Tayven Jackson throws five touchdowns as North Texas rolls Charlotte, 50-10

Tayven Jackson needed only three quarters to set another personal touchdown record. He threw five scoring passes Saturday as North Texas beat Charlotte 50-10 in Denton, turning an early exchange of points into a 40-point victory.

Jackson completed 24 of 31 passes for 349 yards without an interception. His five touchdown throws surpassed the four he delivered in North Texas's overtime victory at Tulsa on Oct. 1. The Mean Green improved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the American Conference, while Charlotte fell to 0-6 and 0-2.

Justin Stevenson caught nine passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. It was his second consecutive game with two scoring receptions, the Associated Press reported. Baron Tipton added three catches for 93 yards, including a 75-yard touchdown that helped North Texas pull away before halftime.

Charlotte initially kept the game within reach. After North Texas settled for a field goal on its first possession, an interception on Charlotte's third offensive play helped the Mean Green build a 10-point lead, according to the 49ers' official recap. Charlotte answered with a field goal and later struck immediately on a 75-yard touchdown pass from Conner Harrell to Derrick Eley.

That touchdown brought the 49ers within seven points. North Texas answered with its own one-play touchdown possession and continued scoring. Jackson threw four touchdown passes in the first half, and Jahiem White added a 61-yard touchdown run as the Mean Green built a 40-10 halftime lead.

White finished with 105 rushing yards on 12 carries. His long run gave North Texas another way to turn field position into points while Jackson repeatedly found receivers downfield. The Mean Green gained 580 yards, with 382 through the air and 198 on the ground, compared with Charlotte's 274 total yards.

Stevenson caught Jackson's fifth touchdown pass, a 34-yard throw in the third quarter, making it 47-10. Jackson did not play in the fourth quarter. North Texas added a field goal after that and kept Charlotte scoreless throughout the second half.

Harrell completed 15 of 22 passes for 218 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. Jaden Barnes matched his career high with nine catches and totaled 94 receiving yards. Eley finished with two receptions for 79 yards, almost all of it on the early touchdown that briefly kept Charlotte close.

The 49ers' second interception ended a promising possession before halftime and gave North Texas another opportunity to score. Charlotte managed only 56 rushing yards, limiting its ability to sustain drives once the deficit grew and forcing Harrell to carry more of the offense through the air.

North Texas next plays at Navy on Oct. 24. Charlotte visits Temple next Saturday, still seeking its first victory after the Mean Green's passing attack decided the game before the break.