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Mocs crunched in crunch time against JSU, 23-20 Hargis: Gamecocks frustrate Mocs again Nearly 16,000 see No. 8 Mocs fall to No. 7 Gamecocks, 23-20 UTC uses two QBs together at times Chattanooga Mocs lose fourth down every time Eighth-ranked Mocs drop heartbreaker to No. 7 JSU Jacksonville State defeats Chattanooga Mocs, 23-20
Russ Huesman slammed his hand down on a table as he vented a few of his frustrations following the Mocs’ 23-20 loss to Jacksonville State.
His words weren’t quite as harsh as the table-slap.
But the point was made.
“They made three fourth-down plays when we could have gotten them off the field and won the football game,” Huesman said after taking a deep breath. “We didn’t get it done. We have to – as defensive coaches, the head coach and defensive players – figure out why we’re not getting off the field.”
Jacksonville State converted each of the three times it went for a first down on fourth down, including twice on the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.
Stopping JSU on those three plays could have saved UTC 10 points, more than enough to win the matchup of top-10 teams.
And converting on either of UTC’s two attempts on fourth down could have produced additional points on a night when UTC amassed only 196 yards of offense.
“We lost the game by three points and we all knew it would come down to this: Who would make a play?” Huesman said. “They made a play.”
JSU made its first fourth-down conversion early in the third quarter when Troymaine Pope gained the necessary 2 yards for a first down. Connor Rouleau booted a field goal to cap the drive and give JSU a 13-10 lead.
“On third and fourth down, we have to get off the field,” junior defensive end Keionta Davis said. “We couldn’t get off the field, and that was really big for us.”
The Gamecocks (1-0) needed a touchdown to take the lead late in the fourth quarter. They faced fourth-and-2 at the UTC 22. Miles Jones gained 4 yards over the right side.
Later in the drive, they faced fourth-and-3 from the 11. Following a timeout, Eli Jenkins connected with a leaping Josh Barge for an 8-yard pass to the 3-yard line.
“We have to figure out ways to make those plays,” Huesman said. “Maybe we have to put them in better positions. That’s what coaching is and that’s what coaches do.”
Contact David Uchiyama at duchiyama@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6484. Follow him at twitter.com/UchiyamaCTFP