Glenville State wide receiver and Chattanooga native Orlandus Harris is used to being first whether it is crossing the finish line in track or the goal line in football.

In 2007, the then Brainerd High School junior was state champion in the 300 meter low hurdles, the triple jump and a member of the champion 4x400 meter relay team and led the Panthers to the A-AA state crown.

A year later, he defended his triple jump state title and added the 110 high hurdles and decathlon gold medals to an already crowded trophy case.

He was literally a one-man show in 2008 as Brainerd took second in the state with his 46 team points.

A versatile prep athlete, Harris earned all-city and all-state honors in both track and field and football.

Thursday night, Harris brings his speed and good hands to Finley Stadium wearing a Glenville State uniform as the Pioneers take on Chattanooga at 7 p.m. in the Mocs home opener.

“I look forward to playing against UTC on Thursday as several friends and family members will be there to cheer for me,” said Harris.

Harris has helped the Pioneers to a 1-1 record with four touchdown catches, including three in the 56-46 season-opening loss at Carson-Newman.

Harris is no stranger to the Mocs and Finley Stadium as in 2010 as a wide receiver for Eastern Kentucky he had 10 catches for 77 yards and one touchdown in a 42-24 UTC win.

This week’s game will be a battle of good hands on offense and defense as the Mocs secondary of Chaz Moore, D.J. Key and All-Southern Conference selection Kadeem Wise look to cover him close and have a combined 14 career interceptions.

“I played two years at Eastern Kentucky in the spread offense, but when they switched to another offensive system I decided to transfer and being at Glenville State has been a good move for me,” said Harris.

He earned second team All-OVC honors as a sophomore at EKU in 2010 with 56 catches and seven touchdowns for 940 yards.

He was injured early last season and did not play in the 23-14 UTC triumph against EKU and is now a junior at Glenville State.

Thursday will be a homecoming for Harris, but the Mocs defense looks to make sure any celebrating comes with family and friends after the game and not in the UTC end zone.

Gold Rush at Finley: UTC is encouraging fans to wear Gold at the home opener … To help this effort the Athletics Department will be giving away 3,000 Gold Rush shirts, 3,000 gold pom-poms, 3,000 gold thundersticks and 1,000 gold sunglasses leading up to the game and at the gate.

Notes: This week’s game will be the third straight for Glenville State on a Thursday night …

40 Points - Glenville State has scored 40 or more points in its last three games ... the final game in 2011 and both games this season ... UTC has not allowed 40 points since a 40-7 loss at Nebraska in the 2011 season opener (Sept. 3)

2012 Results

Glenville State (1-1)  lost to Carson-Newman, 56-46  ... def. Fairmont State, 41-21

UTC (0-2) lost to South Florida, 34-13 ... lost to Jacksonville State, 27-24

Mocs on Thursday – UTC beat Glenville State, 30-13, on Thurs. Sept. 3, 2009 at Finley Stadium in the debut of UTC head coach Russ Huesman …

Mocs are 6-4 in games on Thursday night since 1998 … 3-3 at Finley …

 First Game Played on a Thursday …

Thanksgiving Day – Nov. 24, 1904 …

7th Calvary def. Chattanooga, 17-0

First Win on a Thursday ... …

Thanksgiving Day – Nov. 30, 1905 …

Chattanooga def. S.W. Presbyterian, 41-0  (S.W. Presbyterian is now known as Rhodes College in Memphis)

 Playing on a Thursday -  Thanksgiving Day

For nearly every year in the program's first 63 seasons (1904-1966), UC played a game on the fourth Thursday - Thanksgiving -  of November.

contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net