The Charlotte 49ers are off to the program’s best start after a win at FIU
The Charlotte 49ers are off to their best start in program history after a 45-33 victory over Florida International on Friday night.
Will Healy and the 49ers brought Club Lit on the road for the first time this season, starting 2-0 in conference play on the arm of Chris Reynolds.
Reynolds continued his stellar play, completing 21-of-27 passes for 203 yards and four touchdowns. Over the past three games, he has completed 73% of his passes for 733 yards and 10 touchdowns.
The sixth time was the charm for the 49ers, breaking a winless streak of five consecutive games against the Panthers. The struggles continued for head coach Butch Davis’ team as Florida International hasn’t beaten an FBS program since its win over Miami on Nov. 23, 2019.
A late-game comeback attempt gave the Panthers life when Tyrese Chambers reeled in a 59-yard touchdown from Max Bortenschlager to cut it to a two-possession lead. The Panthers’ defense held and got the ball back for Bortenschlager, but a key fourth-down attempt saw Jon Alexander jump Bortenschlager’s pass and return the interception for a game-sealing touchdown.
The 49ers have jumped out to early leads in every game this season, scoring an opening-drive touchdown in five of their six games. Shadrick Byrd returned the opening kickoff across midfield and the 49ers’ offense capitalized when Calvin Camp found the end zone from 2 yards out, capping off the seven-play drive.
Entering the contest, Panthers wideout Tyrese Chambers was averaging a nation-best 27.7 yards per catch. Chambers’ first reception of the game showed exactly why when he reeled in a 68-yard pass from Bortenschlager on a trick play. With a goal-to-go situation, the Panthers’ red-zone struggles continued following a drop in the end zone and a failed fourth-down conversion on consecutive plays.
Two possessions later, Reynolds put on his best Johnny Manziel impression, spinning out of a sack and throwing a dart across his body to a wide-open Taylor Thompson in the back of the end zone.
Chambers’ performance felt like a video game. He recorded 201 yards and two scores on just three receptions. Bortenschlager completed 19-of-30 passes for 466 yards and four touchdowns, posting his first 400-yard game of the season.
Charlotte began to break away early in the third quarter when Reynolds found Victor Tucker for his second touchdown in as many games on a 22-yard strike. Tucker led the 49ers in receiving, catching all eight of his targets for 92 yards and a score
The Panthers responded immediately with a 50-yard pass from Bortenschlager to Kris Mitchell to cut the lead back to 11. Bortenschlager connected on four passes of 50 yards or more. The score brought life to the Panthers’ sideline, but it proved to be short-lived for Davis’ team as the defense failed to get a stop.
The tight end duo of Jake Clemons and Ryan Carriere caught their first career touchdowns in the win, with the latter reeling in a 4-yard pass from Reynolds to put the score out of reach.
The Panthers’ offense totaled 538 yards in the loss, outgaining Charlotte by 160 yards. Florida International lit up the scoreboard with blazing speed, with all four touchdown drives coming on drives of 2:30 or less.
First down
Tyrese Chambers only caught three passes on the night, but all three went for 50 yards or more. Chambers averaged 67 yards per reception, including a 75-yard bomb from Bortenschlager to keep the pressure on the 49ers late.
Offsides
“None of them come to mind. None of ‘em are good,” Tucker said about C-USA defensive backs at media day in July.
Panthers’ defensive back Rishard Dames responded saying, “We’re three-and-0 against them, so that’s the only number I’m worried about.”
Tucker, a Miami native, told The Observer in a text early in the week that his homecoming game would “be a show.” Tempers were flaring on both sides throughout, but Dames lost his cool in the third quarter throwing a punch at Tucker’s head, drawing a 15-yard penalty. Three plays later, Tucker caught his second touchdown of the season making it a three-score lead for the 49ers.
Touchdown
Coming into the night with the third-worst rushing defense in the nation allowing 255 yards per game, Charlotte held the Panthers to just 74 yards on the ground. Davonte Price did break his streak of sluggish games with an 89-yard performance.
ICYMI
The 49ers’ tackle duo of T.J. Moore and Jaxon Hughes were both inactive against Florida International. Arkansas transfer Chibuoze Nwana stepped in at right tackle and D’Mitri Emmanuel shifted from guard to left tackle, moving Panda Askew to left guard.
Key numbers
59: Yards per kick return for Shadrick Byrd. The Panthers avoided kicking to Byrd after two big returns in the first half.
125: Number in the nation in red-zone scoring percentage for the Panthers. It showed Friday night.
11: Consecutive games with a passing touchdown for Chris Reynolds.
This story was originally published October 8, 2021 at 11:08 PM.