49ers and Aggies Battle Under the Lights This Saturday
10:17 PM Justin Jones
The Charlotte 49ers (0-2) are looking to bounce back from a tough two-game road trip to open the season with this Saturday's game against in-state opponent North Carolina A&T (2-0). Kickoff is set for 6:06 pm at Jerry Richardson Stadium. The Aggies, members of the MEAC and ranked 20th in the latest FCS Coaches Poll, have outscored opponents 101-3 through two games. Charlotte, meanwhile, has struggled to find offensive momentum and has only scored 14 points in their first two contests.
Jerry Richardson Stadium
For Charlotte to have success this week, coach Brad Lambert is going to have to call on redshirt junior quarterback (and NC A&T transfer) Hasaan Klugh (Central Cabarrus) to lead an offense that is hungry to improve on its 226.5 yards a game average. Joining Klugh in the backfield will be Robert Washington (East Gaston) and Benny Lemay (Butler), two backs that are poised for a breakthrough performance.
Looking to stop the Charlotte advance will be Aggie defenders Jeremy Taylor (Kinston) and Franklin McCain (Dudley) who are tied for the team lead with 15 tackles a piece. The Aggies as a team have recorded 18 tackles-for-loss so far and have only allowed an opponent to reach the red zone once in their first two games.
Offensively for North Carolina A&T, it all starts with a pair of former High Point Andrews stars in Lamar Raynard and Marquell Cartwright. Raynard has thrown for 583 yards and 8 scores through the first two games of the year. His favorite target so far has been sophomore Elijah Bell who has racked up 11 receptions and five touchdowns so far. Cartwright has handled the rock 37 times for 182 yards and two scores.
Trying to slow down the Aggies will be a 49er defense that is looking to find its way and will rely heavily on linebackers Karrington King (Charlotte Catholic) and Jeff Gemmell (Heritage). While Charlotte has not given up a passing touchdown this season, the 49ers are allowing 443 yards of offense a game so far.
This is the first matchup between the two teams and 49th game in the history of the Charlotte football program.
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