Two undefeated teams met up in the Southern Men’s DII college conference, and the result was something of a surprise.

It wasn’t that UNC-Charlotte won that was the surprise, but that they beat Appalachian State - historically a very strong team in the conference - by the score of 48-0.

Charlotte came into the game 3-0, having outscored opponents 283-24, but that was just the issue for Head Coach Bo Pasko - what did three blowouts, including 133-0 last week - tell him? Well, apparently, a lot. Appalachian State came into the game 3-0 also, having held opponents to only 25 points and scoring 40 points a game. So they weren’t slouches by any means. But in this game, it was all about the 49ers from Charlotte.

“The big thing was a positive culture change within the team,” said Pasko, who, along with his coaching staff, joined the program a little over a year ago. “The coaching staff has set the bar pretty high. We have high expectations and we found a core group of players who wanted to make that change.”

So the reason Charlotte was winning big wasn’t because the opposing teams folded, but more that the 49ers execute well, all the time.

This they did against AHO, playing superb defense and churning through the Appalachian State defense to score eight tries.

No. 8 Ryan Johns featured heavily in the offense, and has been challenging opposing back rows every week. Fullback Michael Basnett (formerly of North Mecklenburg HS) is a shifty, intelligent runner who punished AHO every time they tried to kick. The former Scrumhalf Declan Tidd is, said Pasko, the brains of the team. He makes the calls and directs the tempo of the game, slowing things down when they need to, and speeding things up when the opportunity is there.

Three players rotate at center - Souther African product Rob Parker, 7s standout Matt Aronowitz, and East Carolina transfer Brandon Sorkin make for a formidable midfield.

“We’re continuing to improve,” said Pasko. “We play a pretty look pattern where players make decisions based on what they see in front of them. We’ve changed our defensive approach as well.”

Well, it’s all working, and UNC-Charlotte now sits at 4-0 in the Southern, tied with Furman. Furman did not have a league game this week, but stepped in to play South Carolina when USC’s opponents canceled - Furman won the game. Appalachian State dropped to 3-1. South Conference East Division leaders UNC-Wilmington had a bye and remain 3-0.

Coastal Carolina won, beating East Carolina to join UNC-W at 3-0.