Homestanding Eastern Michigan, coming off a 2016 Bahamas Bowl bid, hammered out a 24-7 victory over Charlotte in the 49ers season-opener, Friday night.
EMU (1-0) passed for over 250 yards and rushed for another 126 while the 49ers short-circuited with three turnovers and 11 penalties.
The 49ers put up 280 yards of total offense, forced two turnovers of their own, but could manage only a first quarter TD pass to rs-senior Trent Bostick.
"We had 11 penalties for 112 yards -- big penalties at really bad times," head coach Brad Lambert said. "We'd have a positive play offensively then a knucklehead play that brings it back.