MOCS GLANCE
UTC (10-3) AT NEW HAMPSHIRE (11-1)Cowell Stadium Friday, 8 p.m.96.1 FM, ESPN2
It’s the equivalent of a knockdown punch in a prize fight. A big play by the offense can create an electric charge throughout the entire team and leave the opponent reeling. In the second season under offensive coordinator Jeff Durden, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offense has continued to gain confidence and momentum each week with more quick strikes.
After having just two plays of 20-plus yards through their first two games, the Mocs have struck for 34 big plays in their last six games, including seven in last week’s playoff win. Going on the road for Friday night’s playoff quarterfinal the Mocs know they’ll need to continue collecting yards in big chunks if they are to knock off top seed New Hampshire.
“It’s huge for momentum,” said UTC quarterback Jacob Huesman, who has accounted for 34 plays, either rushing or passing, of 20-plus yards. “A long 10-12 play drive will get the job done, but not the same with the momentum swings. If you throw a 50-yard pass the crowd’s gonna get hyped, then the kickoff team gets hyped and the defense gets hyped and the other team is back on their heels. It all carries over. Any touchdown we score is big, but there’s just a lot more excitement for our whole side when we hit a big play.
“We weren’t overly accurate as quarterbacks throwing the deep ball last year, so that’s something we worked on since the spring and gotten better at. It’s nice to know that we can throw a little two-yard bubble and it can turn into a 40-yard gain instead of just a four-yard gain, and that’s because of the explosive people we have now.”
Through 13 games so far this season they have stunned opponents for 64 plays of 20-plus yards, with 12 going for touchdowns and 11 players accounting for at least one of those big gainers.
The Mocs led the Southern Conference and rank fourth nationally in time of possession, but that doesn’t mean they are a methodical offense. While they’re averaging two fewer rushing yards than last season, the Mocs are throwing for 50 yards more this year and have put up 500-plus yards of offense four times, the most in 14 years.
The Mocs also set a school record by averaging better than 35 points per game.
“The bottom line is our guys realize that we’re going to call some deep throws now,” said UTC second-year offensive coordinator Jeff Durden. “It’s hard to run deep if you think you’re just a decoy. Now they know if they get behind their man, I’m going to call that play to get them the ball deep. I think that has really helped.
“We were a little more conservative last year because we knew we had a great defense and we didn’t want to screw it up on offense. This year, we still have a great defense but we also have some big play potential and when we hit on those, it’s a lot of fun for everybody.”
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.