won its conference opener in dramatic fashion. The 49ers rallied late to post a to kick off American Athletic Conference play against Rice University on Saturday night in Houston after being shut out for the entirety of the first half. Quarterback , the 18-year-old true freshman from Baltimore, entered behind center for Charlotte to start the second half.
He led a couple of quick scoring drives on touchdown receptions by , and another long gain to the South Carolina transfer set up a touchdown rush that gave the 49ers the lead for good during the game’s final minutes. Rice had one last shot at scoring on its final possession — and ended Saturday evening’s contest with a missed 40-yard field goal attempt. Charlotte (2-3, 1-0 American) returns home next week to host East Carolina in its second AAC game, scheduled for 3:30 p.
m. Saturday inside Jerry Richardson Stadium. Purdie entered in the second half and excelled Purdie completed five of his first seven passes, including a pair of quick third-quarter touchdowns, and put Charlotte back on top.
had started at quarterback for the second straight game. Ivey, the redshirt junior who , completed 8 of 21 passes for 51 yards before being replaced by Purdie at the start of the second half. Purdie led a five-play touchdown drive on the Niners’ first possession of the third quarter, capped by a 32-yard strike to Blake, before that duo connected again shortly thereafter.
He connected with Blake again on a 66-yard bomb with under t.
