CHARLOTTE — Charlotte football’s first American Conference game of the Tim Albin era ended in disappointment Thursday night with a 28-17 home loss to Rice at Jerry Richardson Stadium.
The 49ers (1-3, 0-1 AC) held a 9-7 edge late in the second quarter, but the Owls (3-1, 1-0 AC) scored three unanswered touchdowns to take control as Charlotte’s offense sputtered to a halt in the third quarter.
While the Niners posted a late score and briefly threatened a comeback effort, the damage had already been done in a 19-point hole.
“In the second half, we just got our butts whipped,” Albin said after the game. “It falls on my shoulders. And I’m not going to sit here and say injuries. We got them, but I just told the team that it’s part of the game and we’re going to have a next-man-up mentality. That’s all I know to do.”
Charlotte’s redshirt junior quarterback Conner Harrell, a North Carolina transfer, entered the game after a record-setting performance in last weekend’s win over Monmouth; he helped engineer an opening drive capped by Liam Boyd’s 29-yard field goal that put Charlotte up 3-0 with 8:51 left in the first quarter.
Boyd was three for four on field goals in the game.
The Owls answered minutes later when quarterback Chase Jenkins connected with Drayden Dickmann on a nine-yard touchdown pass at the 4:25 mark.
Harrell exited in the second quarter with a lower-body injury after converting a third-and-18 run, leading to the entry of redshirt sophomore quarterback and Duke transfer Grayson Loftis for the remainder of the game.
Albin was asked about the severity of his starting quarterback’s injury.
“It’s a lower leg injury,” the first-year Charlotte coach said. “I’m sure we’ll get an MRI and go from there. It’s unfortunate. It was a really good play call by (offensive coordinator) Todd (Fitch) on a long third down, and he (Harrell) ran into the equipment table on the sideline.”
The momentum swung just before halftime when Jenkins broke loose for a 34-yard touchdown run with 1:17 left, giving Rice a 14-9 advantage at the break.
Charlotte had one last chance before halftime but Boyd missed from 42 yards as time expired.
Rice extended its lead early in the third quarter when Daelen Alexander capped a drive with a 13-yard rushing touchdown. The sophomore later added a one-yard plunge in the fourth, putting the Owls ahead 28-9 with 10:31 remaining.
Charlotte pulled closer on its next possession as Loftis found Javen Nicholas for a 31-yard touchdown with 7:27 left. The 49ers converted a two-point try to cut the deficit to 28-17, but that was as close as they would get.
Loftis finished 15 of 31 for 186 yards and a touchdown, with Nicholas catching five passes for a team-high 93 yards. Harrell went eight of 13 for 73 yards before his injury.
Running back Rod Gainey Jr. broke free for a 37-yard gain — Charlotte’s longest rush from scrimmage — and finished with 51 rushing yards on eight carries.
Rice controlled the ground game, outgaining Charlotte 255-75 behind a balanced attack.
Jenkins rushed for 77 yards to go with 87 passing yards and one score through the air. Running backs Quinton Jackson (80 yards) and Alexander (73 yards, two touchdowns) helped the Owls finish with three players topping 70 rushing yards.
Despite the disparity on the ground, Charlotte held a 259-98 passing edge, finishing with a narrow 334-353 deficit in total yardage.
Albin, who is in his first season leading the Niners’ program, saw his team settle for field goals on multiple first-half drives rather than risk fourth-down conversions — a conservative approach that kept the 49ers from building on their early chances.
“I tip my hat to (Rice coach) Scott (Abell) and the Rice Owls,” Albin said. “They got after us in the second half, plain and simple, with a good game plan…We know we need touchdowns.”
Charlotte will be off next weekend before traveling to Tampa, Florida, for an Oct. 3 matchup at South Florida (2-1).
