The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football passing attack hasn't been quite as explosive as it was a season ago, but it should be just fine.
The nationally sixth-ranked Mocs, who host Furman (3-2, 1-0) in a key Southern Conference matchup this afternoon at 1 at Finley Stadium, are averaging 159.8 yards passing per game, down from 200.4 last season. A partial cause of that has been situational, as in the Mocs' last game - a 21-0 thumping of Big South opponent Presbyterian - they built a two-touchdown lead in the first half and had shut down the Blue Hose to the point where a comeback seemed unlikely. The Mocs' game plan became vanilla in the second half, and they finished with 107 yards through the air.
They did have 446 yards and five touchdowns in wins over Mars Hill and Samford, but the passing stats suffered in the season opener against a tough, physical Jacksonville State team. UTC had 86 yards passing in that game in a 23-20 loss to a Gamecocks team now ranked first in one national poll.
UTC wide receiver C.J. Board, right, shows his athletic ability in a defensive maneuver, wrapping up Jacksonville State cornerback Jaylen Hill on an interception during the season opener at Finley Stadium.The Mocs (3-1, 1-0) are averaging 231.8 yards rushing per game, which is up 21 from last season.
The teams' most consistent receiving threats have been juniors Xavier Borishade and C.J. Board. Borishade has 15 catches for 201 yards and two scores, with all but five of those catches and 85 of his yards coming in a 44-34 win over Mars Hill.
Board has 14 catches for 147 yards and has matched Borishade's touchdown total. He's considered by some to be the team's most consistent receiver, which can create the perception of a possession receiver who lacks dynamic athletic ability. That's not the case with Board, who showed off a 39.5-inch vertical leap in the preseason and was mad he didn't get 40.
"I was real disappointed to have been that close," he said. "I think I'm an athletic player."
Quarterback Jacob Huesman said Board's athletic prowess shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
"C.J. can fly," Huesman said. "He always runs precise routes, and I can always count on him being in the spot I'm expecting him to be in. It's huge having him to throw to."
The Mocs have the ability to throw the ball downfield, although they prefer to throw short and let their playmakers all over the field make plays. Sometimes that works - like against Samford and Mars Hill - and other times it doesn't, such as the Presbyterian game in which they had nine catches for only 66 yards, with 38 coming on a touchdown throw from Huesman to Borishade.
"Presbyterian is a good team, but our mentality as a group is that we have to make more plays," Board said. "We're working on it, practice by practice."
Offensive coordinator Jeff Durden said he hopes Board can have a performance like Borishade's game against Mars Hill.
"I think that would really help him this year," Durden said. "I don't think he's ever had a game like that, but he needs a game when he goes off."
Board has stepped not only into the position vacated by graduated senior Tommy Hudson but also the leadership role of the group. He's shown his potential with a 92-yard game with a score against Samford, and according to wide receivers coach Will Healy, he just needs to do it more often.
"That's what C.J. is capable of doing on a consistent basis," Healy said. "It can't just be Samford; he has to be better on the perimeter finishing blocks and finishing his routes, and not just show it every once in a while. He has the potential to be a dynamic receiver in this league, and he works hard, he's a bright player and a lot of fun to coach.
"He's bought into the leadership role: Guys emulate him and practice like him, and that's why he's continued to get better as we've gone along."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.