Mocs receivers confident after big opener

Any questions that folks had about whether the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga's inexperienced receivers could make plays were emphatically answered last Saturday.

In the Mocs' 42-41 season-opening loss to No. 3 Appalachian State, the passing attack was in mid-season form.

“It was nice to see kids make plays, and once they made plays be able to run with it a little bit,” offensive coordinator Marcus Satterfield said.

First-team wideouts Joel Bradford and Brian Sutherland both made their first career receptions in the game, and both finished with five catches for 85 yards.

One of Bradford's grabs resulted in a 36-yard touchdown, while Sutherland came up a yard short of a touchdown on a leaping 46-yard catch.

“I think we built a lot of confidence last week,” Bradford said. “Obviously we have a lot of talent at the wideout position and even tight end, and it shows with [349] yards passing. I think now we've got that first game under our belt and we feel a lot more comfortable going into other games.”

Up next is Saturday night's game at No. 6 Jacksonville State, which is coming off last week's upset of Ole Miss. The Gamecocks' defense held the Rebels to a field goal in the second half and their secondary includes preseason All-American cornerback in D.J. Heath.

“I think that Jacksonville State is a very fast, physical, huge football team that's scary as heck on tape,” Satterfield said. “If you can get protection, can you beat D.J. Heath? I don't know, not many people can.”

Appalachian State had a highly-touted defense and the Mocs racked up 492 yards of offense. Quarterback B.J. Coleman, whom Jacksonville State coach Jack Crowe raves about, began his second season at UTC by completing 23 of 37 passes for 340 yards and three touchdowns.

Crowe said Coleman “is the got-dang spitting image of” Peyton Manning.

“He's a player and we've got our hands full,” he said.

Coleman wasn't a question mark entering the season, but his receiving corps was because only senior wideout Chris Pitchford and senior tight end Garrett Hughes had more than three career catches.

Hughes led the receivers in the opener with six catches for 78 yards and a touchdown, and Pitchford had three receptions for 85 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown.

“These guys right here are fast, they're explosive receivers, they're guys who are threats downfield but at the same time they're very smart,” Coleman said. “And that's what you've got to have, guys who can understand and recognize coverage and find the holes in the defense.”

Extra points

Jeff Veres had a better day kicking during Wednesday’s practice than he did Tuesday, Mocs coach Russ Huesman said. ... True freshman running back Keon Williams didn’t play in the opener but should get some carries on Saturday.