The UTC defense stops a Furman runner during the Mocs' 45-19 win on Saturday.GREENVILLE, S.C. - With several teams near the top of the FCS national rankings losing Saturday - including Fordham, which was just one spot ahead - the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga likely will get a top-eight seed and a first-round bye in the playoffs.
The Mocs, ranked eighth in both FCS polls this past week, completed an unbeaten (7-0) Southern Conference season with another one-sided win, having outscored those league foes by an average of 26.4 points. That's second only to the 1996 Marshall team that beat its SoCon foes an average of 26.9. The Thundering Herd went on to win the national title that year.
"It would be a shame if we don't get (a top eight seed)," said Mocs coach Russ Huesman, who is now 6-0 against Furman as a player and a coach. "All I know is we're in the playoffs, and if we're not seeded, we're thrilled and excited to play whether it's Thanksgiving weekend or the week after, at home or on the road. We're going to try to go win a national championship."
UTC has won four of the last five meetings with Furman, including three straight and its last three trips to Greenville. The Mocs hadn't beaten the Paladins three consecutive times since a five-game streak that lasted through 1968 and hadn't won three straight at Furman since 1978-81.
Williams sets record
With his two third-quarter touchdown runs, Keon Williams became the Mocs' career leader in rushing TDs with 29. The previous record was held by Gene Roberts in 1945-46.
Huesman on target
Furman came into the game ranked No. 13 in the FCS in passing yards allowed (168.8), but Jacob Huesman had little trouble solving the Paladins secondary. UTC's junior quarterback completed 17 of 23 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions and was rarely even pressured.
Mocs morsels
UTC has now held four straight opponents to fewer than 20 points. The Mocs added to their SoCon-leading totals for sacks and tackles for loss. UTC had two sacks to bring the regular-season total to 31 and added five tackles for loss to now have 91.
Senior tight end Faysal Shafaat made the most of his three catches Saturday, with two going for TDs. Shafaat had a 17-yard score in the second quarter, and his 8-yard TD in the back of the end zone midway through the fourth quarter rounded out the scoring.
"Faysal has been playing really well," Jacob Huesman said. "He's a playmaker. That shoulder that was giving him trouble earlier this year is healthy now, and we have to get him the ball. There's no way around that. He made a couple of great catches today. He's a big guy who can go up and get the ball."
Defensive tackle Derrick Lott has accepted an invitation to play in the 90th annual East/West Shrine All-Star game set for Jan. 17 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.