UTC linebacker Wes Dothard (25) sacks UT Martin quarterback Dylan Favre (1).The plan was to not let All-America defensive end Davis Tull and the rest of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s talented defensive front set up camp in the UT-Martin backfield.
The plan, Skyhawks coach Jason Simpson said after UTM’s 31-21 win over the No. 25 Mocs Thursday night at Finley Stadium, was to be patient. It was a well-conceived and well-executed plan.
“I had told myself, we’re not going to lose this game by giving up sacks,” Simpson said. “I wasn’t going to let Tull beat us.”
Allowing sacks isn’t normally a problem for UT-Martin, which gave up just 12 in 2012 — a season in which the Skyhawks attempted 418 passes. Thursday night, Tull had one sack for a 10-yard loss, but otherwise, like the rest of the Mocs’ front line, he wasn’t dominating.
UTC’s defense, which was playing with three first-time starters due to injuries, was solid for much of the first half. The Skyhawks were able to move the ball on their first possession, gaining 100 total yards on a drive that was marred by holding penalties and ended with Mocs redshirt freshman cornerback Dee Virgin recovering a fumble.