Charlotte football falls at UNC: 3 takeaways from the 49ers’ loss to the Tar Heels

The Charlotte 49ers couldn’t upend the in-state power up the highway.

The North Carolina Tar Heels pounded the gas pedal in their 38-20 victory over Charlotte on Saturday. UNC controlled its home opener inside Kenan Stadium, jumping out to an early lead and limiting the 49ers’ chances to score throughout the afternoon.

But the worst news for Charlotte? An injury to quarterback Max Brown.

Brown, the redshirt sophomore who started in the SEC last season, sustained a “fairly serious” right thumb injury during the first half of Saturday’s game. Head coach Biff Poggi announced postgame that Brown won’t play in the Niners’ (0-2) next game against Gardner-Webb.

True freshman DeShawn Purdie took the reins for Charlotte in the first action of his collegiate career after Brown had his thumb taped up on the sideline. Purdie finished with a pair of touchdowns, completing 9 of 19 passes for 134 yards.

UNC (2-0) running back Omarion Hampton, recipient of The Charlotte Observer’s statewide “Mr. Football” honor in 2021, had a big game, rushing for 77 yards. He, too, sustained an apparent injury, but returned in the second half.

Charlotte entered Saturday coming off what Poggi considered its best practice all year on Tuesday. Particularly upbeat as they remain resolute on their goals, players had “put on blinders and earmuffs” as outside noise could have built around the program following last weekend’s loss to James Madison, and intense practices led into Saturday’s showdown in Chapel Hill.

“He definitely won’t play next week,” Poggi said of Brown. “Our doctors are great. They’ll find out what exactly it is, does he need surgery, what’s the recovery like, all that stuff.”

Here are three takeaways from the 49ers’ game at UNC:

Charlotte got its first look at QB DeShawn Purdie

Purdie took over for Brown late in the first half, and it didn’t take long for Charlotte’s offense to find the end zone.

The 18-year-old quarterback connected with tight end Bryce Kennon, a Waxhaw native who was an all-conference player at Marvin Ridge, for a touchdown less than four minutes into the second half. Purdie completed four of his first seven passes, with that score capping an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive that brought the Niners within single digits.

Purdie, a 6-foot-4 Baltimore native, finished with two touchdowns in his collegiate debut. He also found ways to use his legs and run the ball, including a 15-yard rush.

“His arm is crazy,” wide receiver Jairus Mack said. “He can throw to anybody. Coming in as a freshman and scoring two touchdowns in his first game, it’s amazing, and I’m so proud of him.”

Max Brown connected with Jairus Mack

Before he got hurt, Charlotte’s new quarterback finally linked up with his go-to target.

Mack, who didn’t touch the ball in the team’s loss last weekend, snagged a 37-yard reception on fourth-and-5 early in the game. Charlotte had previously elected to punt on a fourth-and-short near midfield, and this big play to Mack helped set up the first of two early field goals from sophomore kicker Kyle Cunanan that got the Niners on the board.

Mack hauled in a 40-yard catch — Charlotte’s longest play of the game at that point — from Brown during the second quarter. Following a UNC score, Mack broke away and got himself open downfield.

Mack finished with five receptions for 118 yards, the most of any receiver from either side.

Charlotte’s defense didn’t let UNC blow it out

Dre Butler, a graduate student who transferred from Michigan State, sacked UNC quarterback Conner Harrell and forced him to fumble on an early third down.

The Niners’ defensive lineman totaled 2.5 tackles for loss on Saturday, which led the Charlotte defensive corps, along with five solo tackles from defensive tackle Charlie Jackson.

Leading 21-6 late in the second quarter, UNC was looking to keep marching and put the game out of reach. The Niners’ defense swarmed Harrell as he scrambled on a third-down play near midfield — redshirt senior cornerback Trevon Booker delivered a big hit on the Tar Heels’ signal caller and forced a punt back to Charlotte.

While UNC was in front for the entire game, different players on Charlotte’s defensive front ensured the team played another four-quarter game.

“Coach (Osborn) always talks to us about, ‘Next man up,’ and, ‘Next man be ready,’” defensive back Maguire Neal, who recorded an interception on Saturday, said of the defensive coordinator. “At practice, two and threes (on the depth chart) get some reps. We should be good. We should be ready.”