University of Tennessee at Chattanooga beat writer Gene Henley breaks down the Mocs' 48-3 win over The Citadel.
SATURDAY'S STAR
UTC senior running back Ailym Ford hadn't produced at his usual pace through the first two games this year, but he was back to his normal self Saturday with 126 yards and a score -- his first of the season. He also moved into second place in career rushing yardage at UTC with the type of performance Mocs fans have grown more accustomed to seeing from Ford.
SATURDAY'S STAT
The 45-point victory over The Citadel is UTC's largest ever over the Bulldogs, beating a 35-point win in 1986.
TURNING POINT
Quarterback Chase Artopoeus and receiver Jamoi Mayes linked up on three completions on the Mocs' first possession, with the latter breaking a tackle and racing 25 yards for a score. It caused the Bulldogs to play on their heels more and opened up lanes for Ford.
THE BIG PLAY
With the game in hand, backup quarterback Luke Schomburg found A.J. Little on a slant pattern for a 57-yard touchdown pass, which was Schomburg's first-ever completion and Little's first-ever reception with the Mocs.
WHAT IT MEANS
UTC is a better program currently than The Citadel, so the win wasn't a surprise. Maybe the margin of victory was, but that's the team that was expected to be on the field all season. The Mocs had a slight hiccup in the season-opening loss at North Alabama, but performances like Saturday's certainly elicit confidence ahead of next weekend's trip to Samford, which is a big one.
Contact Gene Henley at [email protected].