Red-shirt freshman Matt Johnson threw for five touchdowns and the 49ers defense established the tone early to create five turnovers as Charlotte routed Chowan 47-7 in the second game of the 49ers inaugural season in front of a standing room only crowd of 16,598.
"I told the players that for me, watching them prepare on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday was really a lot of fun," said 49ers head coach Brad Lambert. "They were really handling their business and I expected them to play well, and they did."
Johnson hit slot receiver Austin Duke with a 10-yard touchdown pass to cap a nine-play, 75-yard opening drive and give the 49ers a 7-0 lead at 12:20. Three of the next four touchdowns would come after Chowan turnovers.
Seven minutes after the opening score, red-shirt freshman linebacker Terry Caldwell took down Hawks running back Antjuan Randall in the end zone for the 49ers first-ever safety and a 9-0 lead. On the ensuing drive, the 49ers (2-0) drove 49 yards on seven plays to set up a Blake Brewer field goal.
On the first play of Chowan's next drive, linebacker Micah Bryan picked off Cameron Stover's pass in Hawks territory.
Johnson's quick strike to Kalif Phillips sprung the true freshman running back for a 40-yard touchdown to extend the first quarter lead to 19-0.
"Our focus was to come and have a lot of energy to play well this week," said Bryan, who finished with six tackles, an interception, forced fumble and a sack. "After Campbell, we wanted to set the tone."
It was the second straight game that Charlotte took a sizeable lead in the first quarter. The 49ers led 22-0 against Campbell after the first frame. The 49ers scored a touchdown on their first possession of each game and the defense put up first quarter points in both games.
Chowan (0-1), playing its season opener, got on the board in the second quarter, when Stover connected with Randall for a 35-yard touchdown pass to make it a 19-7 game, but 49ers red-shirt senior Mikel Hunter returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards to push the 49ers back ahead 26-7.
Freshman Trent Bostick pulled in a nice one-handed grab over the middle and sprinted 30 yards for a third quarter score and after a Mark Hogan interception Duke added his second TD on a seven-yard pass to make it 40-7 heading into the fourth quarter.
Johnson connected with Corey Nesmith Jr. on a 10-yard pass for his fifth passing TD of the game before giving way to Lee McNeill and Patrick O'Brien.
Charlotte completes its season-opening three-game home stand next Saturday against N.C. Central University.