Hardison, defense help UTEP beat Charlotte 41-35
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- — Gavin Hardison threw three touchdown passes, including two to Tyrin Smith, Tyrice Knight and Jadrian Taylor each returned a fumble for a score and UTEP beat Charlotte 41-35 Saturday night.
UTEP (3-3, 1-1 Conference USA) won in the Eastern time zone for the first time in program history (1-26-1).
Chris Reynolds threw a 23-yard touchdown pass to Grant DuBose that capped the game's opening drive and gave Charlotte (1-5, 0-2) a 7-0 lead with 9:48 left in the first quarter. UTEP answered with a 15-play, 75-yard drive that culminated when Smith caught his first TD, a 17-yarder, and Gavin Baechle kicked a 22-yard field goal to give the Miners the lead for good midway through the second quarter. Hardison hit Trent Thompson for a 26-yard score with 33 seconds left in the half and Knight's 13-yard fumble return for a touchdown 13 seconds later gave UTEP 24-7 lead at the break.
Reynolds threw third-quarter TD passes of 23 yards to Elijah Spencer and 2 yards to DuBose to pull the 49ers to 24-21 but Smith scored on a 58-yard catch-and-run and Baechle kicked a 23-yard field goal to make it a three-point game going into the fourth quarter.
Charlotte, on its next drive, had a first-and-goal from the 2 but, after an incomplete pass, ChaVon McEachern fumbled near the goal line and Taylor scooped and scored on a 100-yard return to make it 41-21 with 13:36 to play.
Reynolds completed 21 of 37 passes for 321 yards and four touchdowns with an interception for Charlotte.
------
Game Information
2024 Conference USA Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Jacksonville State | 6-0 | 7-3 |
Western Kentucky | 5-1 | 7-3 |
Sam Houston | 5-1 | 8-2 |
Liberty | 4-2 | 7-2 |
Louisiana Tech | 3-4 | 4-6 |
Florida International | 2-4 | 3-7 |
Middle Tennessee | 2-4 | 3-7 |
UTEP | 2-5 | 2-8 |
New Mexico State | 1-5 | 2-8 |
Kennesaw State | 1-5 | 1-9 |
2024 American Athletic Conference Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Army | 7-0 | 9-0 |
Tulane | 7-0 | 9-2 |
Navy | 5-2 | 7-3 |
Memphis | 5-2 | 9-2 |
East Carolina | 4-2 | 6-4 |
South Florida | 3-3 | 5-5 |
UTSA | 3-3 | 5-5 |
Charlotte | 2-4 | 3-7 |
North Texas | 2-4 | 5-5 |
Rice | 2-4 | 3-7 |
Temple | 2-4 | 3-7 |
UAB | 1-5 | 2-8 |
Tulsa | 1-5 | 3-7 |
Florida Atlantic | 0-6 | 2-8 |