Associated Press

HOUSTON (AP) — Hahsaun Wilson scored on a 1-yard run with 47 seconds left to give Charlotte a 21-20 victory over Rice in the 49ers American Athletic Conference opener on Saturday.

Deshawn Purdie threw two long touchdown passes to O’Mega Blake in the third quarter to give Charlotte a 14-10 lead after three quarters, but the Owls answered with a 41-yard touchdown pass from EJ Warner to Elijah Mojarro and that Enock Gota’s 25-yard field goal with 6:42 left to take a 20-14 lead.

Purdie connected with Blake on a 66-yard pass on the first play of Charlotte’s game-winning drive for a first down at the Rice 11, then Purdie found Colin Weber for 5 yards. But Purdie threw incomplete on second and third downs and the Owls were cited for pass interference on fourth down to gain new life with a minute left. Terron Kellman gained a yard, Wilson got the final yard to tie the game, and Stephan Rusnak hit the extra point to take the lead.

Warner drove Rice 53 yards in the final minute, aided by an illegal block in the back penalty against Charlotte, for a first down at the Rice 47. Warner connected with Matt Sykes for 25 yards, then fought his way 6 yards to the Charlotte 22 to Gotta set up a 40-yard field goal attempt, but it missed as time expired.

Purdie was 10 of 15 passing for 183 yards and hit Blake five times for 153 yards, including touchdowns from 32 and 45 yards out, to give Charlotte (2-3) the lead.

Warner was 21 of 39 passing for 254 yards and two touchdowns to lead Rice (1-4, 0-2). Dean Connors carried 14 balls for 121 yards, Sykes caught eight passes for 97 yards and Mojarro hauled in four passes for 73 yards.

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