The emotion was high from the very start. First FBS game. In the Georgia Dome. On national television on ESPNU.

And it carried through to the end, with head coach Brad Lambert heading to the crowd and presenting the game ball to Haley Ratliff, daughter of offensive line coach Phil Ratliff, who passed away, Aug. 9.

“There was a lot of emotion around coach Ratliff,” Lambert said of presenting the game ball to Haley. “We wanted to do that for her. It's been a hard time for that family. It's been a hard time for all of us.”

The Charlotte 49ers defeated Georgia State, 23-20, in their first-ever game at the FBS level and their first-ever game against an FBS opponent.

It wasn't easy. The 49ers scored 20 first-half points and held a comfortable 20-3 lead at the half only to see the Panthers score 14 fourth-quarter points to close to within three in the final minute. The Panthers on-side kick with 30 seconds left, however, went out of bounds and Charlotte clung tight to its first FBS win.

The 49ers' inaugural FBS game got off to the same start that its inaugural game did, two years ago. Reminiscent of the 2013 season-opener against Campbell, the 49ers forced a turnover on the first drive of the game and returned it for a TD. And just like the 49ers were off and running in the FBS.

On the fourth play from scrimmage, Nick Cook forced a fumble that cornerback Terrance Winchester scooped up and returned 43 yards for a touchdown. Two years ago, it was, Mark Hogan, a Georgia State grad who had transferred to Charlotte for his final year, returning an interception 32 yards for a TD on the second play from scrimmage in that inaugural game vs. Campbell.

“We actually do a drill in practice to make sure everyone gets to the ball,” said Winchester, who had four tackles, a fumble recovery, an interception and a pass break-up. “I was just doing what the coach asked me: Go to the ball. When I got there I couldn't believe it was out and just picked it up and started running.”

Later in the first quarter junior Blake Brewer kicked a 45-yard field goal – his ninth career field goal of 40 or more yards.

After Winchester added an interception in the end zone to thwart a Panther scoring drive, Brewer added a 35-yard field goal to give Charlotte a 13-0 lead after one quarter.

The Panthers got on the board with a 29-yard field goal but on the subsequent drive Matt Johnson hooked up with slot receiver Austin Duke for a 63-yard TD pass that put the 49ers ahead, 20-3 at the half. It was the eighth time that Johnson and Duke have connected for a touchdown pass of 60 or more yards.

In the third quarter the teams traded field goals to make it 23-6 before the Panthers broke through for their first touchdown on a 24-yard pass to cut the 49ers lead to 23-13 with 9:39 to play in the fourth. The 49ers were able to eat up three minutes on six plays and then forced Georgia State to punt with 3:59 left. Another 49er drive chewed up 2:22 of playing time, leaving the Panthers down 10, 23-13, with 1:37 to play. On fourth and four, QB Nick Arbuckle hit Penny Hart for a 47-yard pass and Hart raced down the sideline for the TD to make it 23-20 with 30 seconds left.

An unsuccessful onside kick allowed the 49ers to take a knee, and the win.

“There were a lot of emotions. First of all we got tears pulling up to the stadium seeing Haley there and showing her love and support,” said offensive lineman Casey Perry, who helped Lambert present the ball to Haley. “Watching Haley and the family is the spitting image of how coach Ratliff lived his life. (Coach Ratliff) talked about this ever since we stepped on campus. He said 'we're gonna be in those big games. You're gonna be there.' Just keep believing.”

When Perry stepped on-campus in 2012, the 49ers stadium wasn't yet complete. Now, three short years later, the 49ers have their first FBS victory. Rock solid.

NOTES:

Kalif Phillips rushed 19 times for 90 yards and Andrew Buie had 16 carries for 68 yards.

Matt Johnson was 19-of-32 with 1 TD and two INTs. He threw for 244 yards.

Austin Duke had 7 catches for 95 yards and a TD while TL Ford had 5 catches for 63 yards.

Blake Brewer was 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, tying his own school record for most FG made in a game.

Charlotte put up 408 yards of total offense while Georgia State had 392.

The 49ers committed five turnovers while Georgia State had three.

Winchester becomes the third player in school history to record a both an INT and a fumble recovery in the same game, joining Greg Cunningham (2014) and Micah Bryan (2013).

Nick Cook and Branden Dozier led the 49ers with six tackles. James Middleton had two tackles for loss and one sack.