They say good things come in bunches.
That’s the way Derrick Craine’s touchdowns have come this season, and that’s been a good thing for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s football team.
The junior running back has 12 touchdowns through eight games, already doubling his output for all of 2014.
He has scored at least three times in three games, and he has two games of four scores. His 72 points so far this season are already tied for the eighth-best single season in school history, while his 11 rushing touchdowns are tied for fourth.
Craine, who on Wednesday was named the Southern Conference’s offensive player of the month, leads the conference in rushing yards (97.8 per game), total touchdowns (12) and scoring (72), and he is tied with The Citadel’s Dominique Allen in rushing touchdowns. Craine needs 218 yards to reach his season goal of 1,000.
UTC offensive coordinator Jeff Durden leads a unit that is excelling on third down, with the Mocs’ third-down conversion percentage (52.2) second in the Southern Conference and seventh nationally among FCS teams. Durden credits fifth-year senior quarterback Jacob Huesman for much of that success.“It’s about getting comfortable,” Craine said of his scoring spree. “When (offensive coordinator Jeff) Durden trusts me with the ball and we can establish the run game to begin with, I think it really creates a lot of success for our offense. Just to be able to have Durden behind my back and to trust me when he gives me the ball to be able to score touchdowns, it really helps me a lot and it really motivates me each week.”
The 5-foot-10, 205-pounder had 103 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground in last week’s 41-13 win against Western Carolina, with his rushing scores tying a program record last reached by Artis Edwards on Nov. 16, 1982. Craine had three rushing scores and a receiving touchdown against Mars Hill on Sept. 12 and three rushing touchdowns against Furman on Oct. 10.
His big days have all come at Finley Stadium, the site of 11 of his 12 touchdowns.
Craine’s big day against Western Carolina came in part from changes on the offensive line. Corey Levin, who had played left tackle all season, moved inside to guard, with Hunter Townson moving from right tackle to left tackle, Josh Cardiello sliding over to right tackle and Synjen Herren becoming the new right guard.
That change helped the Mocs rush for 356 yards and have a total offensive output of 547 yards, both season-high totals.
“I think that offensive line worked well together,” Craine said. “If we put points on the board, it helps our defense out, because they’ve got time to get rest on the sideline.”
Even offensive line coach Chris Malone, who has been hard on his players because of his perception of their potential, was pleased with what he saw.
“I told the guys that Saturday was the first time since I’ve started working here that I was proud to have the film leave the building,” said Malone, who joined the Mocs in March 2014. “I’m proud of what we put on tape, how it looked, the effort, the physicality. Now if we can sustain that, I’d be pleased, because that’s how you set the standard for the younger players.
“That how we start to develop a culture and get to where we need to be.”
Craine, as well as quarterback Jacob Huesman – who is second in the conference with 95.9 rushing yards per game – could have opportunities this week against a Mercer defense allowing an average of 279.8 rushing yards per game in SoCon play, last in the conference. Depending on how the Bears defend UTC, that could also lead to opportunities in the passing game, which the Mocs were also successful with against Western Carolina.
Durden will look beyond what the numbers suggest.
“Statistics remind me of the guy that drowned in three feet of water. He still drowned,” Durden said. “We have to do what we do. Just because someone else ran the football against them doesn’t mean we’ll be able to. If they put nine guys up there, we’ll need to throw. If they drop eight guys (into coverage), we’ll run it.
“The good thing is we’re multiple and can throw the ball well enough to be effective.”
Having the two most prolific backs in the conference doesn’t hurt, either.
Davis on watch list
Junior defensive end Keionta Davis was added to the STATS FCS watch list for national defensive player of the year. That was announced Wednesday.
It’s the sixth time in seven seasons that UTC has had a player on the list, as Davis follows Josh Beard (2009), Wes Dothard (2011-12) and Davis Tull (2012-13). Quarterback Jacob Huesman was named to this year’s list for offensive player of the year before the season began.
Davis leads the SoCon in sacks with 8.5 and in tackles for loss with 11.5.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.