UTC running back Derrick Craine is forced out of bounds by Mars Hill defenders during the Mocs’ football game against the Lions at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015, in Chattanooga, Tenn. UTC won 44-34.Jeff Durden believes his University of Tennessee at Chattanooga offense is peaking.
If that’s true, the timing is perfect.
Saturday’s game at top-ranked and top-seeded Jacksonville State (10-1) in the second round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs will give the seventh-ranked Mocs (9-3) a chance to make up for a couple seasons of offensive futility against the Gamecocks.
In the teams’ past two meetings – both three-point wins for the Gamecocks – the Mocs have averaged 153.5 yards of total offense. UTC’s rushing offense, which currently ranks 13th among FCS teams and includes two prolific rushers in running back Derrick Craine (1,156 yards this season) and quarterback Jacob Huesman (1,147), combined for 187 yards on 77 carries in those two losses.
The Mocs have outgained that rushing yardage in 17 of 26 games this season and last. Their 307 yards of total offense in the past two meetings with the Gamecocks have been topped 20 times in a single game since the beginning of the 2014 season.
“My goal is for us to play as good as we possibly can at the end of the year,” said Durden, the Mocs’ offensive coordinator. “This team is built for the playoffs, because we run effectively, and if you can do that you can be effective in the playoffs.”
Craine, who was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American second-teamer on Thursday, had only 12 carries against the Gamecocks in a season-opening 23-20 loss on Sept. 5. At the time, the team was still trying to decide whether the running back duties would be handled mostly by one player or a committee. Craine’s carries were the fewest he has had in a game in which he was healthy against FCS competition. He has six 100-yard games in 2015, as does Huesman.
“JSU has a physical defense with great size on them,” Craine said. “This week we’re going to have great preparation to get our offense clicking again. We had a good game offensively against Fordham (in the first round of the playoffs). Hopefully we can get another week like that.
“We have to bring our best, because they’re going to hit you whether you’re ready or not, so you just have to put your head down and go into everybody.”
Craine’s hard-running style was instilled when he was young. It’s why he rarely goes down at first contact and why he never goes out of bounds unless forced.
“There’s no yards out there,” he said. “You’re supposed to put your head down, go forward and make the defenders fear me, because it’s either I hit them or they hit me, and I can’t let that happen.”
The Gamecocks’ front is by far the strength of a defense that ranks No. 7 in the country against the run. Seven of their 11 opponents this season have failed to reach 100 rushing yards. Jacksonville State lost Lamichael Fanning to a torn ACL on the first play against Tennessee State on Sept. 19, but that just paved the way for Darrius Jackson, a redshirt sophomore who sealed the season-opening over the Mocs with a sack of Huesman.
The UTC offensive line has experienced a makeover of sorts. Hunter Townson moved from right tackle to left tackle. Corey Levin, a two-time Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner, slid over to left guard, with Synjen Herren moving to right guard and Josh Cardiello taking over at right tackle.
The changes were made before UTC’s 41-13 win over Western Carolina on Oct. 31. In the five games since, the Mocs have averaged 262.4 rushing yards, 457.2 total offensive yards and 29.8 points.
Saturday will provide the offensive linemen a chance to see just how far they have come.
The Mocs had 110 yards on 36 carries and only nine completions for 86 yards in the season opener. Their offensive identity has developed a lot since then, though. The versatile Alejandro Bennifield, a backup quarterback, is now a prominent part of the offense, James Stovall has developed into a solid receiver, and Craine is now the featured back.
“We have to move the ball against a top-five defense – which is a tall order – but behind every tough challenge is a great opportunity,” Durden said. “We’re excited for the opportunity to play them again. It was a ballgame we didn’t feel like we played as good as we could have, so we have to go out there, play good and let the chips fall where they may.
“It’s kind of fun to chase instead of being chased. I have full confidence that we’ll come out and play good.”
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him at @genehenleytfp.