College football roundup: Pair of former East Lincoln stars shine, Charlotte 49ers finally have home opener, Gardner-Webb holds scrimmage

By Richard Walker

Saturday was a big day in college football for a pair of former East Lincoln stars, the Charlotte 49ers had their long-anticipated home opener and Gardner-Webb University held an intrasquad scrimmage as it continues to hope to play some game this fall.

Here’s a look at how it all transpired:

North Carolina 48, N.C. State 21: Former East Lincoln star Chazz Surratt continues to show why NFL scouts are enamored with his linebacking skills as he was a disruptive force for the Tar Heels (4-1, 4-1) in their home win over rival N.C. State (3-2, 3-2).

Surratt, a 2016 East Lincoln High who was a star for the school’s football and basketball teams, had eight tackles, including a quarterback that resulted in a forced fumble, a pass interception and his hard tackle knocked N.C. State running back Ricky Person, Jr., out of the game.

Other former local standouts to contribute to the Tar Heels’ victory were running back British Brooks (Ashbrook 2018) and tight end Kendall Karr (Stuart Cramer 2020). Brooks rushed twice for 21 yards and Karr played in his second game of his true freshman season.

For N.C. State, linebacker Jaylon Scott (Shelby 2019) had a career-high six tackles.

Charlotte 38, UTEP 28: COVID-19 protocols may have limited the 49ers’ twice-postponed home opener to 1,042 fans at Richardson Stadium, but Charlotte scored 28 unanswered points in the middle of the game that included former East Lincoln star Cameron Dollar’s second touchdown of the year to take a Conference USA victory.

Dollar, a 2017 East Lincoln graduate who was a star for the school’s football and basketball teams, caught two passes for 27 yards and one touchdown. His 10-yard touchdown reception from Chris Reynolds gave the 49ers the lead for good at 21-14 with 3:31 left in the third quarter.

Charlotte (2-2, 2-1) trailed 14-7 before the scoring burst put it ahead 31-14 with 4:40 left in the game.

Quarterback Chris Reynolds passed for 185 yards and two touchdowns to lead Charlotte’s 329-yard offense. And the 49ers defense forced three turnovers.

Dollar was making his third start in four games this season.

Other former local standouts to contribute to the 49ers’ victory were running backs Tre Harbison (Crest 2016) and Calvin Camp (Shelby 2017). Harbison started for the fourth straight game and picked up 13 yards rushing on five carries and Camp had five yards rushing, a 16-yard kickoff return and made one tackle.

Charlotte plays again next Saturday night at Duke at 7 p.m.

Gardner-Webb scrimmage: First-year head coach Tre Lamb held their first intrasquad scrimmage this fall on Saturday.

The Bulldogs, whose Big South Conference season was postponed to the spring along with other FCS teams in the country, are still seeking to play BCS teams this fall.