Charlotte football finishes 2024 season 5-7 with a win

CHARLOTTE ATHLETICS

O'Mega Blake scored on a 46-yard pass from DeShawn Purdie in the Charlotte 49ers' 29-27 win against Alabama-Birminghim in the season finale at Jerry Richardson Stadium. The win was Charlotte's second straight  to finish 5-7, 4-4 in the AAC.

The Charlotte 49ers closed the season with a win streak.

They dodged two potential game-winning field goals by Alabama-Birmingham to win 29-27 in the finale at Jerry Richardson Stadium. Charlotte’s two-game streak matched their best stretch of the season when they beat Rice and East Carolina on Sept. 28 and Oct 5.

After taking a two-possession lead in the fourth quarter, the 49ers appeared to be on cruise control. A quick strike by the Blazers changed things with just over two minutes to go.

After a defensive stop by got UAB within field goal range, 49ers’ interim coach Tim Brewster decided to ice Blazers kicker Jonah Delange. Turns out it was the right decision.

Delange missed wide left, but Charlotte was flagged for leverage, in which a defender leaps over the line to block a kick, so the Blazers got another attempt. Delange pulled the second attempt left and the 49ers rushed the field in celebration.

“I couldn’t believe it,” Brewster said. “He kicks the first one and he misses, I’m thinking it’s game over, we found a way. That is what we talked about all week was just find a way to win, whatever it takes. Then there is a penalty flag. I’m thinking, ‘You’re absolutely killing me here.’ Then he goes and misses the second one. We were able to get that timeout [before the first attempt] to get the kid iced, and I’ll be darned if he didn’t miss it. I ran the whole gamut of emotions.”

The 49ers finished the season 5-7 (4-4 AAC) and one win shy from bowl eligibility. Brewster feels the program is heading in the right direction and is a wonderful place to coach.

“I think in today’s time with the portal and the ability to recruit really good players, Charlotte is a really good job,” he said. “I think the future is extremely bright. I’ve said it all along from Day One that this is a gold mine, and I think the future is extremely exciting here. Mike [Hill] has done a really good job. I think there is a commitment to winning football here. And, with his commitment to winning football, I just really think great things are on the horizon.”

Two weeks ago, when Brewster was promoted to interim coach after Biff Poggi was fired, he expressed interest in the job on a full-time basis. That interest is still there.

“Mike will assess me,” Brewster said. “He will figure out whether or not he would like to move forward with me. I think Mike and Raegan [Hill] do a wonderful job here, and I think the future is extremely bright. I’d love to be a part of it, but again, I control the controllables. [Mike Hill] gave me the opportunity to be the interim head coach, and so I took that opportunity and I feel really good about what we accomplished in two weeks. I am a good football coach. I have been doing this a long time, and I am good at what I do. I have tremendous passion about what I do. I think that has a lot to do with it, is the passion that I have for my profession and pride, I asked the players to have tremendous pride in their performance. I ask the same of myself.”

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