UTC's Montrell Pardue turns in another takeaway score

UTC defensive backs Montrell Pardue (21) and Lucas Webb (29) tackle Mercer wide receiver Chandler Curtis during the Mocs' home football game against the Mercer Bears at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
UTC defensive backs Montrell Pardue (21) and Lucas Webb (29) tackle Mercer wide receiver Chandler Curtis during the Mocs' home football game against the Mercer Bears at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

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Maybe Montrell Pardue should speak with University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offensive coordinator Jeff Durden about a special package for the sophomore defensive back.

Because when the 6-foot, 205-pounder gets his hands on the ball, scoring seems to ensue.

Pardue had his third takeaway as a Moc in Saturday's 52-31 win over Mercer, and it resulted in his second career touchdown, a 29-yard score. This came a week after he recovered a fumble against East Tennessee State and came a yard short of a score.

In the 2015 season opener against Jacksonville State, Pardue had a strip-fumble and returned it 55 yards for a score that gave the Mocs a 20-16 lead. That play helped him earn the Southern Conference freshman of the week award.

He's now one score behind Lucas Webb in defensive touchdowns for current UTC players.

"I've got to catch up," Pardue said. "Lucas is a great player, so to be under him and being able to have my name in the same sentence is great. He turns the ball over and gets in the end zone."

Tight end production

UTC tight ends had only one catch in 2015, a 5-yard reception by Malcolm Colvin against Mercer in a 17-14 loss. They were far more productive in Saturday's game, with Colvin and Bailey Lenoir catching touchdown passes from Alejandro Bennifield.

A week after dropping a pass against ETSU, Colvin had the game's first score Saturday. Lenoir then made a nice catch on an out pattern in the third quarter.

"Those guys work hard," coach Russ Huesman said. "And it wasn't like we threw to them up 49-0; both were pretty nice catches. I'm glad to see them make catches, and we were able to get the ball to them at pretty critical times in the game."

The scores were the first for UTC tight ends since former All-American Faysal Shafaat had two against Furman on Nov. 22, 2014.

"That was big-time," Bennifield said. "Those guys played great. The blocking schemes, they played great; they caught the ball. They came out ready to play.

"I told them I'd get them the ball, and they came through."

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.

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