New Hampshire Wildcats wide receiver R.J. Harris (15) runs during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Maine on Nov. 22 at Alfond Stadium at the University of Maine in Orono, Maine.Mocs glance• UTC (10-3) at New Hampshire (11-1)• Cowell Stadium at Durham, N.H.• Friday, 8 p.m.• ESPN2 & 96.1 FM
UTC players, and coach Russ Huesman, center, with son Levi Huesman, sing the alma mater after defeating Indiana State Saturday at Finley Stadium.R.J. Harris catches more than passes for the University of New Hampshire. The senior receiver also was quick to catch the attention of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga coaching staff.
While the top-ranked Wildcats have plenty of other offensive weapons for UTC to contend with, how well the Mocs defend the 6-foot, 201-pound FCS All-America receiver could determine who advances into the playoff semifinals.
"This kid is big and fast and has unbelievable ball skills," said UTC coach Russ Huesman, who didn't hesitate when asked to compare Harris with Central Michigan's all-conference wideout Titus Davis to say that Harris was better. "He's the best receiver we have seen, other than maybe the ones at Tennessee, all season.
"He can make you miss, gets off press coverage and can go up and get the ball. You watch the film and it doesn't take very long to figure out he's a great one."
UTC limited CMU's Davis to a season-low one catch for just 11 yards in the season opener, and the Mocs rank third nationally among FCS teams in pass defense, allowing just 147.2 air yards per game.
Harris ranks in the nation's top 10 in four categories -- fifth in both total receiving yards (1,311) and yards per game (109.2), sixth in receiving touchdowns (13) and ninth in receptions per game (6.3) -- and likely will draw an assortment of coverages from UTC. The Mocs' best cover cornerback, Dee Virgin, probably will have primary responsibility for Harris but with safety help.
The winner of Friday night's game, which will be televised on ESPN2, will move on to play the winner of Saturday's quarterfinal between fifth seed Southern Illinois and fourth seed Eastern Washington.
Last week UNH piled up 544 total yards -- a balanced 274 passing and 270 rushing -- in winning its 11th straight game and 13th consecutive at home, dating back to last season. But the Wildcats lost leading rusher Jimmy Owens, who scored on a 51-yard run on the first snap of last week's game but later suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Without his big-play potential, Harris could become even more of a target for an offense that averages 37.6 points per game.
"They will move him around to try and create matchup problems," said UTC cornerbacks coach B.J. Hogan. "He's a big body who does a great job of boxing DBs out for the football, and anything that's within his framework he catches; he brings it down.
"In the passing game he's definitely the guy you want to limit. If he's catching 5-yard hitches, that's good. They've got other weapons -- receivers and backs -- and their quarterback is a good athlete who can extend plays and make it tough for defensive backs to maintain coverage when he scrambles. There's a lot to prepare for.
"We've got our work cut out for us, and in the pass game it starts with that kid."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.