PHILADELPHIA — Charlotte finally has a win. Quarterback Conner Harrell had a hand in four touchdowns Saturday as the 49ers outlasted Temple 38-31 at Lincoln Financial Field, ending a season-opening losing streak.
Harrell completed 23 of 31 throws for 281 yards. He found Derrick Eley for a 24-yard score and Gus McGee from 9 yards out, and he ran for touchdowns of 8 and 10 yards. His 10-yard run with 8:40 remaining broke a 28-28 tie for good.
Temple led 14-7 at the break after Ajani Sheppard scored from 7 yards, and the Owls tied it at 21 when Sheppard broke loose for a 44-yard touchdown run. Sheppard finished with 236 passing yards, 70 rushing yards and three total touchdowns.
Owls tight end Peter Clarke made history in the loss. His 4-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter, the 11th of his career, moved him past Randy Grossman, who played in the early 1970s, for the Temple record among tight ends. Clarke finished with five catches for 127 yards.
Aiden Bui’s 47-yard field goal, the longest of his career, put Charlotte up 38-28 with 1:48 left. Carl Hardin answered with a 28-yarder for Temple with 48 seconds to go, but Charlotte recovered the onside kick to run out the clock.
Charlotte, now 1-6 overall and 1-2 in the American Conference, hosts Tulane on Oct. 30. Temple, 2-5 and 1-2, has an open week before playing at East Carolina on Oct. 31.
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