The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football used a big second-half performance and a career-high rushing effort from Derrick Craine to outlast NCAA Division II Mars Hill 44-34 Saturday at Finley Stadium.
Craine had three rushing touchdowns and added one receiving, finishing with 169 yards rushing as the Mocs claimed their first win in preparation for a big road clash with Southern Conference opponent Samford next week.
Jacob Huesman added 265 yards passing and three scores, and the Mocs had over 500 yards of total offense for the first time since a 566-yard effort against New Hampshire in last season’s Football Championship Subdivision quarterfinals.
Mars Hill held touchdown leads of 14-7 and 21-14 in the first half, but the teams went into the locker room tied at 21. The Mocs started off the second half with a rushing touchdown by Craine and a 16-yard strike from Huesman to C.J. Board, but Mars Hill’s Keshaun Taylor caught two of his four touchdown passes on back-to-back possessions, trimming the lead to 37-34. After the first of his consecutive scores, Taylor Reynolds blocked the extra point, which Trevor Wright returned for a two-point conversion.
Huesman then found Craine in the back of the end zone for the score that put the game away.
For full story, read Sunday’s Times Free Press.