Five things UTC must do to win and advance:
1. Keep QB Huesman upright: New Hampshire sacked Fordham’s quarterback nine times last week and has 14 sacks in its last two games. The Mocs have allowed just eight sacks to FCS foes this season, and the revamped offensive line needs to continue protecting Jacob Huesman against what looks to be an intense rush.2. Harass Harris: Wildcats senior receiver R.J. Harris is a big, strong target with enough speed to get behind defenders if they take a misstep. Starting with physical cornerback Dee Virgin, who almost certainly will have safety help on most plays, the Mocs must get their hands on Harris before he gets his hands on the ball, disrupting the timing of his routes before he can hurt them.3. Rush QB Goldrich: Wildcats junior quarterback Sean Goldrich is a dual threat, but he’ll look to pass first, having thrown for more than 5,200 career yards. Last week he threw the ball 37 times for 240 yards, but he isn’t as accurate when he has to move around, so the Mocs need to flush him out of his comfort zone in the pocket. The Mocs have arguably the deepest and most talented defensive line in the FCS, and they need to play like it.4. Protect the ball: UTC has protected the ball well this season, having lost eight fumbles, and Huesman has thrown just two interceptions against FCS competition. The best way to take the home crowd out of the game is to hold onto the ball and continue winning the time-of-possession battle. That also will wear down and frustrate UNH, which could result in big plays late.5. Speed in space: UNH hasn’t allowed more than 27 points to an FCS team all season. But it also hasn’t played a team with the athletic ability the Mocs bring. UTC needs to establish playmakers such as Tommy Hudson, Alphonso Stewart, Marquis Green and Richardre Bagley early on. Get the ball to those players in space and let them use their speed and quickness to get around defenders for big gains.
DURHAM, N.H. — From the coaches to the players, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team believes it is ready for tonight’s prime-time show.
In the days leading up to the biggest game in the history of UTC’sprogram, it was impossible to tell any difference from any other week this season. Players joked and gossiped on the walk to and from Scrappy Moore Field but quickly locked in their focus once they reached the practice turf, answering “what if” scenarios and formation quizzes between snaps to let coaches know they understood their assignments.
In short, it was a week of preparation much like almost every week since the season kicked off in late August.
“No need to do anything different now,” senior fullback Taharin Tyson said. “We’ve got a good group of veteran guys who have played in a lot of big games in their college and high school career, so they know what the atmosphere will be like.
“Even the young guys know now how to focus on being ready. I don’t think we’ll be nervous. Maybe at first, like for any big game, but it’s going to come down to who makes more plays and fewer mistakes.”
UTC is riding a seven-game win streak into tonight’s FCS playoff quarterfinal at top-seeded New Hampshire. The program-record 10 wins have come courtesy of a 10-game win streak against FCS foes, but tonight the Mocs face a New Hampshire program that can match them stat-for-stat. The Wildcats are on an 11-game win streak and have won 13 straight at their home field, menacingly nicknamed “The Dungeon.”
But while the teams are very similar in many other ways — both run spread offenses with dual-threat quarterbacks and both have stingy defenses led by sack-happy fronts — one big advantage for the Wildcats is the fact they have reached the playoffs each of the past 11 seasons, including last year’s run to the semifinals.
UNH knows how to deal with the distractions and drama surrounding a game being played in the national spotlight. How quickly UTC calms the nerves and handles the pressure could determine which team moves on to next week’s final-four round.
“I didn’t know what kind of team we had to start the season,” UTC coach Russ Huesman said. “But now that you look at it, Central Michigan is going to a bowl game and Jacksonville State was No. 3 in the country and we had chances to win those games.
“[New Hampshire] has had unbelievable success at home. It’s a hard place to go in and play, no question about that. But our players and coaches have worked really hard all season, and I’ve said it for a while now, I like our team. I like how they prepare and get ready for business. I don’t think our guys are happy to just be here. I think they expect to play well and compete to win.”
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.