Author : Boaz Roebuck
We were in Atlanta on Saturday at 7:00pm EST, the Charlotte 49ers invaded the Georgia State Panthers home turf, and escaped with a hard fought victory. The final from Center Parc Stadium was 42-41; an absolutely crushing defeat for the home Panther squad. This match was filled with very rich offense, as it is extremely difficult to score 83 combined points without that playing a factor. Going into this game both teams were without a win, and hungry for a victory.
Georgia State started the action off early with a three and a half minute, 73 yard drive ending it off with a 9 yard receiving touchdown for Kris Bryd. But, the 49ers fired right back and drove the ball 75 yards downfield, in just over three and a half minutes. Darren Grangier answered by taking the top off and throwing a 34 yard touchdown to Robert Lewis, and with the extra point made by Michael Hayes, they put the Panthers back up with a score of 14-7. On Georgia State’s next offensive possession, Darren Grainger stepped back to pass, but was met in the backfield by Prince Bemah, who forced a fumble that was recovered by Markees Watts, which he then returned for a 48 yard touchdown. The 49ers defense forced the second stop of the game; they set their offense up on the Georgia State 43, in scoring position. Charlotte got busy, scoring in under two minutes. Chris Reynolds capped off the drive with a two yard passing touchdown to wide-receiver Vic Tucker.
After a 4 play drive, Tucker Gregg ran it in from the two, to cut the 49er lead to just one, with a score of 21-20. Chris Reynolds and the 49er offense then marches 75 yards down field and scores, putting them up by 8. The next possession, Darren Grainger leads the Panther offense on a very methodical 12 play drive, ending it with a 6 yard touchdown pass to, once again, Kris Byrd. Chris Reynolds then connects with senior tailback Henry Rutledge at the start of the fourth quarter, for a 31 yard touchdown making the score, 35-27 Charlotte. With exactly eleven minutes left in the fourth, Tucker Gregg got in the endzone for the Panthers, and with a no good two-point conversion try, Georgia State was still down 2. After some great defensive play from both teams, the Panthers drove 59 yards in just under 3 minutes, and finished the drive with a Jamari Thrash receiving touchdown.
The Panthers only left 1:39 on the clock for the Charlotte offense, but that was all they needed. After a textbook 2 minute drill drive, Chris Reynolds throws the game winning touchdown to Grant DuBose. Leaving only 17 seconds on the clock, the Charlotte 49ers beat the Georgia State Panthers.
This absolute gunfight was exciting and quite unpredictable. Quarterback play was immaculate behind center on Saturday night. Georgia State’s Darren Grainger threw for 343 and 4 touchdowns, on 64.7 percent, and Charlotte’s Chris Reynolds threw for 401 yards and 5 touchdowns, while completing 72.1 percent of his passes. Overall, this Conference USA, Sunbelt bout overwhelmed expectations, as the 49ers got the job done in the A.