Owls Stunned in 38-31 loss to Charlotte

It was a classic South Philly shootout that saw the Owls fall to 2-5 on the season as they handed Charlotte (1-6) their first win of the year, 38-31. Quarterback Conner Harrell led the way with 281 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and two rushing touchdowns.

Jaxon Smolik started the game at quarterback and quickly went three-and-out. The 49ers got the ball and raced down the field thanks to a pass to Tight End Brody Dawyot that went for 29 yards and got the 49ers down to the Owls’ one-yard line. One play later, they were able to punch it in, handing the ball off to Khamani Alexander to give themselves a 7-0 lead. 

With Smolik still in, the offense focused on the rushing attack. Keveun Mason would total 45 yards on the drive, topping it off with a 21-yard rushing touchdown to quickly tie the game back up at 7-7.

On the next possession for the 49ers, they would continue to move down the field and get within field goal range. The Owls’ defense this time bent but didn’t break and got a third-down stop, forcing a 45-yard field goal attempt that was missed, keeping the game tied. 

 The Owls’ defense forced a turnover on downs, quarterback Ajani Sheppard checked into the game and made a huge difference. On his first drive, he would throw for 73 yards and top the drive off with a seven-yard rushing touchdown to give the Owls a 14-7 lead. 

“Ajani really wasn’t full speed early in the week in fact, our trainers said, ‘you might only have him for [an] emergency only,’  Head Coach K.C. Keeler said, speaking on why Jaxon Smolik got the start today. “By the time it got to game time, he was ready to go, I mean, he is really tough.” 

On the ensuing 49ers drive, Safety Avery Powell forced a fumble, and linebacker Eric Stuart returned it to the one-yard line, setting the offense up in prime position to score. 

The Owls would hand the ball off for three straight plays to no avail, as the 49ers defense would not let up. On fourth down, the Owls switched their approach, opting to pass as Sheppard would have running back Hunter Smith wide open in the end zone. would miss the throw as he had defenders in his face, keeping the score at 14-7 going into halftime. 

Speaking on the sequence, Sheppard said, “That’s an Identity thing as an offense for us, like we have to get one yard, it does not matter what play is called, how it’s called, what you call, it does not really matter. We have to be able to get one yard.” 

The third quarter would see plenty of action, starting on the first drive. Charlotte would work their way down the field as Herrell found receiver Derrick Eley for a 29-yard touchdown to get the game back all even again at 14 apiece. 

The Owls would go three-and-out, giving the ball back to this dangerous 49ers offense.  Once again, the 49ers marched their way down the field thanks to a 32-yard reception from Eley. The drive would be topped off by an eight-yard rushing touchdown from Herrell. 

The Owls offense, however, would not go out without a fight. They only needed two plays to find paydirt thanks to a 31-yard reception from tight end Peter Clarke, and a 44-yard read option rushing touchdown from Sheppard to tie the game back up at 21.

A few drives later, the Owls’ defense would give up a 48-yard run thanks to 49ers running back Henry Rutledge. After a quarter switch and a few more plays, Herrell would find tight end Gus McGee for a nine-yard touchdown as these two teams would continue to go back and forth this time, the 49ers went on top 28-21.

Ajani Sheppard and the Temple offense were relentless, however, and would march down the field thanks to another chunk play to Clarke for 46 yards this time. Eventually found the end zone to tie the game at 28, breaking the Temple record for most receiving touchdowns by a tight end in their career, at 11. 

The 49ers offense, thanks to two costly post-snap penalties on the Owls’ defense they easily found the end zone, it was Herrell again this time, as he would run it in from 10 yards out, extending the 49ers’ lead back to seven, making the score 35-28.

After going three and out on the next drive and then letting up a critical field goal with 1:48 remaining in the game, the score was 38-28.

The Owls would get the ball and move quickly to get a field goal, cutting the lead back down to seven with 48 seconds remaining in the game, but would not recover the onside kick and would lose 38-31. 

“I have coached over 400 games as a head coach and that was the single most embarrassing game I have ever been involved with,” said Keeler. “I saw one side of my operation fight like hell every inch, every play, every second, and I saw the other side just undisciplined… There will be some changes made.”

The Owls will face East Carolina next Saturday, October 31st, in Greenville, North Carolina, at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, with the time currently to be determined.