Charlotte 49ers’ season-long struggles continue in home loss to Florida International
Despite being 14-point favorites on homecoming, the Charlotte 49ers had a hard time getting anything going and, in what has become a pattern this season, fell way behind early and couldn’t catch up.
Florida International (3-4, 1-2 C-USA) took full advantage of five Charlotte turnovers and dominated throughout in a 34-15 win over the 49ers (1-7, 0-4 C-USA) at Richardson Stadium on Saturday.
If 49ers coach Will Healy’s seat was getting warm following the 1-6 start to the season, it must be on fire following a blowout loss against another team close to the statistical bottom of the Football Bowl Subdivision. The last time that Florida International won a road Conference USA game was against Charlotte, in 2018.
A strip sack on the game’s second play was the first domino in Charlotte’s downfall, and Panthers quarterback Grayson James wasted no time lighting up the scoreboard, bringing out the boo-birds from the 49ers faithful. James scored touchdowns on consecutive possessions, calling his own number from 12 and nine yards out to give the visitors an early advantage.
Tailback Flex Joseph continued the Panthers’ ground-game success, scoring multiple touchdowns on the ground for the first time in his career, first from 15 yards out and then from the 1. Florida International added to its lead again in the second half, despite Charlotte’s defense blocking a field goal and recording an interception.
James’ afternoon was done midway through the third quarter after he completed 25 of 33 attempts for 302 yards and three touchdowns.
Charlotte quarterback Chris Reynolds was under pressure all game, completing 23 of 38 passes for 244 yards and three interceptions. He added the 49ers’ first touchdown on a quarterback sneak from one yard out.
Florida International outgained Charlotte 449-337, capitalizing on five turnovers and scoring touchdowns on five of their seven red zone trips.
Here are two things we learned in Charlotte’s loss:
FIRST-HALF COLLAPSE
Charlotte was shut out in the first half for the first time since Dec. 6, 2020, against Western Kentucky. The 49ers’ first-half drives went as follows: fumble, punt, punt, fumble, interception, turnover on downs, interception.
“The goal was to start fast, and then we came out there and shot ourselves in the foot. That’s a momentum killer,” wideout Elijah Spencer said. “I think we pondered on that a little bit too much, rather than responding the way we should’ve and that put us behind the chains several times.”
Offensive coordinators script opening drives at nearly every level of football, but there was clear confusion on the game’s first snap, with Reynolds throwing a go-ball and Elijah Spencer running a comeback. That was just the beginning.
After a fumble on its first possession, Charlotte’s first punt of the day went for just eight yards. The Panthers capitalized when James found the end zone for his first score. The Panthers scored four rushing touchdowns in the opening 30 minutes.
Florida International recorded six tackles for loss, four interceptions and three sacks in the first half alone, and the Panthers’ front seven wreaked havoc in Charlotte’s backfield nearly every snap. Charlotte crossed midfield on just two drives, resulting in a turnover on downs and an interception on the Hail Mary prior to the half.
NOT BOWLING, AGAIN
The blowout loss emptied out Richardson Stadium, eliminating Healy’s club from bowl contention. Healy addressed the boos from the crowd following the game.
“I’m solely focused on how to find ways for these guys to have success and I feel like I let our fans down and disappointed our fans as much as anything,” Healy said. “My goal is that these guys will have success and walk around this campus with their chests out, and that our students feel really good about our football team and where we’re headed. I’m a really big believer in this journey is not over, and there are some really fun chapters that I hope we’ll get a chance to read.”
It’s just shy of three years since Charlotte beat Marshall to achieve bowl eligibility for the first time. Charlotte is now winless at Richardson Stadium in four tries this year and hasn’t won a home game in 350 days.
After posting the first winning record and bowl appearance in program history during Healy’s first season, Charlotte has failed to qualify for a bowl in three consecutive seasons, including losing 12 of their past 14 games by an average of 24 points.
Following a season-opening loss at Florida Atlantic, Healy’s message was: “This isn’t going to be the story of the 2022 season.”
Charlotte surrendered 43 points and 482 yards of total offense in that contest, nearly mirroring their season averages of 43.25 and 527 yards per game through eight contests.
With four games remaining (at Rice, Western Kentucky, at Middle Tennessee, and Louisiana Tech), the 49ers are now playing for pride. The 49ers will jump from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference in July 2023. Whether they will do so with Healy at the helm remains to be determined. Healy answered questions after Saturday’s game about whether he was still the right person to coach the 49ers.
“Yeah, I believe I’m the guy,” Healy said. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t feel that way. I’m confident in what we’ll do the rest of the season. I also understand this job is about results, and I haven’t been able to get the results, especially this year, that I would like to have for these guys, our fans and for my boss.
“I believe I was built for this, but the proof is in the pudding,” he continued. “It’s how we respond the rest of the way, and I owe it to these guys and who I am to just keep fighting. I’ve lost no confidence in our ability to build an unbelievable program here. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to produce the results, and I own that.”
This story was originally published October 22, 2022 at 7:19 PM.