The primary running backs for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga can share a joke.
They can also, with the help of five bigger gentlemen in front of them, control a football, as they did Saturday in UTC’s 31-3 win over Furman.
“Richarde (Bagley) told me, ‘You’re like a binge scorer,'” junior running back Derrick Craine said. “He joked that I just score in bunches.”
Craine hobbled around the field at Samford three weeks ago. He played well at Presbyterian two weeks ago with 82 yards on 17 carries.
He played even better Saturday in Finley Stadium.
UTC’s Derrick Craine is tackled by Furman’s Jamarri Milliken at Finley Stadium on Saturday, October 10, 2015.Craine, who prepped at Union Grove in McDonough, Ga., scored three touchdowns against the Paladins. Backing up Bagley’s joke is the fact that Craine’s only previous touchdowns this season came against Mars Hill, when he scored three times.
“It’s kind of funny,” Craine said. “I guess I just score in bunches.”
UTC used him as the primary running back against the Paladins and also featured him in its passing game as well – a new wrinkle considering he had only three receptions after the previous four games.
“I think he’s looked good a bunch. We just haven’t used him as much,” UTC coach Russ Huesman said. “I thought he did a great job. You trust him. When we were backed up, you trusted that he’d keep the ball, and I think our offensive line did a good job, too.”
Being healthy certainly helped Craine. He had a bum knee after the Mars Hill game, and the pain lingered a couple of weeks. The off week last weekend helped him.
Quarterback Jacob Huesman handed Craine the ball 17 times two weeks ago in UTC’s conservative game plan against the Blue Hose. With a healthy knee he became one of the featured players Saturday and scored two of the first three touchdowns.
Craine scored from 4 yards out with 12:14 to go in the second quarter and again nearly seven minutes later. He pulled the Mocs out of the shadow of their own end zone with a 19-yard carry in the fourth quarter. Two plays later, he came within 2 yards of his career high with a 36-yard rush up the middle.
A few plays later, he scored on a 3-yard run behind the right side of the line to cap a 12-play drive.
QB into history
Nearly a full page of the UTC pregame notes packages is devoted to quarterback Jacob Huesman. He’s one of the best players in Mocs history.
He is only the third player in Southern Conference history with 4,000 passing yards and 3,00 rushing yards. Armanti Edwards of Appalachian State and Greg Hill of Georgia Southern are the other two.
Huesman crossed the mark of 10,000 yards of total offense in the third quarter. Only 43 players in FCS history have accomplished such a feat.
Taking long shots
UTC attempted back-to-back deep passes along the right sideline two weeks ago at Presbyterian and called another long shot in the first quarter against Furman. The Mocs didn’t connect on the play, but it made the Paladins aware that UTC is willing to stretch the field. Huesman completed 9 of 15 passes for 104 yards against the Paladins.
Useful returns
Receiver Xavier Borishade returned a punt 25 yards midway through the second quarter, which helped the Mocs with field position. They quickly covered the final 50 yards in 10 plays to take a 14-3 lead.
In addition to Borishade’s useful returns, the Mocs were efficient in the kicking game with Henrique Ribeiro and Huesman (on a pooch punt) averaging more than 42 yards per punt.
Sack stat stuffer
Former Red Bank star Keionta Davis had a relatively quiet game, but being No. 2 in the FCS with six sacks will draw the attention of offensive coaches. He was the Southern Conference defensive player of the week after three sacks at Presbyterian.
Davis recorded his seventh sack of the season in the third quarter Saturday, when he corralled Reese Hannon for a 7-yard loss.
Baylor reunion
Furman defensive tackle John Mackey is very familiar with Jacob Huesman. The two played together at Baylor School.
In the third quarter, Mackey reintroduced himself by sacking Huesman for a 10-yard loss prior to Ribeiro giving UTC a 24-3 lead. Ribeiro also played at Baylor.
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP