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University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
0-3
Charlotte
2-1
UMass Football Falls On The Road At Charlotte
September 14, 2019 | Football
Lebeau records career-high eight tackles, Johnson scores first collegiate touchdown
Junior Andrew Brito started at quarterback and finished 18-of-27 for 127 yards passing with one touchdown and one interception. His most frequent target was Johnson, who ended with five catches for 38 yards and one touchdown.
Redshirt junior Bilal Ally and junior Cam Roberson split time at running back, amassing 132 rushing yards on 24 carries in the game, an average of 5.5 per carry.
In addition to his eight tackles, Lebeau posted his first collegiate sack in the game when he dropped 49ers reserve quarterback Brett Kean for a five-yard loss in the second quarter. Junior linebacker Cole McCubrey also made eight stops.
On special teams, Rodgers made an impact on kick and punt return.
Rodgers became only the 18th player in program history and the first of the team's FBS era (2012-present) with a punt return touchdown when he brought back a fourth quarter punt 42 yards for a score. It came on only his 13th-ever punt return.
Prior to his touchdown, Rodgers moved into third all-time at UMass in kick return yardage when he broke through the middle of the Charlotte kick coverage unit for a 51-yard gain during the third quarter. He ended the game with 53 returns for 1,237 yards and trails only Courtney Robinson (1,388; 2006-08) and Tim Berra (1,295; 1971-73) in the category.
Charlotte scored on its opening four drives of the game and built a 28-0 lead as a result. It included two Chris Reynolds touchdown passes, an Ishod Finger one-yard TD run and a Henry Segura interception returned for points.
The Minutemen cut into the deficit with back-to-back scoring series. Redshirt senior kicker Cooper Garcia converted a 26-yard field goal with 10 minutes, 36 seconds remaining in the second quarter – his 10th career field goal.
On the next drive, the Minutemen covered a season-long 88 yards over 16 plays for a touchdown. Brito and Johnson extended the series with a 23-yard pass-and-catch on 4th-and-13 at the Charlotte 37 yard line before Brito again connected with Johnson from three yards away for Johnson's first collegiate TD.
The 49ers took a 31-10 lead into the break after Johnathan Cruz pushed a 53-yard field goal attempt through the uprights as time expired on the quarter.
Charlotte put up two more scores in the third before Rodgers' special teams touchdown in the fourth made it 45-17. The 49ers added a fourth quarter score of their own to reach the final tally.
Benny Lemay ran for 113 yards on 16 carries for Charlotte. Chris Reynolds finished 10-of-12 for 155 yards and two touchdowns. Marquavis Gibbs had a game-high nine tackles for the home squad.
The Minutemen return home for their next game, a Sat., Sept. 21 meeting with Coastal Carolina (2-1) at McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. Ticket information is available through 866-UMASS-TIX.
Follow Massachusetts football on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook (@UMassFootball).
Team Stats
UMASS 0, CLT 7
CLT - DOLLAR, Cameron 46 yd pass from REYNOLDS, Chris (CRUZ, Jonathan kick) 3 plays, 60 yards, TOP 1:38
UMASS 0, CLT 14
CLT - FINGER, Ishod 1 yd run (CRUZ, Jonathan kick), 14 plays, 84 yards, TOP 7:04
UMASS 0, CLT 21
CLT - SEGURA, Henry 49 yd interception (CRUZ, Jonathan kick)
UMASS 0, CLT 28
CLT - RINGWOOD, Tyler 5 yd pass from REYNOLDS, Chris (CRUZ, Jonathan kick) 5 plays, 56 yards, TOP 2:43
UMASS 3, CLT 28
UMASS - GARCIA, Cooper 26 yd field goal 10 plays, 66 yards, TOP 3:21
UMASS 10, CLT 28
UMASS - JOHNSON, Je. 3 yd pass from BRITO, Andrew (GARCIA, Cooper kick) 16 plays, 88 yards, TOP 5:56
UMASS 10, CLT 31
CLT - CRUZ, Jonathan 53 yd field goal 2 plays, 26 yards, TOP 0:17
UMASS 10, CLT 38
CLT - FINGER, Ishod 3 yd run (CRUZ, Jonathan kick), 7 plays, 69 yards, TOP 3:02
UMASS 10, CLT 45
CLT - RINGWOOD, Tyler 41 yd pass from KEAN, Brett (CRUZ, Jonathan kick) 4 plays, 69 yards, TOP 1:35
UMASS 17, CLT 45
UMASS - RODGERS, Isaiah 42 yd punt return (GARCIA, Cooper kick)
UMASS 17, CLT 52
CLT - MCALLISTER, A. 69 yd run (CRUZ, Jonathan kick), 1 plays, 69 yards, TOP 0:19
