Marlon Anthony returns as UTC threat

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo UTC's Marlon Anthony (3) outruns Wofford's Blake Wylie (3) in a UTC game.

Marlon Anthony had high expectations for this season.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga junior had more receptions than nearly the rest of the receiving corps combined.

But he had zero catches and zero impact in the Mocs' first three games. Due to a preseason ankle injury, he played one snap in the season opener and one series at Jacksonville State before returning to duty last weekend.

He proved he's ready to contribute on Saturday in the Mocs' 34-17 loss to No. 17 Appalachian State.

"I made a couple plays tonight. I feel like I can help the team for the rest of the year," Anthony said. "I think I'm back and ready."

The 6-foot-5 Anthony caught his first pass of the year on the seventh snap of the game. He made his first impact of the season by hauling in an 8-yard pass touchdown pass. He ended the night with five catches for 48 yards.

"It felt good tonight, but it's a team thing and we lost," Anthony said. "Me and Tray [James] said we'd switch every three plays unless it was third down."

Welcome Price

ASU receiver Sean Price missed two of the Mountaineers' first four games due to an offseason violation of team rules.

He played well against Montana in his one game coming into Saturday. He played even better against the Mocs.

Price swung the game decisively in ASU's favor with two touchdown catches in the fourth quarter. He finished with 10 catches for 130 yards and the 36-and 14-yard scores.

"The fourth quarter was really hyped," Price said. "Once we got on a roll, we put the pedal down and never let up."

Special? Teams

The kicking game has crushed the Mocs in previous games against ASU. And that aspect of the game had been far from perfect this season - even against Division II Glenville State.

Pollard replaced Henrique Ribeiro on kickoffs, giving him all the kicking duties. Pollard averaged 42.7 yards per punt with a long of 60 yards and stuck two inside the 20, including one to the 2-yard line. He booted two of three kickoffs out of the end zone.

ASU altered its punt-return teams by going with two returners instead of one just for Pollard's rugby-style of punting.

Extra points

UTC chancellor Roger Brown jogged out of an inflatable with the Mocs before kickoff with his right index finger raised -- his last action before retiring. ... UTC junior linebacker Wes Dothard recorded a season-high 15 tackles and came within two of his career high.