University of Tennessee at Chattanooga beat writer Gene Henley breaks down the Mocs' 17-14 loss to Furman.
SATURDAY'S STAR
It may have been his final home game, but UTC edge rusher Jay Person made his presence felt throughout with a pair of sacks, giving him a Southern Conference-high 7.5 this season.
SATURDAY'S STAT
Each team turned the ball over once. The Paladins turned the forced miscue for UTC into a touchdown, while the Mocs ran six plays after Kam Brown's interception before punting.
TURNING POINT
The Mocs were in a good position in the game, in possession of the ball in Furman territory and holding a four-point lead late in the third quarter. They chose to get cute with a trick play and the pass was intercepted, and a Furman offense that had been inept to that point suddenly found life (the Paladins had 115 yards on 44 plays prior to the interception; they had 129 yards and 14 points in the final 15:22).
THE BIG PLAY
The Mocs had just fallen behind after the interception when Chase Artopoeus dropped back to pass and was hit while attempting a downfield throw. The ball fluttered in the air between some Furman defenders before Jamoi Mayes swooped in for the catch and ran 70 yards for a score.
WHAT IT MEANS
Well, potentially a lot. The Mocs' 14 days before selection Sunday for the 24-team Football Championship Subdivision playoffs will be rough, because there's nothing else they can do to enhance their resumé. At this point, it's safe to assume UTC will be included in the field because it has a 7-3 record — all against Division I competition — and its two SoCon losses went down to the final two minutes and were against ranked opponents. But while UTC has an open date next weekend before closing its schedule at Football Bowl Subdivision power Alabama on Nov. 18, other bubble teams have opportunities over the next week to make themselves more appealing to the playoff selection committee. This loss hurts because a win was there for the taking, but the Mocs couldn't get it done.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com.