Why Charlotte 49ers have more than Marshall on their minds

It’s November and forgive Charlotte 49ers football coach Brad Lambert if he’s thinking about playing in December.

Lambert’s 49ers (4-5, 3-2 Conference USA) are two victories away from becoming bowl eligible for the first time in program history. They’re also in the mix in C-USA’s East Division, tied for third with Marshall (5-3, 3-2), which happens to be their opponent on Saturday at Edwards Stadium in Huntington, W.Va. C-USA’s divisional winners will play for the league championship Dec. 1.

“You play for postseason play and that’s what we’re playing for,” Lambert said Tuesday. “Our challenge last February to the guys was to make November mean something. That’s why we come to work every day and the guys have done a good job to this point.”

Contemplating the postseason is a rarity for the 49ers, who are coming off a 1-11 season. In 2016, Charlotte flirted with the idea of bowl eligibility, but lost its final three games to finish 4-8.

“In ‘16, we had an opportunity down the stretch, but we didn’t capitalize; last year we took a step back,” Lambert said. “Each year it’s a different football team. In January 2019 it will be a different team. But we prepare each year to be in postseason play.This is where we want to be.”

The 49ers are coming off a 14-3 loss last Saturday at Tennessee. Charlotte held the Vols to 20 yards rushing and averages 82.0 yards per game in rushing defense (sixth nationally). The 49ers have held four of their last five opponents to season lows in total offense and six of their nine opponents this season to season lows in rushing.

The 49ers are winless on the road this season and have a home game against second-place Florida International on Nov. 17 and finish the regular season Nov. 24 against defending league champion Florida Atlantic.

But as strong as the 49ers played the heavily favored Volunteers, it wasn’t enough. But something good came from it.

“It was just a big confidence thing,” said junior quarterback Evan Shirreffs. “We got a couple of wins early in the season, and then we had a week like last week, when we played a big SEC team. We were competing with them. You gain confidence, even though we fell short, which hurts.

“But some of the stuff that you learned from that, you take to the rest of the season. You know now that you can compete with a lot of teams in the country.”

Highsmith’s honor

49ers defensive end Alex Highsmith was named C-USA’s defensive player of the week after he had 4.0 tackles for a loss and 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble against Tennessee. Highsmith has 12.5 tackles-for-loss, fourth in the conference.

A special rivalry

The Charlotte-Marshall game is always special for several reasons. Lambert and offensive line coach Chris Scelfo are former Herd assistants. Offensive line coach Greg Adkins left Charlotte for Marshall in the offseason. Lambert’s wife Angie is a Marshall alumnus.

The fathers of three 49ers players played at Marshall while Lambert was there. Freshman running back Caleb Parker’s dad Chris Parker is Marshall’s all-time leading rusher. Linebacker Cody Bartrum’s dad Michael was a tight end for the Thundering Herd. Freshman quarterback Dylan Ratliff’s dad, the late Phil Ratliff, was an all-American offensive lineman at Marshall.

Phil Ratliff was Marshall’s tight ends coach before coming to Charlotte to be on Lambert’s original staff as offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator before his death in 2015.

“It’s an emotional day for us to go back and play there,” Lambert said.

Injury update

Lambert said he expects leading receiver Victor Tucker to play against Marshall. Tucker, a redshirt freshman who has 46 catches for 566 yards and two touchdowns, missed the Tennessee game with a hamstring injury.

The defensive line’s depth will improve with the return of Tommy Doctor and Nick Martin. Doctor was hurt during spring practice and Martin has missed six games with a knee injury. Lambert also said he hopes defensive back Denzel Irvin, who has missed the last two games with an ankle injury, will be back.

Shirreffs wore a brace on his left knee against Tennessee as a precaution against a minor injury he suffered against Middle Tennessee.

Scouting the Herd

▪ This game will be decided at the line of scrimmage. Both teams feature strong running games (Charlotte averages 137.4 yards per game; Marshall 152.4). Charlotte leads C-USA in rushing defense and Marshall is second (103.5). The Herd is one of three teams (along with N.C. State and Missouri) not to allow a rushing play of more than 30 yards this season.

▪ Marshall’s Tyler King has rushed for 655 yards and four touchdowns. Marshall’s Tyre Brady is one of the league’s more dangerous receivers, with 47 catches for 588 yards and six touchdowns.

▪ The 49ers might want to keep Marshall off the scoreboard first. The Herd has won 15 consecutive games when scoring first.

This story was originally published November 6, 2018 at 6:23 PM with the headline "Why Charlotte 49ers have more than Marshall on their minds."