Charlotte 49ers, N.C. (AP) Ashton Gray rushed for two touchdowns, and East Carolina Pirates held on to beat Charlotte 17-16 on Saturday for the Pirates' third straight win and their third consecutive season of bowl eligibility.

Gray scored on a 7-yard run on the first play of the second quarter, but the 49ers (1-9, 1-5 American) led 16-7 at the half on Conner Harrell's 11-yard TD throw to Jaden Barnes and three Aiden Bui field goals. Gray took a direct snap and scored from a yard out in the third quarter before Noah Perez gave the Pirates (6-4, 4-2) the one-point lead in the fourth with a 43-yard field goal.

Perez missed a 31-yard field goal with 2:12 remaining, and Charlotte took over on its own 20. DJ Johnson Jr., though, intercepted a tipped pass and returned it to the Charlotte 12, and the Pirates ran out the clock.

The 49ers had only 22 yards of total offense, including minus-17 on the ground, in the second half.

Gray finished with 88 yards on 24 carries. Emory Williams was 18-of-34 passing for 143 yards and was intercepted twice.

Harrell was 15 of 29 for 161 yards with a TD and two interceptions. Derrick Eley had 96 yards receiving on four catches.

East Carolina: At Army next Saturday.

Charlotte: At Tulsa next Saturday.

---

Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here

Copyright 2026 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.