by B.B. Branton
posted October 31, 2009
UTC Coach Russ Huesman's halftime locker room speech might not replace Knute Ruckne's “Win one for The Gipper'' audio at the college football hall of fame, but it worked well enough Saturday afternoon at Finley Stadium as Tennessee at Chattanooga rallied to defeat Western Carolina, 24-20, in a college football game.
The UTC Mocs shook off a lackluster first half, scored 21 points in the second half and defeated the Catamounts for the sixth time in the last eight meetings in Chattanooga.
“I told the guys at halftime that I knew the defense could stop them, we would get a turnover and the offense would get it going and all that happened in the second half,'' said Huesman on the radio post-game interview.
The Catamounts led 6-0 after one quarter and 13-3 at intermission.
Moc quarterback B.J. Coleman, 22-of-41 for 248 yards and one interception and one score, saved his best for last as he led the Blue and Gold on the 16-play, 77-yard, game-winning drive capped by a 6-yard scoring run by Chris Awuah with 3:33 remaining in the fourth.
Moc kicker Craig Camay provided the other nine second half points on three field goals.
The Catamounts had two more possessions, but failed to cross midfield.
The victory moves the Mocs to 5-3 overall and 3-3 in the SoCon, while Western Carolina falls to 1-7 overall and 1-5 in the SoCon. The Mocs are 3-1 at home.
On the winning drive, Coleman was 7-of-9 for 55 yards and also rushed for nine yards on a crucial 3rd-and 3 at the WCU 15. Awuah scored on the next plays.
UTC senior wide receiver Blue Cooper had a career day with 16 catches - two shy of the school and SoCon single game record – for 143 yards. He had five catches on the final scoring drive.
On defense, the Mocs were led by Joe Thornton with eight tackles, Josh Beard with six tackles and one quarterback sack and Jordan Tippit with four tackles, one fumble recovery and one interception.
WCU's only score in the second half was a 19 yard scoring pass from Jaynes to Chris Everett at 4:00 of the third quarter and a 20-9 advantage.
In the first half, Western Carolina capitalized on two Chattanooga turnovers and a hot hand by quarterback Zack Jaynes for a 13-0 lead at halftime.
Jaynes was 15-of-28 for 142 yards on the day with one interception and one touchdown toss.
His top receiver was Marquel Pittman who had five catches for 35 yards, while Jacoby Mitchell had four receptions for 31 yards.
The Mocs' error-filled/slugish first 30 minutes showed a Coleman interception, a Craig Camay fumble and only 24 yards rushing on 16 carries.
The Catamounts Blake Bostic kicked field goals of 37 and 39 yards in the opening quarter after the interception and fumble recovery, while a Jaynes-to-D.J. McClendon 46-yard pass set up a second quarter touchdown. Running back Michael Johnson scored from the one on a fourth down play.
Mocs tight end Garrett Hughes dropped a Coleman pass on the first play from scrimmage and things went down hill from there for the Blue and Gold.
WCU's Mitchell Bell intercepted Coleman two plays later at midfield with a return of 24 yards.
Bostic made it 3-0 at 11:15 of the opening quarter.
After a punt exchange and good field position, the Mocs moved 29 yards to the Catamount 22, but kicker Craig Camay fumbled on a fake punt play and Robert Peele return the loose ball 42 yards to the Mocs 29.
Bostic made it 6-0 four plays later.
The visitors increased the lead to 13-0 on an 8-play, 64 yard touchdown drive at 7:31 of the second, capped by Johnson's run.
The Mocs finally got untracked moving 57 yards in nine plays, capped by a 30-yard Craig Camay field goal and trailed 13-3 at 2:33 before halftime.
On the drive, Bo Dyer rushed for 18 yards and Coleman was good on three passes for 39 yards - one an impressive, one-handed catch by Blue Cooper for six yards. But the WC defense bowed its back and stopped the Mocs on a 3rd-and-2 at the Catamount 12 on a run by Dyer, forcing the Camay field goal.
Notes: This was the first game this season in which Western has scored in the first quarter … Mocs Jordan Tippit had his fourth interception of the season, late in the second quarter.
Contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net
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