AUBURN, Ala. – Given his speed and quickness, it seemed only a matter of time before University of Tennessee at Chattanooga receiver and returner Brian Sutherland broke a big one.
Doing so Saturday at No. 2 Auburn wasn’t the likely time and place.
“No, I didn’t expect it today,” Mocs coach Russ Huesman said of Sutherland’s 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the second quarter of the Tigers’ 62-24 win at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
After Auburn scored to go up 34-0, Sutherland caught Wes Byrum’s kick at the 2-yard line. He cut up the middle of the field and got a few good blocks on his way to the end zone for UTC’s first kickoff return for a score since 2003.
“I just saw how they were setting it up to pursue one way and I just brought it back the other way,” said Sutherland, who had 254 all-purpose yards. “Not too many people are going to catch me once I get into the open, so I was pretty confident about that part.”