UTC Defeats Fordham, 50-20, in FCS First Round Game

 "UTC has one of the best defensive lines we have played against all season ... character guys and no trash talking."

-- Fordham Quarterback Kevin Anderson in post game comments 

 

Senior quarterback Jacob Huesman threw for 211 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another 154 yards to lead UTC to a 50-20 victory against visiting Fordham Saturday at Finley Stadium in a FCS first round playoff game.

The Mocs played a near flawless first half, scored on four straight possessions to lead 31-0 at intermission.

First half highlights included Richardre Bagley scoring on a career-long 38-yard run, Lucas Webb returning his third career interception for a score and C.J. Board and James Stovall had scoring catches.

"I cannot think of another game with a more well played first half on both sides of the ball by our players," said UTC coach Russ Huesman "We score on each possession, have no penalties and score on an interception.

Jacob Huesman said, "The offensive line did a great job of opening holes for the runners and was on the other side of the line of scrimmage on run plays which is exactly what we need for them to do to be successful in moving the ball.

 "They also did a tremendous job of pass blocking which gave me plenty of time to find the open receivers."

The Citadel Also Wins: While the Mocs were winning big at home, SouthernThe Citadel went on the road and defeated Coastal Carolina, 41-38 on a late field goal. The Bulldogs travel to Charleston Southern next Saturday at 1 p.m.

Injured Fordham Star: All-American running back Chase Edmonds injured an ankle in the team's 38-31 win against Georgetown Nov. 14 ... today he carried the ball three times for five yards in the first quarter before leaving the game.

"Chase tried to go today, but the ankle just wasn't strong enough and so he came out of the game early," said Fordham coach Joe Moorhead.

Edmonds is a sophomore and rushed for 1,643 yards this season and 20 touchdowns

2nd Half: The Mocs did not let up after intermission and drove 65 yards in six plays capped by a Derrick Craine 14 yard run for a 38-0 lead.

The two teams traded scores in the final 30 minutes as Fordham quarterback Kevin Anderson had three scoring passes of his own (329 yards for the game) in the final two quarters for 32 on the season.

"That opening scoring drive in the third quarter was huge because if we had gone three and out followed by Fordham's first score it would have given them the momentum," said UTC coach Russ Huesman.

The Mocs did score first and followed Fordham's first score with Henrique Ribeiro's second field goal of the game for a 41-7 advantage.

Safety: The Mocs also scored on a safety as Dale Warren blocked  Fordham punt and the ball rolled out the back of the end zone early in the fourth quarter for a 43-14 lead at 13:19.

Fordham Coach Joe Moorhead: "Credit coach Huesman and his staff with a well designed game plan ... it's a top flight program ... in the playoffs the speed of the game is key and the margin of error is so small ... we had some guys open on pass plays, but just couldn't convert which would have kept drives going."

Fordham Quarterback Kevin Anderson: "UTC has one of the best defensive lines we have played against all season ... character guys and no trash talking"

Notes:

The Mocs Scored Five Ways; a run, a pass, an interception, a field goal and a safety

Lucas Webb and His Coach: UTC soph. free safety Lucas Webb gained his career ninth interception in the first period and returned it 71 yards for a first quarter touchdown as the Mocs led 21-0 ... that INT ties him with UTC coach Russ Huesman for the school career lead in INTs with 9 ... Webb has scoring INTs of 37 yards vs. Jacksonville (Ala.) State in 2014 and 35 yards vs. Furman this season prior to today.

Webb also now holds the school record with three INTs returned for touchdowns.

Coach Huesman's 50th Win: UTC coach Russ Huesmna is now 50-32 in seven seasons

UTC Seniors ... now have 33 victories, tying the senior class of 1980 for the most wins by a senior class ..

Turf Tackle Tough on Rams Possible Game Turning Point???: With the Mocs leading 14-0, Fordham QB Kevin Anderson found Austin Longi behind the Mocs secondary and possibly on the way for a touchdown, but the Ram tripped and fell at the Mocs 30 ... The Mocs A.J. Hampton sacked Anderson two plays later followed by Webb's 71 yard Pick 6 ... Mocs went up 21-0 instead of a possible 14-7 advantage 

 Near Perfect First Half: Mocs had no penalties ... scored all four times it touched the ball ... and the defense stopped the Rams with the aforementioned INT, stopped them on a 4th and 1 in the second quarter at the UTC 27 (tackle for a loss by Vantrell McMillan) and forced the Rams to punt on three other occasions.

Jacob Huesman Reaches 8,000 Yards Passing: Huesman's 211 passing yards today gives him 8, 036 career yards ... Career Rushing ... ran for 154 yards today and needs 21 yards vs. Jax State for 4,000 career rushing yards.

Southern Conference Shines: Both UTC and The Citadel won today ...

Same Half of Bracket: Sat. Dec. 5 -- UTC is at No.1 Jax. (Ala.) State and The Citadel is at Charleston Southern ... If the two SoCon teams win they would meet in a FCS quarterfinal game Dec. 12 

 UTC 50, Fordham 20

Fordham 0 - 0 - 14 - 6 -- 20

UTC - 21 - 10 - 10 - 9 -- 50

Next Game: UTC at No.1 Jacksonville (Ala.) State  Sat. Dec. 5 ... The Citadel at Charleston Southern ... 

   First Half Summary 

Using a smothering defense and a precision-like offense, UTC scored on all four of its first half possessions, plus an interception for a score, to lead 31-0 at halftime.

The Mocs defense has kept the Rams off the scoreboard with drive stopping plays  - an interception for a touchdown and one stop on fourth down at the Mocs 27.. 

In the second most productive half of the season, the Mocs reached the Fordham end zone on a pair of 90+ yard drives, another drive of 75 yards, the aforementioned interception and a 23 yard field goal.

Senior quarterback Jacob Huesman leads the UTC offense with 93 rushing yards and another 128 (9-14-0) through the air and two scoring tosses.

The Mocs opened the scoring with a 9-play, 97-yard drive capped by Richardre Bagley's career high 38-yard scamper up the middle and after Henrique Ribeiro made good on his first of four extra point attempts, the Mocs led 7-0 at 6:33 in the opening quarter.

After a Fordham 3 and out, the Mocs went back to work and scored on a 9-play, 75-yard drive as Huesman connected with C.J. Board for a 43-yard score and a 14-0 lead at 2:35.

After Lucas Webb returned an interception 71 yards the Mocs were up 21-0 at the end of the first quarter.

The Mocs kept the pressure on in the second quarter as the Blue and Gold drove 64 yards for a 23 yard Ribeiro field goal and a 24-0 advantage.

Huesman closed out the half connecting with James Stovall on a 13 yard pitch and catch and a 31-0 lead 10 seconds before intermission.

Strong Defense: The Mocs were led in tackles by A.J. Hampton with four and one sack and a tackle for loss, while Trevor Wright also had four tackles.

Receiving: C.J. Board has three catches for 59 yards and one score and James Stovall had 2 catches for 19 yards and a touchdown.

Rushing: Jacob Huesman leads with 93 yards, followed by Derrick Craine with 59 yards and Richardre Bagley with 47 yards and one TD.

Fordham Offense: Quarterback Kevin Anderson rushed for 27 yards, but was also tackled behind the line for a minus 13 yards for a net 13.

Jarred Brevard led the Rams with 24 yards on five carries. All-American running back Chase Edmonds carried the ball only three times for five yards and left the game in the first quarter.

Fordham Passing: Anderson was 10-18-1 for 102 yards and the one interception.'

No Flags: A Clean first half, neither team was penalized

3rd Down Conversions: UTC (6 of 8)  Fordham (4 of 10)

4th Down Conversions: UTC (1 of )  Fordham (1 of 2)

Mocs First Half Scoring:  Today, the Mocs scored 31 points before intermission ... The Blue and Gold led Western Carolina 35-6 at intermission in a 41-13 triumph at Finley on October 31.

 

UTC 31, Fordham 0 

 Fordham 0 - 0 -- 0

UTC 21 - 10 -- 31

 contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net