CHARLOTTE — Charlotte and Charleston Southern each played their game. Charlotte used a quick-strike offense while Charleston Southern controlled the clock as the points piled up on the scoreboard. In the end, Christian Reyes’ 1-yard touchdown run in overtime lifted Charleston Southern to a 47-41 victory at Richardson Stadium.
It capped a back-and-forth display of differing offensive philosophies. The Buccaneers, ranked No. 25 by the FCS coaches, rolled up 617 yards and held the ball for 41 minutes, 52 seconds. The 49ers (3-2) finished with 573 yards on offense despite having the ball in their hands only 18:08. Charlotte had four touchdown drives that took five plays or less.
Even a 72-yard, eight-play drive in the third quarter lasted just 2:33. Quarterback Matt Johnson capped that possession with a 23-yard touchdown run that cut the 49ers’ deficit to 34-24 midway through the period.
Johnson and Austin Duke combined for a big day on offense. The pair connected 12 times for 251 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Duke’s performance set school records for number of receptions and receiving yardage in a single game. His 74-yard touchdown play in the first quarter, which tied the game at 7, is also a school record. It was his third straight game with more than 100 yards receiving.
Johnson was 16 of 27 for 305 yards with two scoring passes and two interceptions.
Running back Kalif Phillips also had a monster day for the 49ers. Phillips ran the ball 21 times for 196 yards and two touchdowns. His 77-yard touchdown run at the start of the second quarter doubled as the longest run and the longest scoring run in the program’s two-year history.
His second touchdown gave Charlotte a shot at victory. On second-and-9 from the Buccaneers’ 34, the sophomore took the ball to the house for the game-tying touchdown with 2:34 left in the game. The run to the end zone tied the game at 41 and eventually led to overtime.
In overtime, Charlotte’s Blake Brewer missed a 30-yard field goal. The Buccaneers (5-0) started their possession at the Charlotte 25, and they needed only three plays to put Reyes in the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.
Reyes had 159 yards rushing and three touchdowns.