University of Tennessee at Chattanooga beat writer Gene Henley breaks down the Mocs' 66-10 loss at Alabama.
SATURDAY'S STAR
Gino Appleberry did everything he could to find holes against the Crimson Tide's strong defensive front, and after a slow first quarter, the UTC senior running back exploded on his way to a 104-yard performance that included a 40-yard rush for the Mocs' first touchdown in three meetings with Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
SATURDAY'S STAT
There wasn't much positive for UTC to take from this game, but the Mocs did walk away with one cool stat: Luke Schomburg — making his first collegiate start in place of an injured Chase Artopoeus — hit Javin Whatley on a 54-yard slant pass. It was the longest pass against the Tide this season.
TURNING POINT
Not about to pretend one play changed it. Alabama is the premier program in college football, and the Tide acted like it, overwhelming the Mocs at every stage of the game.
THE BIG PLAY
There are really only two choices here; let's go with Appleberry's run because it resulted in a touchdown. The most impressive part was how he finished it, absorbing some contact inside the 5-yard line and barreling the final few yards.
WHAT IT MEANS
Well, it means we wait. There were a lot of things that happened across the country Saturday that could be considered in UTC's favor for a playoff bid — Virginia Military Institute beating Western Carolina and Samford upsetting UT Martin are two big ones — but it was expected to be a sleepless night in Chattanooga. UTC tied for second in the Southern Conference, with close losses to league champion Furman and Western Carolina, as well as a head-to-head win at Mercer, the team alongside the Mocs in the final standings. But there are so many variables that it's impossible to know anything prior to Sunday afternoon's reveal of the 24-team bracket for the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com.