UTC's Marshall Copper (40), Rashun Freeman, on ground, and Isaiah Mack tackle Western Carolina's Connell Young during their SoCon matchup Oct. 13 in Cullowhee, N.C. Mack and fellow defensive linemen Khayyan Edwards and Derek Mahaffey have a weekly competition to see who can get the most sacks in a game.Each week, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defensive linemen Khayyan Edwards, Isaiah Mack and Derek Mahaffey compete to see who can get the most sacks in a game. The losers have to pay for the winner's dinner.
The winner of this week's competition likely will be taken out to Mike's Hole in the Wall next Thursday, when they have 50-cent wings. Going up against a pass-happy Virginia Military Institute offense on Saturday will present a number of opportunities.
The Keydets have thrown the ball an average of 59.1 times per game this season, and their ground game has mustered just 1.7 yards per carry, which is tied for worst in the Football Championship Subdivision. Part of the reason for that is opponents' ability to get to the quarterback - VMI has surrendered 30 sacks, also worst nationally among FCS programs.
When sophomore Reece Udinski has been able to stay upright, he has been pretty good, completing 59 percent of his passes for 2,253 yards and 16 touchdowns. As a team, the Keydets rank third in the country with an average of 344.6 passing yards per game, but the UTC defense is second in the league in pass efficiency defense and has allowed only five touchdown passes this season. The Mocs also rank second in passing yards allowed per game at 192.4.
Something will have to give when the two teams play at 3 p.m. at Finley Stadium for UTC's homecoming. The Mocs (5-2, 3-2 Southern Conference) are coming off their open date, with their most recent game a 26-6 win at Western Carolina on Oct. 13.
The Keydets (0-7, 0-6) lost 34-32 to The Citadel last weekend, their third loss this year by three or fewer points.
"I love weeks like this," said Mack, who is tied for the team lead in sacks this season with 3.5 and ranks fourth in UTC history with 16 for his career. "It gives me some time to knock some of this rust off and see if I've still got it. I'm ready to go have some fun."
VMI's passing game is predicated on short screens but has the ability to go over the top for big gains if necessary - similar to what Samford does. Bulldogs quarterback Devlin Hodges threw for 384 yards against UTC in the Mocs' 27-20 win on Sept. 22, but it took 64 passes to do so and he was intercepted three times and sacked once.
Mocs defensive coordinator Matt Feeney said his line is going to have to do a good job of "retracing" back to the ball carrier and creating negative yardage plays against the screens.
"I think our defensive line is going to have a big responsibility this week," UTC coach Tom Arth said. "If we let their quarterback stand back in the pocket and if he's comfortable, he has the ability to hurt you, has the ability to make big-time throws, and they have the receivers who can get open if given time. It'll be important that our defensive line generate a rush, make him uncomfortable and affect him in the pocket.
"If we do that, we'll give ourselves a chance to have some success."
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3.