Depending on your perspective, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's 41-13 Halloween homecoming beatdown of Western Carolina either provided a goodie bag filled with plenty of treats or, if you're on the Mocs schedule this year, was the scariest thing since Linda Blair's head spun 360 degrees.
In running their Southern Conference win streak to a dozen games, the fourth-ranked Mocs looked scary good on both sides of the ball and look to be fine-tuning themselves for a third straight league title and a deep playoff run. It's the longest SoCon win streak in six years and came against a Catamounts team that was riding a four-game winning streak and hadn't been beaten this soundly by an FCS opponent since the Mocs thumped them 51-0 last year.
While the Mocs fed off the intensity from the pregame trash talk from WCU players last year to serve up that whipping, this year's businesslike approach in dismantling a good league opponent should concern the rest of their FCS opponents.
Of their 37 first-half plays, the Mocs faced only three third downs and converted two into firsts. Besides impressive scoring drives of 81, 75, 82, 87, 80, 68 and 73 yards - all sustained by covering that yardage with six plays or more - UTC also had five explosive plays of 20-plus yards, proving it can strike for big gainers as well as wear down opponents.
In the first half, when UTC was doing more than simply trying to run out the clock, the offense averaged a first down (10.4 yards) per play.
Junior running back Derrick Craine scored four touchdowns and ran for 103 yards but may not even be the Mocs' top vote-getter for conference player of the week, since quarterback Jacob Huesman ran for 168 and a TD and was 14-of-15 passing for 191 yards.
"When you factor in talent, how hard he practices and plays and how he conducts himself off the field and in life, he's the best overall player we've signed since I've been here," coach Russ Huesman said in praise of the hard-running Craine.
Defensively the Mocs held the Catmounts to nearly 150 fewer yards than their season average and also had two sacks, an interception, a fumble recovery and a blocked extra point.
"We've got good players. When you've got good players and you don't screw them up, you've got a shot," Coach Huesman said. "Leading up to today I didn't think we had played all that well lately. We did today. This was our best game of the season, and against a really good team."
This staff has proven not only that they can prepare the team and make in-game adjustments well enough to maintain a high level of success, but also that they understand the importance of securing future success by taking advantage of every opportunity to sell the program to talented prospective high school players.
Among the recruits the Mocs had at Saturday's game were at least 25 who are big-time prospects, the type of difference-makers UTC isn't battling just other SoCon programs for but mid-level FBS schools as well.
Getting a few of them to choose the Mocs could translate into a third straight top-rated FCS signing class, and credit the staff for making sure former UTC star Terrell Owens was very visible to those prep players. Being able to showcase an alum who also just happens to be a first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver is the type of recruiting collateral few other rival programs can match.
Those kids saw Owens riding the team bus to Finley Stadium, leading the team through the Moc Walk and then catching passes during pregame warmups, signing autographs and posing for pictures with everyone from young fans to the UTC cheerleaders.
Since he arrived back in the Scenic City on Thursday, Owens was spotted around town more often than Mayor Andy Berke, visiting UTC men's and women's basketball practices and volleyball practice and even meeting with university administrators. He also spoke to the football team before a practice and was in the locker room Saturday afternoon taking a celebration video with his phone.
"Chattanooga is more my home than where I actually grew up," Owens said during continual selfie requests on the sideline. "It's been incredible being back here. I've loved all of it. I'm just a fan, man. I love what the program is doing, where they're headed and I wish I could've played here now and got to go to the playoffs and maybe win a championship.
"I'll be back. Either for a playoff game or for sure if they make it to the title game, I'll be in Texas cheering for the Mocs."
And if UTC can continue building off the confidence of wins like Saturday heading into the playoffs, as Owens once said, "better get your popcorn ready."
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.