Conner Harrell's four touchdowns give Charlotte its first win, 38-31 at Temple

Conner Harrell threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more as Charlotte earned its first win of the season, beating Temple 38-31 Saturday at Lincoln Financial Field. The 49ers scored 31 second-half points after trailing 14-7 at halftime.

Harrell completed 23 of 31 passes for 281 yards without an interception. His 10-yard touchdown run with 8:40 left broke a 28-28 tie, and Aiden Bui's 47-yard field goal with 1:48 remaining extended Charlotte's lead to 10.

Temple moved downfield for a 28-yard field goal from Carl Hardin with 48 seconds left. Charlotte took possession after the ensuing onside kick and knelt out the remaining time, ending its 0-6 start. Both teams left the game 1-2 in the American Conference; Temple fell to 2-5 overall.

Charlotte needed a sequence of answers to get there. Khamani Alexander's 1-yard touchdown run gave the visitors a 7-0 first-quarter lead, but Keveun Mason responded with a 21-yard scoring run. Ajani Sheppard's 7-yard touchdown put Temple ahead late in the second quarter.

Harrell brought Charlotte level after halftime with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Eley. He then scored on an 8-yard run to put the 49ers ahead 21-14. Temple needed less than a minute to answer: Sheppard broke a 44-yard touchdown run with 6:26 left in the third quarter.

The exchange continued into the fourth. Harrell hit Gus McGee for a 9-yard touchdown with 14:12 remaining, but Sheppard answered with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Peter Clarke to tie it again. Harrell's second rushing touchdown finally gave Charlotte a lead it kept.

Henry Rutledge helped the 49ers sustain their offense with 123 yards on 17 carries, including a 48-yard gain. Charlotte ran for 168 yards and finished with 449 total yards. Eley caught six passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, while Brody Dawyot added four catches for 60 yards.

Temple had slightly more total offense, finishing with 455 yards, and did not commit a turnover. Sheppard completed 15 of 23 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown while adding 70 rushing yards and two scores. Jaxon Smolik also completed two passes for 13 yards.

Clarke led Temple's receivers with five catches for 127 yards. Colin Chase caught six passes for 74 yards and added 41 rushing yards, helping the Owls keep matching Charlotte through three quarters.

The 49ers converted six of 10 third downs and held the ball for 32:49. Temple went 6 of 12 on third down but failed on both fourth-down attempts.