Terriers working No. 3 QB James Lawson

photo UTC coach Russ Huesman watches from the sidelines.
Arkansas-Oklahoma State Live Blog

Injuries have been piling up for the 14th-ranked Wofford football team all season. The situation might not be at critical mass yet, with the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga visiting Saturday in a must-win game for both teams, but it's close.

The Terriers (7-2, 5-2 Southern Conference) took the field at Samford last week without several starters, including All-SoCon offensive lineman Calvin Cantrell, and without backup quarterback Michael Weimer (knee). When starting quarterback Brian Kass left the game in the second quarter with a hip pointer, Wofford had to turn to sophomore third-stringer James Lawson, a former walk-on.

Lawson led Wofford on a scoring drive and ran the ball in from the 6-yard line for his first career touchdown, but the Terriers went on to lose in double overtime.

When asked during Tuesday's SoCon media teleconference about his quarterback situation, Wofford coach Mike Ayers said the Terriers were "down to our third-team quarterback."

He said Kass might be able to return but Wofford is preparing for Lawson to make his first start.

"James led us to an eight-point lead and gave us a chance," Ayers said, "and if James is the guy, then we've got to do some things to help James out. We'll see how it all goes this week, as far as the rehab and how the guys feel."

UTC coach Russ Huesman said the Mocs (5-4, 4-2) will be preparing for Kass, but the coaches have watched video of Lawson as well. Either way, the quarterback isn't UTC's top defensive priority. That would be fullback Eric Breitenstein, who leads the SoCon in rushing with 1,396 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Price performs

The race for SoCon freshman of the year appears to be between UTC quarterback Jacob Huesman and Appalachian State wide receiver Sean Price.

Price made perhaps his strongest case yet last Saturday in ASU's 31-28 win at then-No. 1 Georgia Southern. Price earned won the league's top offensive player and freshman honors with seven receptions for 231 yards and a touchdown.

"He's just a dynamite talent," GSU coach Jeff Monken said.

Jacob Huesman didn't exactly hurt his case by rushing for 130 yards and two touchdowns and throwing for 107 yards and a touchdown.

Extra points

Samford coach Pat Sullivan said the Bulldogs' double-overtime win over then-No. 7 Wofford was the biggest in his six seasons in Birmingham. ... Mocs defensive end Davis Tull's 10 sacks is three more than anyone else in the SoCon, and his 13.5 tackles for loss is 5.5 clear of the field.

Contact John Frierson at jfrierson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6268. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/mocsbeatCTFP.

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