Charlotte’s 49ers are always good for a wacky upset once per season, it seems. Last year, that win over a much better UAB squad. This win over a — let’s admit it — a very bad WKU squad — is not quite as big.
Western came in as -7.5 favorites and proceeded to … well, not show up.
The halftime score was only 9-6 in favor of the 49ers, which seemed more like a typical game involving Charlotte than anything. Then, well, Brad Lambert’s team just decided to run way with things.
Three third quarter TDs sealed things, including a 9-yard Benny LeMay run.
In fact, WKU did not score until the final minutes when Steven Duncan tossed a 7-yard consolation score to make things 40-14.
Mike Sanford had little goodwill left after last season and the beginning to this one. Close losses kept some of the pressure off of him as they could be attributed to youth just not quite figuring out how to win.
But a blowout loss to a very bad Charlotte team? That is awful.
WKU’s once-powerful offense barely reached 256 total yards in this one, and the Davis Shanley / Steven Duncan carousel produced a 27/39 214-yard 1 TD 2 INT statline.
The real problem — still — is the run game that managed only 42 yards rushing.
Meanwhile, Charlotte’s Benny LeMay had 121 on just 17 carries and two scores, looking like he could do no wrong against this Hilltopper defense.
At 2-1 in league play, Charlotte is not completely out of things just yet. The East is filled with better teams than WKU and Charlotte already beat the other bad one — ODU. Homecoming was a good time in Charlotte.
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