CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Two seasons ago, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team walked off the field at Whitmire Stadium looking largely indifferent after a 27-7 loss to Western Carolina.
On Saturday, following the Mocs’ sloppy 27-21 win over the Catamounts, the players and coaches looked outraged as they headed into the locker room.
“The only thing I can take from [the win] right now is we must have a pretty decent team that we could survive that out there,” Mocs coach Russ Huesman said. “I want to say give [the Catamounts] credit, but when we turn around and toss it and fumble it, and they pick it up, I don’t know much credit you can give.”
The “that” Huesman referred to was the offense’s four turnovers – three in the red zone – as well as its slew of dropped passes and penalties, and other miscues that kept the game far closer than it should have been.
Had the Mocs (2-2, 1-1 Southern Conference) taken a little bit better care of the ball, they likely would have been up by three scores in the closing minutes. Instead, UTC had a be on high alert for the Catamounts’ onside kick with 1:24 remaining.
“It was weird because we know we’re 10 times better, but a win is a win,” said cornerback Kadeem Wise, who had two interceptions. “We’ve got a bye week [this] week and we’re going to get better and get ready.”
Defensively, the Mocs were sound until the Catamounts’ final drive, which covered 80 yards in nine plays and cut UTC’s lead to 27-21.
The defense intercepted three passes, bringing its season total to a SoCon-best nine, and forced a fumble. Western Carolina (1-3, 0-1) generated 249 yards of offense, a third of which came in its last drive.
“Other than the last drive, I feel like we did a pretty good job [on defense],” said linebacker Gunner Miller, who had four tackles for loss in his first career start.
Offensively, the Mocs gave themselves plenty of work when the players return to practice Tuesday.
“I told [offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield in the locker room], we’re going to work ball security 20 minutes every stinking day from here on out,” Huesman said. “Our receivers are going to catch balls until their hands bleed.”