Terriers' star breaks record by Edwards

Friday, January 1, 1904

photo Wofford's Eric Breitenstein points to the endzone at Finley Stadium in this file photo.

Breaking any Southern Conference record is an impressive achievement. Breaking a SoCon record held by former Appalachian State star quarterback Armanti Edwards -- well, that's really doing something.

Wofford fullback Eric Breitenstein ran all over Elon last Saturday in the fifth-ranked Terriers' 49-24 win at Elon. The senior ran for 90 yards and a touchdown on his first carry and he kept rolling. He had 223 yards by halftime on his way to being the SoCon offensive player of the week.

With the Terriers up 43-24 late in the game and Breitenstein a few yards shy of Edwards' SoCon single-game rushing record of 313 yards -- gained in the 2007 playoffs against the University of Richmond (with current University of Tennessee at Chattanooga coach Russ Huesman as defensive coordinator) -- Breitenstein went back in the game.

Runs of 3 and 9 yards pushed his total to 321 on just 27 carries. Elon coach Jason Swepson said Wofford came in with a very effective scheme of trap plays.

"We tried different things to stop it and couldn't," Swepson said during Tuesday's SoCon media teleconference.

As for Breitenstein, Swepson said he's looking forward to the day when Wofford retires his jersey.

"I'll be there to shake his hand," he said. "It was an impressive performance by that young man and that team."

Breitenstein was the 2011 SoCon offensive player of the year and the 2012 preseason pick. He appears headed for a repeat: After four games he has 735 yards and nine touchdowns on 72 carries.

Haynes, Caldwell return

The Mocs are off Saturday and practice today for the first time since last Saturday's 28-10 win at No. 22 The Citadel. Huesman said free safety Dean Haynes and offensive lineman Devin Caldwell will be among those practicing.

Caldwell, a former Boyd-Buchanan all-state lineman, has been out since spring practice due to a knee injury. Caldwell will work at tackle, behind starters Adam Miller and Hunter Dockery, and Huesman said he's curious to see how the redshirt sophomore performs.

"He was having a really good spring until he got hurt, and we're hoping that he comes back to that form and we can feel good about putting him into a game," Huesman said. "I don't know what to expect with him."

Haynes fractured a bone in his foot during the Mocs' third preseason practice and also has had a long wait to get back on the field. Haynes' return will give UTC some much-needed depth in the secondary, Huesman said.

Extra points

Huesman said seven UTC assistant coaches were on the road recruiting during the first part of the week. ... Wofford is the only SoCon team perfect (4-for-4) on field goals this season. UTC (4-for-8) is one four teams that has made only 50 percent of its attempts.