CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Signal-caller Drew Mestemaker, a first-year player who was not on scholarship, achieved a new school record by throwing for 608 yards with four touchdowns as North Texas overwhelmed Charlotte by a score of 54-20 on Friday evening, powered by a surge of 37 successive points.
Mestemaker connected on 37 of his 49 attempts, facing one interception, as he surpassed the previous record.
Mestemaker orchestrated an 80-yard march in only three passing plays, highlighted by a 41-yard touchdown pass to Cameron Dorner, which positioned North Texas (7-1, 3-1 American Conference) with a 7-0 lead right from the opening drive.
Charlotte (1-7, 0-5) responded when Liam Boyd converted a 24-yard field goal, and subsequently, Grayson Loftis launched a 33-yard touchdown pass to Javen Nicholas, pushing them into a 10-7 advantage heading into the second quarter.
Loftis and Nicholas partnered once more for a 64-yard touchdown in a swift one-play series, boosting Charlotte’s lead to 17-7.
Kali Nguma then added a 29-yard field goal, followed by Mestemaker’s connection with Caleb Hawkins for a 6-yard touchdown, leveling the score at 17-all by halftime.
At the commencement of the third quarter, Charlotte’s drive faltered at North Texas’s 3-yard line, leading to Boyd’s field goal and a 20-17 lead. However, the Mean Green then seized control.
Mestemaker passed to Tre Williams III, resulting in a 30-yard gain to the Charlotte 1, and Kiefer Sibley subsequently rushed for a touchdown on the following play, putting North Texas in the lead. Nguma extended the advantage with a 41-yard field goal, securing a 27-20 lead after three quarters.
Mestemaker connected with Hawkins for a 7-yard touchdown, and Wyatt Young transformed a short pass into a 70-yard touchdown, establishing a 20-point lead after the 2-point conversion attempt failed. Sibley then contributed a 45-yard touchdown run, and Ashton Gray capped off the dominant performance with a 32-yard touchdown run.
Young recorded nine receptions for a total of 190 yards. Dorner secured seven passes for 117 yards, while Landon Sides grabbed five for 114 yards.
Loftis accumulated 295 yards by completing 20 of 36 passes for the 49ers. Nicholas had seven receptions for 187 yards.
