Quarterback Jacob Huesman and running back Derrick Craine's success running the ball is intertwined.
Sure, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offensive line has to block on the interior and the receivers have to do the same on the perimeter, but this year's rushing game has primarily been based on Huesman's ability to execute the zone read by handing the ball off to Craine or tucking it and running.
It shouldn't be surprising the two workout partners find themselves in similar positions heading into Saturday's game at Florida State.
Both are within reach of the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season. It would be the 35th time in Football Championship Subdivision history teammates have reached that plateau and the second consecutive season two Mocs have done so. Huesman and Keon Williams each ran for 1,000 yards in 2014.
"That would be pretty neat," said UTC coach Russ Huesman, Jacob's father. "We've been running the ball effectively, and a lot of the credit goes to the coaches with their schemes and the offensive line with how well they've been doing up front. When you have two good runners, they do a good job and you trust them, you'll eventually rack up the yards.
UTC senior quarterback Jacob Huesman has run for 997 yards on 182 carries this season, averaging nearly 100 yards per game."I know it's a big accomplishment."
The quarterback enters the regular-season finale of his senior season with 997 yards on 182 carries in 10 games. His averages of 5.5 yards per carry and 99.7 yards per game are both career highs. Last season, he finished with 1,009 yards on 197 carries in 14 games for averages of 5.1 and 72.1.
Huesman's 2015 rushing total leads the Southern Conference, and he's third in the league with 10 touchdown runs. This season, he became the fourth player in FCS history with at least 40 touchdowns each passing and rushing, as well as the third in SoCon history with 4,000 passing and 3,000 rushing yards. His 3,804 career rushing yards are a school record.
Craine, a junior and the league's leader in touchdowns with 13 (12 runs and one catch), is currently at 966 yards on 175 carries, making his average per rush (5.5) the same as Huesman's. Craine said Tuesday that to break the 1,000-yard rushing mark against an opponent like the Seminoles would "definitely be a challenge."
"It's a great feeling to be that close," Craine said. "It was one of my goals for the season. Hopefully we can go down to Florida State, put some drives together and get rushing and passing yards on them. They are an outstanding opponent that we've got this week - a top (Football Bowl Subdivision) team - a great school, a great team and great athletes.
"It'll be a challenge, but we look forward to it."
Mock speed
UTC's offensive staff was forced to be creative this week with its scout team, a group charged with impersonating Florida State in practice.
The Seminoles' defensive line averages 6-foot-3 and 296 pounds, and their entire defense is fast, so Mocs offensive coordinator Jeff Durden pulled some offensive linemen over to play defense and he had defenders line up offside before the snap to get an extra boost and attempt to simulate the Seminoles' speed.
"We've got to be smart with what we're doing," Durden said. "Florida State prides themselves on getting hits on the quarterback. They're going to bring pressure, so we've got to have a great game plan and execute really well.
"We've got to be great out wide on the perimeter, because we're going to get some one-on-one opportunities out there."
Party time
The Mocs will host a watch party at 11 a.m. Sunday at the University Center on campus as they learn their fate for the FCS playoffs, which begin Nov. 28. UTC is already in as a conference champion but will learn the details of its postseason path.
Doors will open at 10:30 a.m. for the party, with limited seating available in the auditorium. The selection show will be televised on ESPNU.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/ genehenleytfp.