LEXINGTON, Va. - The celebration around Lucas Webb's touchdown was delayed Saturday afternoon.
Once it was confirmed, he was mobbed by teammates.
Turns out, it was a big one.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior safety scored on a 24-yard fumble recovery set up by a big hit by defensive back Kareem Orr on Virginia Military Institute quarterback Duncan Hodges. It was Webb's fourth defensive score, which moves him into second all-time in Southern Conference history in defensive scores.
Furman's Ryan Steed had three interception returns and a pair of fumble recoveries during his career from 2008 to 2011, and he holds the record based on statistics submitted to the league.
Elon's Karlos Sullivan (2006-09) had five career touchdowns and Marshall's Glenn Bates (1982-83) had four, but each had special teams' scores included in their totals. Webb is currently tied with Bates, Steed and Sullivan, along with East Tennessee State's Donnie Abraham (1992-95) and Wofford's Chris Edwards (1998-2001), with three career interception returns for scores.
After Webb's score, he said there was a little confusion prior to the celebration because nobody was sure if officials had called Hodges down before he lost the ball.
"My teammates came up to me, but nobody was celebrating and it was just quiet, so I don't know if they called the quarterback down, so I just kind of waited," Webb said after Saturday's 63-7 win in the SoCon Opener, the Mocs' first victory this season.
"I didn't want to celebrate and then have to go back out there and play it. That wouldn't have looked good, but after they called it, that's when the guys came up and we all celebrated."
It was Webb's first score since an interception return in the first round of the 2015 Football Championship Subdivision playoffs against Fordham. He also had an interception Saturday, moving into a tie for third place in UTC history in that category with Stan Ellen (1974-77), Mike Lowman (1985-88) and Tom Partrick (1971-74). His 12th career pick moved him past current UTC director of football operations Kadeem Wise (2010-13).
"Lucas is a great player," UTC coach Tom Arth said. "He is a great leader. He is a great person. That is what great players do - they find the ability to make plays when their team needs it. Lucas has been that for a long time here at Chattanooga. He certainly was that way today."
With all of the turnover on both the roster and in the coaching staff since last season, it's of little surprise the Mocs have faced some early struggles. But they have shown signs of figuring things out - especially on defense, where the past two opponents (UT-Martin and VMI) have averaged 221.5 yards of total offense and only 138 yards on 67 carries (2.1 average per carry).
The next challenge is much steeper as Western Carolina, which knocked off 18th-ranked Samford 36-33 on Saturday, comes to Finley Stadium this weekend for a huge SoCon matchup.
"Things were different at first - new coaches, new schemes - but now we're starting to get to it," Webb said. "There's always things we can clean up, but it's really starting to come together.
"Today was a good way to roll into conference."
Correction
In Sunday's Times Free Press, it was reported that UTC's 63 points against VMI were its most ever scored in a SoCon game. That was based on information provided by the UTC athletic department, which has since issued a correction. The Mocs set their record in that regard with a 72-14 win over Appalachian State on Oct. 7, 1978. Saturday's 63-point game is second on the list.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenleytfp.