Huesman gets help from Hunt

Michael Hunt traveled from Richmond, Va., for last weekend's 30th anniversary reunion of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's 1979 Southern Conference championship. And he brought a special memento with him.

The former safety, who played alongside Mocs coach Russ Huesman, brought the game ball he received from then-coach Bill Oliver following UTC's win over Western Carolina in 1980. Hunt gave it to Huesman to present to someone after last Saturday's game against Western Carolina, which UTC won 24-20 to improve to 5-3 overall and 3-3 in the Southern Conference.

Huesman gave the ball to kicker Craig Camay on behalf of the Mocs' kickoff coverage unit, which had its best game of the season. Camay kicked off out of bounds once, but on the other six the Catamounts averaged just 14.2 yards per return.

"In the second half I told the guys that we've got to get them backed up, and the first two times we kick it we got them way back there, so that was huge," Huesman said.

WCU, which led 13-3 at the half, started its first possession of the third quarter at its 10-yard line and its second at the 17.

All of UTC's special-teams units performed well against the Catamounts. Buster Skrine averaged just over 25 yards per kickoff return, Joel Bradford had a 20-yard punt return and Jordan Tippit recovered a fumble on a fourth-quarter punt.

Mike Hammons averaged 41.8 yards on his four punts, which included a career-long 54-yarder, and had two downed inside the 20.

Presnell commits

Among the many high school seniors on hand for last Saturday's win was Carrollton (Ga.) High School's Charles Presnell. Before the night was over, the 6-foot-6, 270-pound offensive lineman had committed to the Mocs.

"He called me Saturday night and said he had committed," said Carrollton coach Rayvan Teague, who played at UTC and later coached at LaFayette. "I think Charles has got a lot of potential and a great frame. He really just in the last two years has sold out and committed to football, and as a result he's a lot bigger and stronger."

Presnell also had an offer from Western Carolina, Teague said. He is UTC's third commitment, joining South Pittsburg quarterback Terrell Robinson and McMinn Central linebacker Zack Rayl.

Also at the game were McMinn County's Tevin McDermott, Red Bank's Keon Williams, Boyd-Buchanan's Devin Caldwell and Horn Lake (Miss.) High School's Bakari Trotter, a 6-4, 190-pound wideout who committed to Memphis in June.

Extra points

The Mocs received votes in both the coaches' and the Sports Network polls. Elon is ranked No. 6 in both, and Saturday's opponent, Appalachian State, is No. 7 in the Sports Network poll and No. 8 in the coaches' list. ... UTC wideout Terrance Davis, who missed the Western Carolina game with a rib injury, has been cleared to practice today. Wideouts Justin Buckhalter (concussion) and Clint Woods (knee) could be limited this week.