LEXINGTON, Va. - The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team closed its first season with Rusty Wright as head coach with a 31-24 loss to Virginia Military Institute on Saturday at Foster Stadium.
UTC dropped to 6-6 overall and 5-3 in the Southern Conference. VMI improved to 5-7, 4-4.
SATURDAY'S STAR
VMI receiver Jakob Herres torched the Mocs with eight catches for 153 yards. Not only did he score on receptions covering 13 and 54 yards, he had four catches that kept drives alive. With UTC doing a good job of holding 1,200-yard rusher Alex Ramsey in check, Herres was the difference maker.
SATURDAY'S STAT
3. The Keydets threw two interceptions, but the Mocs had three costly mistakes that led to VMI touchdowns. A UTC fumble early in the second quarter ended a promising possession at the VMI 12 and was followed by a VMI scoring drive. Another UTC fumble in the third quarter was returned 64 yards for a VMI touchdown. The most damaging blunder, though, was a blocked punt recovered in the end zone for a Keydets touchdown in the second quarter.
TURNING POINT
With the score tied at 10 two minutes into the second quarter, the Mocs had just given up an 88-yard touchdown drive and were attempting to punt from their 21 when self-inflicted disaster struck. The snap sailed over punter Gabe Boring's head and the ball rolled inside the 5, where Boring picked it up and tried to kick. VMI's Devin Carper blocked it, and Carter Johnson made the recovery for the lead.
HIGHLIGHT PLAY
For the Mocs, it had to be Nick Tiano's 8-yard touchdown scramble with 4:43 remaining in the game that brought his team within seven. It was reminiscent of last weekend's game-winning run against The Citadel. This play turned out to be the final time the three-year starter touched the ball in his UTC career, but what a memorable way to go out.
WHAT IT MEANS
Barring a miracle, the Mocs were not going to the playoffs anyway, but a win to end the season would have given the program nice momentum heading into the offseason. Otherwise, Saturday's result meant little, though it will give coach Rusty Wright and his staff plenty of teachable moments next spring and summer. In the end, 6-6 and 5-3 in the SoCon isn't what the Mocs wanted, but there were enough strong moments in the second half of the season to prove the first-year staff has things headed in the right direction.
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.