Yahoo Sports Charlotte football dominates ECU: 3 takeaways from 49ers’ win over in-state rival Pirates
It came easily for Charlotte football against its new in-state rival.
Fans clad in green found themselves in the midst of a heightened amount of purple as they roamed their campus in University City on a scorching October afternoon. The 49ers’ 55-24 drubbing of East Carolina on Saturday came in their second all-time meeting with the Pirates, with whom they now share a rivalry in the American Athletic Conference.
Charlotte poured in a program record-tying six rushing touchdowns before a packed crowd of 17,102 — the fourth largest in school history — in its dominant conference victory at Jerry Richardson Stadium.
The 49ers (3-3, 2-0 American) will wait nearly four weeks until their next home game — scheduled for Oct. 31 against Tulane and set to be nationally televised on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. Their bye week is up next, followed by a trip to Navy on Oct. 19.
Here are three takeaways from the Charlotte 49ers’ win over ECU:
Deshawn Purdie led Charlotte’s early offensive surge
True freshman quarterback Deshawn Purdie made his second career start.
Max Brown was a game-time decision for Charlotte. The starter, who joined the Niners after starting for the Florida Gators, had missed the past three games after injuring his throwing thumb.
Brown, who had practiced all week, ended up wearing shorts beneath his jersey on the sideline during Saturday’s game.
But Purdie was in rhythm early.
The Niners’ 18-year-old signal caller finished the day with 13 of 22 completions for 206 yards.
Cartevious Norton keys strong running backs’ performance again
Charlotte’s rushing game was pivotal to its offensive success Saturday.
On its opening drive, Cartevious Norton ran for an 11-yard touchdown after the Niners had marched right downfield. The early scoring drive included an impressive 27-yard grab from O’Mega Blake, a week following the career-best performance from the South Carolina transfer.
Hahsaun Wilson, the team’s leading rusher with 164 yards Saturday, scored a pair of touchdowns for Charlotte, including a 23-yard carry into the end zone during the second half.
Norton had the biggest play of the day, breaking away for a 62-yard scoring dash through ECU’s defense. That touchdown allowed Charlotte to open a 31-10 advantage in the first half.
Charlotte knocked ECU’s starters out early
East Carolina starting quarterback Jake Garcia had been benched by the end of the first half.
Katin Hauser, a sophomore who transferred to ECU from Michigan State, entered behind center for the Pirates late in the second quarter. He finished with 84 passing yards on 11 of 28 completions.
Garcia, who previously played at Miami (Fla.) and Missouri, had completed his first six of eight passes for 111 yards, along with an interception.
East Carolina’s offense struggled to move with much consistency.
London Montgomery, a running back who redshirted at Penn State a season ago, took a pitch from Hauser for a 48-yard touchdown rush early in the third quarter. The 14-point deficit the Pirates faced then was as close as it would come.
