The Chattanooga Mocs (3-3/2-1) played well in all three phases of the game in cruising to a 31-10 win at Furman (2-5/1-3) Saturday afternoon. Quarterbacks Jacob Huesman (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Terrell Robinson (South Pittsburg) provided the offensive spark, while Davis Tull (Knoxville) keyed a strong defensive effort.
Tull and his defensive teammates held their second straight opponent to 10 points. That’s the first time since 1985 Chattanooga has held road opponents to 10 points or less in back-to-back games. Tull had two sacks with the second forcing a turnover as the Paladins drove in the fourth quarter.
Huesman and Robinson combined for 345 of the Mocs’ 369 yards of total offense. Simply put, the duo matched the defense’s magnificence.
Huesman threw for 171 yards completing 18 of 23 attempts with two touchdowns, both to Robinson. He ran for 59 yards and caught three passes for another 32.
Robinson accounted for three scores with eight catches for 81 yards and the two TDs from Huesman. He ran for 29 on four carries, including a six-yard score. He completed seven of 10 passes for 86.
The quarterbacks could not overshadow a tremendous defensive effort. The Mocs forced six three-and-outs and a turnover on downs, while limiting Furman to 223 yards of total offense. Of those 223, 75 came on its second drive of the game which ended in a touchdown. Take away that drive and the Paladins managed just 148 yards on 43 plays (3.4 yards per play).
After a three-and-out for Furman to start the game, Chattanooga took over on its own 35. It marched 54 yards on 17 plays taking a 3-0 lead on Nick Pollard’s (Nashville, Tenn.) 29-yard field goal. Furman had an emphatic answer.
The Paladins used the run and pass to drive it straight down the field. Reese Hannon had the key play with a 14-yard pass to Will King on third-and-seven to get his squad to the Mocs’ five. Two plays later he completed the drive with a one-yard plunge to give his mates a 7-3 advantage.
It was all Mocs from there. After a missed field goal on its third drive, UTC took over at its own 17 with a little more than five minutes left in the half. Huesman and Robinson went to work.
On third-and-long, Huesman found Robinson for an 11-yard gain and first down at the Furman 32. He hit Marlon Anthony (Acworth, Ga.) on the sideline whose spin move netted 15 yards and the Mocs were in business at midfield.
Huesman ran three straight times for 15 yards before hitting a wide open Robinson around the 10-yard line. Robinson deked the defensive back and powered his way into the end zone for a 10-7 halftime lead.
The Mocs made it 17-7 third quarter with another nine-play drive. Furman interfered with Tommy Hudson (Moultrie, Ga.) receiving a punt giving UTC plum field position at the 37. Huesman and Robinson combined for the heroics with a 14-yard touchdown on third-and-13.
Much like the Mocs’ first score, Furman’s offense had an answer. Starting at its own 37, Hannon directed a scoring drive. He found Gary Robinson for 25 yards to open it up followed by 18 to Will Cain. But the UTC defense tightened up allowing just two more yards and a Ray Early field goal from 36 yards to make it a one-touchdown game, 17-10 with three minutes left in the third quarter.
Huesman, Robinson and friends were up to the task. It took just seven plays to traverse 75 yards and an early fourth quarter score. Robinson finished off the drive with a six-yard dart around right end for the 24-10 lead. J.J. Jackson (Marietta, Ga.) had the dagger with 2:27 to go with a 10-yard dash for the 31-10 final.
Chaz Moore (Memphis, Tenn.) had seven tackles to pace the Mocs defense. Gunner Miller (Chattanooga, Tenn.) had six, while Wed Dothard (Carrollton, Ga.), D.J. Key (Centerville, Tenn.) Zach McCarter (Hixson, Tenn.) and Shane Heatherly (Waynesville, N.C.) had five apiece with Heatherly collecting a sack. Tull (two) and Josh Williams (Griffin, Ga.) had the other three.
Gary Wilkins had 13 tackles and a half-sack as the Paladins’ front seven brought consistent pressure against the elusive Mocs quarterbacks. Greg Worthy and Matt Solomon had eight tackles each.
Furman accounted for just 39 rushing yards on 19 carries led by Jerodis Williams with 49. Hannon threw for 184 yards on 19 of 33 passing. King had a game-high nine catches for 84 yards.
Pollard not only had the field goal, but he was solid in his four punts. He averaged 48.5 yards per boot including a career-best 61-yarder. All four of his efforts were downed inside the 20 with two inside the five.
The Mocs are home for the next two weeks with Samford and Georgia Southern headed to Finley Stadium. It starts next Saturday with Samford visiting for a 6 p.m., kick. The Bulldogs lost a 28-25 heartbreaker to Appalachian State this afternoon.
Video and audio broadcast links can be accessed through MocsVision via the football schedule page on GoMocs.com.
SCORING SUMMARY
Play - Quarter/Time/Score
UTC – Nick Pollard 29 yd Field Goal – 1/4:39/3-0
Drive: 17 plays, 54 yards, 8:33
Key Play(s): 4/1/H43 – Huesman 3 yd run. 4/5/H35 – Huesman 6 yd pass to Shafaat
Furman – Reese Hannon 1 yd Run (Ray Early Kick) – 2/14:57/3-7
Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:42
Key Play(s): 3/7/V19 – Hannon pass to Will King for 14 yds
UTC – Terrell Robinson 38 yard pass from Jacob Huesman (Pollard Kick) – 2/0:51/10-7
Drive: 9 plays, 83 yards, 4:15
Key Play(s): 3/6/V21 – Huesman to Robinson for 11 yds
UTC – Robinson 14 yard pass from Huesman (Pollard Kick) – 3/3:54/17-7
Drive: 9 plays, 37 yards, 3:54
Key Play(s): 3/3/H30 – Huesman runs 7 yds
Furman – Early 36 yd Field Goal – 3/3:00/17-10
Drive: 6 plays, 45 yards, 1:52
Key Play(s): 1/10/H37 – Hannon passes 25 yds to Gary Robinson
UTC – Robinson 6 yd Run (Pollard Kick) – 4/14:21/24-10
Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:39
Key Play(s): 1/10/V41 – Huesman to Green for 26 yds
UTC – J.J. Jackson 10 yd Run (Pollard Kick) – 4/2:27/31-10
Drive: 1 plays, 10 yards, 0:05
Key Play(s): Mocs took over on downs on Furman 10.