The Rusty Wright era at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga started on a successful – if not rousing – note Thursday night with the football Mocs’ 24-10 win over Eastern Illinois at Finley Stadium.
The Mocs held in check the Panthers, who averaged 32 points per game last season, though the visitors put up 354 yards and ran 83 offensive plays (23 more than UTC).
UTC senior quarterback Nick Tiano finished 17-for-27 passing for 256 yards with a touchdown and also ran for a score, though he also threw two interceptions. Receiver Bryce Nunnelly had 100 yards and a touchdown on six catches, and freshman running back Ailym Ford, subbing for hobbled senior Tyrell Price in the second half, led the Mocs with 52 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
“I don’t care who you play, you can’t play like we did today and win many football games,” said Wright, a former UTC player and assistant hired this past December for his first head coaching job.
UTC 24, EASTERN ILLINOIS 10
Staff writer Lindsey Young breaks down the game in bits and pieces.THURSDAY’S STARSenior MLB Marshall Cooper led UTC’s strong defensive showing with 10 tackles, two pass breakups and several quarterback hurries on blitzes. The Hixson High School graduate consistently shed blockers and stuffed runs up the middle while also pursuing effectively, including one tackle on which he dragged a running back down by his jersey from behind.THURSDAY’S STATThe Mocs, despite giving up only 10 points, allowed Eastern Illinois to run 83 offensive plays. Penalties allowed several of the Panthers’ drives to continue, pushing up their number of total plays.TURNING POINTHolding a seven-point lead to start the second half, the Mocs put together a nine-play, 75-yard drive that was kick-started by Lameric Tucker’s 39-yard catch after two false-start penalties set the offense back. Freshman RB Ailym Ford, subbing for an injured Tyrell Price, ripped off three strong runs, the final one a 1-yarder for the final touchdown of the game.HIGHLIGHT PLAYWith UTC’s offense somewhat stymied early, senior quarterback Nick Tiano hooked up with Bryce Nunnelly for a 59-yard touchdown four minutes into the second quarter off a nice play-action fake. It was Nunnelly’s 12th reception of 40-plus yards since the start of the 2018 season.WHAT IT MEANSOn the surface, an opening win over a team coming off a 3-8 season isn’t much to build on, but getting the first-game mistakes out of the way in a victory – as coach Rusty Wright said – beats the alternative. The competition goes up a great deal a week from Saturday at Jacksonville State.