For the second straight week, the UTC players played inspired football; a loss to No.1 Alabama and a convincing win against visiting Weber State.
Now can the Mocs carry that inspired play to Huntsville, Texas and post their 10th win of the season and “upset” undefeated and No.5 seed Sam Houston State?
Home Winning Streak: The Bearkats (11-0) – the only undefeated team of the remaining 16 playoff teams - have won 12 straight at home … and 16-2 over three seasons …
Two Trips to Texas … If the Mocs can win Saturday and then win in the semis on Dec. 11, the Blue and Gold will travel to Frisco, Texas for the championship Jan.7.
What If …. ? If the Mocs defeat N.5 Sam Houston State and New Hampshire defeats No.4 James Madison, then the host for the NH-UTC game would be decided by the highest bid to the NCAA.
First Round Attendance: The UTC-Weber State game drew the second best crowd of the eight first round games.
NCAA FCS First Round Attendance
Samford at Youngstown State – 5,322 (14,353 regular season average)
** Weber State at Chattanooga – 5,238 (9,494 regular season average)
San Diego at Cal Poly – 3,356 (8,413 regular season average)
N.C. A&T at Richmond – 3,281 (8,700 regular season average)
Illinois State at Central Arkansas – 3,165 (8,767 regular season average)
Charleston Southern at Wofford – 2,605 (7,625 regular season average)
Lehigh at New Hampshire – 2,605 (7,625 regular season average)
St. Francis (Pa.) at Villanova – 2,059 (6,153 regular season average)
Weber State Highlights: Mocs defense had five takeaways – three fumbles and two interceptions
The five turnovers forced by UTC are the most in a game since the same in a 51-7 win over Western Carolina on Oct. 15, 2011.
Montrell Pardue has a school-record 99 yard fumble return for a touchdown …
Trevor Wright returned an interception for a 41-yard touchdown …
Lucas Webb’s INT – his 10 th of his career - moved him past head coach Russ Huesman (1978-81) into ninth all-time at UTC. Wright also had one the Mocs' three fumble recoveries.
First TD Catches: Alphonso Stewart caught two TD passes … the first two of the season
A Look at Sam Houston State
The Bearkats are led by the FCS leading passer in Jeremiah Brisco with 4,096 yards …
Brisco has a Southland Conference single season record of 52 TDs … and currently leads all of FCS in touchdown passes (52), passing yards (4,096), passing yards per game (372.4) and pass efficiency (187.0).
Top Defensive End – SH junior defensive end P.J. Hall leads the Southland with 21 tackles for loss and three fumble recoveries this season and his 9.5 sacks ranks second.
UTC’s Keionta Davis – SoCon Defensive Player of the Year, also from the defensive end spot has 39 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 QB sacks,1 fumble recovery
SH’s Nathan Stewart (WR) is Southland Conference Freshman of the Year … 47 catches … 903 yards … 11 TDs
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net