With 11:47 to play in the first quarter, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga starting quarterback Alejandro Bennifield jogged out onto the field for his first snap of the season against Western Carolina.
A little more than 10 minutes later, he was gone.
Bennifield was taken to the hospital after a big hit by the Catamounts’ Tahjai Watt, and an anemic offensive effort followed in a 45-7 Southern Conference loss for the Mocs in front of an announced attendance of 10,104 at Finley Stadium.
The Mocs (1-4, 1-1) host Furman this Saturday at 4 p.m.
Bennifield – playing for the first time after a four-game suspension – was 3-for-5 for 29 passing yards prior to the injury. Nick Tiano, who started the four games in place of Bennifield, was 11-for-23 for 88 yards before he suffered a shoulder injury on the second play of the fourth quarter.