Mocs make short work of Shorter, 66-0

Linebacker Nakevion Leslie (5) carries the United States Flag as he leads the team out.  The University of Tennessee/Chattanooga Mocs hosted the Shorter University Hawks in NCAA football action on Sept. 1, 2016.
Linebacker Nakevion Leslie (5) carries the United States Flag as he leads the team out. The University of Tennessee/Chattanooga Mocs hosted the Shorter University Hawks in NCAA football action on Sept. 1, 2016.

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga can finally sport a football record it hasn't had since 2009.

One-and-zero.

The Mocs earned their first season-opening win since 2009 in dominating fashion Thursday, 66-0 over NCAA Division II member Shorter University, in front of 9,588 at Finley Stadium. The Mocs scored on seven of their first eight possessions to build a 45-point halftime lead.

UTC will be at home again a week from Saturday, facing Presbyterian of the Big South Conference at 2 p.m.

"I'm proud of the guys," UTC coach Russ Huesman said. "The fact we got to play a lot of peole today was huge. A lot that hadn't played any (college) football played today.

"We actually played a pretty clean second half."

The point total is a high for the Huesman era, which began in 2009. It's the most points since UTC scored 73 against Kentucky State on Nov. 24, 2001.

The Mocs rolled up 441 yards of total offense, with 284 in a first half in which the only possession they didn't score was when new starting quarterback Alejandro Bennifield threw an interception in the red zone.

The UTC defense was equally as stout. Shorter, who played the game without quarterback Matt Williams and 1,500-yard running back B.J. McCoy, didn't reach positive yards of total offense until midway through the fourth quarter. The Hawks had three turnovers, all of which led to UTC scores.

Shorter finished with 16 yards of total offense and three first downs.

Justin King's fumble recovery on the first play led to a Derrick Craine touchdown. A later Keionta Davis recovery led to a Bennifield touchdown pass to Xavier Borishade.

Redshirt freshman K.J. Roper had his first career interception, which led to a Tyler Roberson 1-yard scoring run.

"We had to make sure we came out on the good foot," defensive end Davis said. "A lot of our first games we haven't won, or played well on defense. To get the win today and play well on defense is a good start for us to the season."

Bennifield, making his first career start at quarterback, threw for four touchdowns, spreading the scores out to four receivers: James Stovall, Borishade, C.J. Board and backup quarterback Roberson, who also scored twice on runs.

Bennifield was 8-for-11 passing for 135 yards, making only one mistake on a pass across the middle that was intercepted. He also ran for 28 yards.

Roberson was 5-for-7 for 53 yards and rushed for 30.

UTC starters were taken out late in the second quarter, but the depth of the Mocs showed from that point on. Kyle Nalls got his first collegiate score, as did walk-on Chris Miller, who led the Mocs with 89 yards rushing in his first UTC action.

"We came out and did what we were supposed to do, which was play our ball," Borishade said. "I feel like it's a big confidence boost. To go into the first game of the season and perform like we did, we're excited about it."

Borishade led eight Mocs who made catches with 68 yards on three receptions.

Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.

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