MATT LACZKO | THE CHARLOTTE POST


The Charlotte 49ers delivered Tim Albin his first win as coach with a 42-35 decision against Monmouth.


Winning feels good — especially on your birthday.

For Charlotte 49ers (1-2) coach Tim Albin, that’s what happened in a 42-35 win against FCS opponent Monmouth on his 60th birthday.

“There was one point late in the fourth quarter where… some of the [players] were looking around and it was a tight game,” Albin said, “and I said, ‘Hey guys, this is the most exciting birthday I’ve ever had.’ It got a lot of laughs.” 

Charlotte quarterback Conner Harrell took another step in the progression Albin wanted him to take by setting the 49ers’ all-time passing completion percentage record with 86.7%. He threw for 382 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also carried the ball 13 times for 47 yards and two scores.

Harrell led the game-winning scoring drive in the fourth quarter with a 55-yard pass to E. Jai Mason followed by a 2-yard run. It was Harrell’s second game-winning drive, the other coming when he was at North Carolina in 2024 against Minnesota. 

Even after a performance like Saturday’s, Harrell was focused on getting better.

“I’m blessed for the win,” he said. “I am thankful for the win… but we have Rice on Thursday, and we had two or three turnovers there in the first half. It is going to be hard to win a lot of games doing that, so we are trying to figure out how I can be better for the next game.”

Albin said he feels like he keeps repeating himself when talking about Harrell, but he again showed grit.

“I believe it was the first drive of the third quarter,” Albin said. “[Harrell] was stinging a bit from that interception [late in the second quarter] but if my memory serves me correctly, that was the first drive of the third quarter that he finished the great [touchdown] run. I think he just said, ‘OK, I’m settled, it’s a game, now let’s just go execute the offense.’ And he did a pretty damn good job of it.”

Mason had 10 catches on 10 targets for 228 yards, which is third most all-time behind Austin Duke who has two games with more yards. Mason was also on the receiving end of two Harrell touchdown passes. 

“It did feel good to make the most of my opportunities,” Mason said. “I just know that our coaches preach to just make the play when your number is called. So, that is something that I wanted to keep doing is just make the play.”

Albin said after the loss to Appalachian State that he wanted more explosive plays from Charlotte’s receivers. Javen Nicholas responded with 122 yards against North Carolina and now Mason for better than 200. 

“I think probably the most important thing is hopefully we’ll get some favorable boxes,” Albin said. “Not that we just run the ball every time, but you know that eight hat is going to have to know where those guys are. I hope that we can use the production in those two receivers and really some of the tight ends. Gus [McGee] had a big catch down there going towards Tryon, and then Joey [Bearns III], that fourth down catch (in the fourth quarter). I think those things are going to loosen the box a little bit. It’s going to help in there and the offensive line in just getting some favorable number counts.”

Charlotte, which had a combined 97 rushing yards against Appalachian State and North Carolina, reeled off 181, led by sophomore Rod Gainey Jr., with a career high 74. His previous single-game best was 29 yards in 2024. 

“The running game is important,” Albin said. “The numbers [in the first two games] may be a little skewed because of the snap [issues]. … But, after the first game one of the biggest things we talked about was pad level. … The run game is important, and everyone knows why. We got better and we’re going to take the positives.”

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