Charlotte’s football bowl hopes are still alive and well
 

PHOTO | TROY HULL

The Charlotte 49ers (3-6, 2-3 American Athletic), coming off a 33-26 overtime win last week at Tulsa, set their sights on Memphis Saturday at Jerry Richardson Stadium.

Charlotte’s bowl eligibility hopes aren’t gone yet, and the 49ers feel they won’t be anytime soon.

The 49ers (3-6, 2-3 AAC) are coming off a 33-26 comeback win against Tulsa where they trailed 17-0. Through defensive heroics and excellent play from walk-on quarterback Trexler Ivey, the 49ers rallied.

Coach Biff Poggi – to his recollection – never won a game in his coaching career where his team was trailing by 17 points or more in the first quarter.

“I think it was an amazing display of toughness and grittiness,” he said. “They played for one another. (We were) playing shorthanded. Guys with injuries and the lads that were suspended. I think that these kids really came together.”

Despite his duty as a head coach to stay upbeat in times of turmoil, Poggi was honest. He wasn’t confident down 17-0.

“When it was 17-0, I went to the coaches and said, ‘Just keep positive with (the players),’” Poggi said. “Quite frankly, I thought we could have gotten boat raced the way we were playing and the way that thing went. But then, the guys just had that look in their eyes. And, when teams have that look, they don’t always win, but they aren’t going down easy.”

With Jalon Jones out with an injury, it was on Ivey’s shoulders to rally Charlotte although he was not 100%.

“Trexler Ivey was about 65%,” Poggi said. “He was really banged up. I didn’t think he was going to play. I didn’t think there was any way he was going to play. He just did a little more each day. He was just not right physically. I thought he had an unbelievably gutsy performance.”

With Tulsa in the rearview mirror, the 49ers turn their attention to AAC foe Memphis. The Tigers are fourth with a 7-2 overall and 4-1 in conference. Their lone conference loss was to Tulane, which is tied for first.

“Their head coach [Ryan Silverfield] and coach [Tim] Cramsey, their offensive coordinator, are really good football coaches,” 49ers defensive coordinator Ryan Osborn said. “They are a very balanced team and stay ahead of the sticks in most situations.”

Memphis, which is averaging close to 40 points per game, will be the 49ers toughest test in conference play and maybe overall this season. Players and coaches alike are excited for the challenge.

“They score points, stay ahead of the sticks and they are efficient,” Osborn said. “What they do is not complicated, but they just have a lot of good football players.”
Linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green echoed Osborn.

“They have good players,” Hill-Green said, “but, we have good players. They don’t do a lot, but they are good at what they do. They are efficient like (Osborn) said. I am excited for the challenge and the opportunity and, it is just another opponent. We have to play them, but they also have to play us.”

Hill-Green earned AAC defensive player of the week honors for his performance against Tulsa last week. The Michigan transfer has had the Memphis game circled for a while. A win against the Tigers would mean a lot.

“They have always had good players,” he said. “They have players that go on to play at the next level. It would mean everything for our program and for the players. I am just excited to get to work and put all the work in and just leave no doubt come Saturday.”

It is worth noting that the Tigers had a few players injured last week in their 59-50 win over South Florida. Both starting quarterback Seth Henigan and running back Blake Watson are listed as day-to-day. It won’t changing the 49ers preparation process.

“Tevin Carter (second string quarterback) went in there and threw an 80-yard touchdown pass, so it is next man up for them as well,” Osborn said. No. 5 (Sutton Smith) is just as good of a running back as No. 4 (Blake Watson) is. That running game is really propelled off of that offensive line.”

Hill-Green as one of the leaders of the defense is just making sure the team is prepared for whoever is out there. They have to beat who is out there and it doesn’t matter who it is.

“How I look at it is that no matter who is out there, there is still a game on Saturday,” Hill-Green said. “So, I am going to be prepared. The guys are going to be prepared and we are just going to work our butts off this week.”

The players that were suspended against Tulsa will be back this week.

“Our suspended players have been reinstated to participating members of the football team,” Poggi said.

Saturday’s game will be one of two home contests remaining for the 49ers, and like home date, Poggi wants fans to come out and support the team. Plus, he feels like they are getting good at the right time of the year.

“Every time we play at home, win or lose, we are their team,” Poggi said. “The kids give everything they have. Here’s the thing, we are getting good now. We are getting good. We fear no man and we fear no team, that’s for sure. Memphis is great. They are a really good football team, but we’re getting pretty good, too.”

Comments