The Chattanooga Mocs football team took part in its first live scrimmage of Spring Practice at Finley Stadium Friday afternoon. The Mocs avoided the forecasted foul weather, and managed to get in a 94-play session on their seventh practice of the offseason.
“It was kind of sloppy, but I guess that is what we expected,” stated head coach Russ Huesman following today’s action. “The ball was on the ground too much. There were some bad balls that were thrown, probably ill-advised throws.
"I saw some good things out here. I thought we rushed the passer well with our front guys. I didn’t see a whole lot of missed tackles. We will watch it. You never know, but it was a little sloppy.”
One reason for the sloppiness could have been due to some of the top returners seeing limited time. Junior starting quarterback and 2013 SoCon Offensive Player of the Year Jacob Huesman only played 22 snaps, giving way to the battle for the backup position between freshmen Tyler Roberson and Alejandro Bennifield.
Senior running back Keon Williams also didn’t have a carry in the scrimmage. “We didn’t play Keon much and we didn’t run him at all,” added Huesman. “We wanted to see Craine and Marquis and see what they can do.”
Green responded with a big day, including 116 rushing yards on nine carries. He had the highlight play of the day with a 60-yard touchdown run.
“We had a blitz called and that’s what happens sometimes when you blitz,” said Huesman. “You hand the ball off inside. You have people all over the place and you pop it.
"Marquis has made a lot of big plays for us in his career. That is what he is, he is a big hit guy. You get him out on the perimeter and he made a couple of other big plays.”
Roberson struggled early, but ended his day orchestrating a nice 60-yard, six play drive. He was 3-3 for 43 yards, capping the drive with a 15-yard TD strike to fellow freshman James Stovall.
Roberson finished 8/23 for 75 yards, a pair of TDs and one interception. Stovall had three catches for 42 yards and one touchdown.
Bennifield also had a pair of scoring throws, an eight-yarder to freshman Alphonso Stewart and a six yard score to sophomore C.J. Board. Bennifield finished 5/15 passing for 43 yards. He also ran seven times for 21 yards.
The Mocs defense, one of the top units in the nation last season, put a lot of pressure on the young QBs. Freshman D.J. Prather had a pair of sacks, while senior Davis Tull and sophomore Keionta Davis each added a hurry. Davis recovered a fumble and freshman Montario Washington added an interception.
The Mocs will be back on the field tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. Their next scrimmage is set for Friday, April 4, at 4:00 p.m. at Finley Stadium. The 2014 Spring Game is Friday, April 11, at 7:00 p.m. Make plans to be at Finley Stadium for the FREE Kid’s Clinic that starts at 5:15 p.m.
Chattanooga Football Scrimmage Stats
94 Plays
Passing
Jacob Huesman – 7/11 – 59 yards
Alejandro Bennifield – 5/14 – 43 yards, 2TDs
Tyler Roberson – 8/23 – 75 yards, 2TDs, INT
Rushing
Marquis Green – 9-116 – Long TD run of 60 yards.
Derrick Craine – 6-32 – TD
Alejandro Bennifield – 7-21
Tyler Roberson – 10-16
Jacob Huesman – 4-4
Scottie Fleming – 2-6
Xavier Borishade – 1-1
Receiving
C.J. Board – 4-34, TD
Alphonso Stewart – 3-26, 2TDs
James Stovall – 3-42, TD
Xavier Borishade – 2-17
Tommy Hudson – 1-12
Faysal Shafaat – 1-11
Marquis Green – 1-11
Eric Foster – 1-8
Keon Williams – 1-5
Derrick Craine – 1-6
Jacob Huesman – 1-4
Tyler Chancellor – 1-1
Defense
Sacks – D.J. Prather (2), Nakevian Leslie
QBH – Alex Ashlock, Keionta Davis, Davis Tull
TFL – Josh Freeman
INT – Montario Washington
PBU – Ryan Bossung
FR – Keionta Davis