Charlotte 49ers Shut Down Marshall, Becoming Bowl Eligible For First Time

UNC Charlotte's football team is bowl eligible for the first time in the seven-season history of the program.

The Charlotte 49ers beat the Marshall Thundering Herd 24-13 Saturday during a rainy game at Jerry Richardson Stadium.

The team said there were no post-game handshakes on the field because – as a tweeted video shows – cheering fans instead met the 49ers on the 50-yard line.

The 49ers (6-5 and 4-3 in Conference USA) have now won four straight conference games. The team has also scored six wins this season — a school record. 

"It was not the ideal setting," 49ers head coach Will Healy said in a school recap of the game, talking about the rain falling on the field. "But it was a special day. Our growth as a program is something these guys will always remember. I know I will."

The 49ers came from behind starting in the third quarter, reversing a 10-0 deficit. 

Victor Tucker scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

Tucker ran into the end zone from the 5 on a jet sweep to give Charlotte a 17-13 lead with 10:47 to play. Charlotte’s Nafees Lyon intercepted an Isaiah Green pass with about seven minutes left. Chris Reynolds then led the 49ers on an 11-play, 62-yard drive capped by his 25-yard touchdown pass to Tucker with 48 seconds remaining.

Tucker had five catches for 121 yards. Reynolds threw for 166 yards and two interceptions and added 145 yards on the ground, including a 15-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Benny LeMay added 100 yards rushing to surpass 3,000 in his career at Charlotte.

Saturday was also Senior Day, and the team recognized 21 seniors. 

“It’s really just special for this whole city, the team — these seniors," Reynolds said after the game. "I’ve never been involved with a team that supports each other as much as this one.”

Next up, the 49ers face off against Old Dominion in a Nov. 30 away game. It's the final game of the regular season.