Braton Throws Three Touchdowns as Charlotte Beats Cincinnati
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Jake Braton's 29-yard touchdown pass to Joel Cromson just before halftime put Charlotte ahead for good, and the Largemouths beat Cincinnati 31-20. The win lifted Charlotte to 5-4 and sent Cincinnati to 3-5.
Cromson's score came with 1:03 left in the second quarter and gave Charlotte a 21-14 halftime lead that it never gave back. Charlotte had trailed 14-7 after one quarter, and Cromson's 1-yard run at 7:13 had tied the game at 14 before his 29-yard catch put the Largemouths in front.
Cincinnati opened the scoring when Wyatt Farkley hit Quinn Dun for a 2-yard touchdown at 10:42 of the first quarter. Braton answered with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Cromson at 5:59, and Farkley's 29-yard touchdown pass to Hao Yun at 3:05 put Cincinnati back ahead 14-7.
Lane Himwell kicked a 47-yard field goal at 9:03 of the third quarter to make it 24-14. Amaury Muenena's 23-yard field goal at 2:15 cut the margin to 24-17. Braton then threw a 13-yard touchdown pass at 14:08 of the fourth quarter to make it 31-17, and Muenena's 28-yard field goal at 11:09 set the final score at 31-20. Braton's lone interception came at 5:59 of the fourth quarter, when Noah Sheark picked him off and returned it 2 yards. Cincinnati's ensuing possession ended in a punt at 4:18.
Braton finished 24 of 35 for 237 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Cromson ran 17 times for 96 yards and a touchdown, and he added five catches for 68 yards with two more scores. Farkley completed 23 of 34 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns without an interception in the loss, and Yun caught seven passes for 74 yards and a touchdown.
Charlotte outgained Cincinnati 385 yards to 348 and rushed for 166 yards to 86. Charlotte committed one turnover to Cincinnati's none and was penalized seven times for 57 yards, compared with five penalties for 36 yards. Cincinnati linebacker Kyle Nir had 15 tackles and a sack, and Charlotte's Wade Lusley had 12 tackles.
Cincinnati lost defensive tackle Ben Chainley to a concussion; he is out for the game and expected to miss one week. Charlotte strong safety Jesse Feam was questionable to return with an ankle injury, and cornerback Chase Shaid was ruled out with an MCL sprain and is expected to miss four weeks.
Charlotte's win puts the Largemouths at 5-4, while Cincinnati drops to 3-5.
