion. In the fourth, Rice continued to have long drives without scoring. Meanwhile, the Niners couldn’t move the ball, which resulted in two straight punts. Finally, with only 2:53 remaining, Stehling scored on another run, this time from one yard out. Again, the two-point conversion failed, leaving the score in Rice’s favor at 22-21. Charlotte got the ball back, but was unable to move the ball within field goal range. A negative rush and incomplete passes stalled the drive, and Rice got the ball back and ran out the clock. “We couldn’t get him corralled in the backfield,” Charlotte coach Brad Lambert said of Stehling. “The disappointing thing for me is we had him in the backfield and didn’t finish him. He’s a big, strong guy and got out of some sacks I thought we should’ve made.” Charlotte seeks redemption at home next Saturday at 2 p.m. when they take on Middle Tennessee.
5
“ALLOW ME TO REINTRODUCE MYSELF” TREVOR WILT SPORTS EDITOR
Jay Z said it best but Terrance Winchester, a 6-foot-1 redshirt senior for the 49ers, is reintroducing himself to Niner Nation after missing a good bit of the season due to a lingering shoulder injury. Winchester, known for his 43-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown against Georgia State last season in the first-ever FBS game for Charlotte, has stolen the term ‘Thieves Ave.’ from the Panthers defense by his play over the last two games. But before his recent outburst on defense, Winchester had to somehow deal with being sidelined for an extended period of time. After missing the second game of the season against Elon and then missing the full month of October, Winchester’s role on the team switched from being the dominant defensive back and the 49ers all-time leader in takeaways and interceptions, to coach Winchester. “The coaches just told me that you are hurt, it happened, but what can we do to make the best out of this situation. They asked me to coach the guys up and just work on my shoulder,” Winchester said. “I tried to teach the young
guys what I know. That’s really it.” Without Winchester in the secondary, the 49ers went 3-2, showing that he can still make an impact even from the sidelines in street clothes. Coaching up the likes of Denzel Irvin, Ben Deluca and multiple other defensive backs, Winchester could likely be found looking over notes on the sidelines with his group of guys, while also keeping the team morale high with his comedic personality. Although he enjoyed his time coaching up his teammates, Winchester knew his college career was coming to an end, and standing on the sidelines was not the ideal spot for him when that time was to come. While not being 100 percent by any means, Winchester and the coaching staff thought that the redshirt senior could still make an impact on defense. So Nov. 5 came against Southern Miss, an almost must-win for the 49ers to keep their goal to going to a bowl Photo by Chris Crews game alive.
Winchester did not disappoint in his return. The Berry Academy product recorded two interceptions in his first game in over a month, snagging one out of the air in the final two minutes to seal the victory for Charlotte over the Golden Eagles. “I was in game mode,” Winchester said. “I knew the first interception was coming because I knew the play. They put me out wide and it was just me and a receiver. I knew something was coming my way. So I just told myself to make the best of it.” With his two interceptions on Nov. 5, Winchester became the first Charlotte player in history to have two in one game. “I never paid attention to that type of stat, but it happened and it’s pretty cool it was in my name.” Although the 49ers dropped their last game against the Rice Owls 22-21, Winchester did all he could to help his team win. Winchester read Rice’s quarterback Tyler Stehling like a textbook, intercepting him and taking the ball back 41 yards to the house. With only two games remaining, Winchester has to remain hot and help lead his young FBS team to their first every bowl game, a goal that he and the rest of the redshirt seniors set as a goal five years ago.
2016 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE THURSDAY, SEPT. 1
FRIDAY, OCT. 1
SATURDAY, NOV. 5
Louisville, Ky.
Jerry Richardson Stadium
Hattiesburg, Miss.
#19/#23 Louisville 7 p.m. L, 70-14
Southern Miss
6 p.m. L, 52-17
3:30 p.m. W, 38-27
SATURDAY, SEPT. 10
SATURDAY, OCT. 8
SATURDAY, NOV. 12
Jerry Richardson Stadium
Boca Raton, Fla.
Jerry Richardson Stadium
Elon
6 p.m. W, 47-14
Florida Atlantic 3:30 p.m. W, 28-23
Rice
2 p.m. L, 22-21
SATURDAY, SEPT. 17
SATURDAY, OCT. 15
SATURDAY, NOV. 19
Jerry Richardson Stadium
Jerry Richardson Stadium
Jerry Richardson Stadium
E. Michigan 6:00 p.m. L, 38-19
FIU
6 p.m. L, 27-26
Midd. Tennessee 2 p.m.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 24
SATURDAY, OCT. 22
SATURDAY, NOV. 26
Philadelphia, Pa.
Huntington, W.Va.
San Antonio, Texas
Temple Noon L, 48-20
6
Old Dominion
Marshall 5:30 p.m. W, 27-24
GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION
UTSA 7 p.m.
CHARLOTTE VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE · NOV. 19, 2016
7
8
GOLDRUSH · A NINER TIMES SPECIAL SECTION