UTC vs Fordham: Battle of Running Backs and QBs

"Fordham's Chase Edmonds is the best running back in the country at the FCS level. We have to contain him and get him on the ground."

 -- UTC head coach Russ Huesman

 

 

Fordham has the best running back in the FCS nation, a talented quarterback (29 TD passes) and an outstanding linebacker who leads a ball-hawking defense.

UTC has an impressive 1-2 offensive punch - Derrick Craine and Jacob Huesman - with a combined 2,000+ rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground.

Saturday, Fordham has a rare road game in the South as the Mocs host the Bronx, N.Y.-based Rams at Finley Stadium at 1 p.m. The winner advances to the second round and a trip to No.1 Jacksonville (Ala.) State.

Broadcast: 96.1 FM The Legend and ESPN3

Fordham sophomore All-American running back Chase Edmonds might be the worth the price of admission alone as the Mocs defense has the daunting task of keeping him contained.

“He is a great back and we have to corral him and get him on the ground,” said UTC coach Russ Huesman.

Not many teams have been able to slow down Edmonds who has 17, 100-yard games in the past two seasons with a school and Patriot League all-time best 341 yards against Lehigh earlier this season.

The Match-Ups

Fordham – RB Chase Edmonds (#22) – Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year … a double threat, he can run (1,643 yards and 20 TDs) and catch (383 yards and 5 TDs) … 17, 100 yard games in 2 seasons

UTC – RB Derrick Craine (Jr.) – first team All-Southern Conference and 1,002 rushing yards with 12 TDs … 4 TDs vs. Western Carolina and 3 against Mars Hill (169 yards) and Furman (138 yards) … 6, 100-yard games in the last two seasons

The Battle of No.14s

UTC – QB Jacob Huesman (#14) -  Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year (3 times) … 2,745 passing yards and 7 TDs, plus 1,018 rushing yards and 11 TDs … Huesman needs 175 rushing yards for 4,000 career yards and also needs 175 passing yards to reach 8,000 career yards … 14, 200+-yard passing games in a career … 14, 100-yard rushing games in a career

Fordham - QB   (#14) • Kevin Anderson is 11th in the country in passing yards (2,854) with 29 TDs (fifth in the FCS)

Fordham Defense – Led by 2013 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Stephen Hodge (43) who this season has 109 tackles and three interceptions, returning one for a score.

Mocs on Defense – UTC’s front four has to penetrate a talented offensive line, including senior left guard Garrick Mayweather (Sr., 3x starter) and left tackle Anthony Cole (So.) who have been keys to an offense which averages 38.4 points per game. Mayweather is from Baton Rouge, La. and graduated from high school summa cum laude.

The Mocs counter with a talent front four which needs to play its best game of the season … Junior Keionta Davis leads the SoCon in sacks (10.5) and tackles for a loss (14.0) ... he is No. 7 in the FCS in sacks ... the single-season school record is 12.5 set by Davis Tull in 2012.   

• The Mocs lead the SoCon and are No. 21 in the nation in total defense (309.1 ypg).

 

Kicking/Punting Game
UTC’s Henrique Ribeiro is averaging 43.3 yards per punt ... is 15-19 on FGs this season

 

Fordham’s Joe Pavlik is averaging 39.7 yards per punt and 18 punts inside the 20 … one punt blocked … The Rams place kicker is Mackay Redd is 8-12 on FGs and 40-44 in PATs.

 

The Coaches: Both coaches are alums of their current team …

UTC’s Russ Huesman … 7th season … 49-32 … seeks his 50th career win Saturday as a head  coach … played defensive back (UTC, 1978-81) and led the Mocs to and also outfielder on the Mocs baseball team …

Fordham’s Joe Moorhead    4th season … 38-12 …was a QB for the Rams, in the mid-1990s

 

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