Jacob Huesman has personal-record day

photo UTC quarterback Jacob Huesman is tackled into the end zone by Mercer defensive back Lendell Arnold for a touchdown during their game against the Bears on Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014, at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga.

It was just before halftime, as he stood on the sideline to catch his breath after helping the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga take its first lead of the game, that Jacob Huesman looked up at the scoreboard to check the stats.

As the Mocs junior quarterback stared at the numbers, he realized just how well the offense was beginning to click. By halftime UTC had amassed 318 total yards and Huesman was responsible for all but 37 of that.

He would finish his best day in a Mocs uniform with a career-best 458 total yards, including a career-high 359 passing, and totaled three touchdowns.

"It took us a few possessions to get going, but once we did things were working pretty good," said Huesman, who now has more than 4,600 passing yards and more than 2,280 rushing yards in his collegiate career. "The receivers did a great job not only of catching the ball but also making some great blocks on the perimeter to get us some extra yards on the bubble screens. We threw a ton of those, and they worked because guys were blocking and the backs were running hard when they got the ball."

Besides deflecting the credit for his career day, Huesman also did what leaders should in the second half. With the UTC defense struggling and Mercer rallying late in the game to turn a 21-point deficit into a one-possession game, Huesman led the Mocs on a 13-play drive, converting two third downs, including an 8-yard completion on third-and-7, to get into field-goal range and create some extra cushion late.

Receivers also shine

It wasn't only Huesman who had a career day on offense. Xavier Borishade (5 catches for 94 yards and a TD) and C.J. Board (5 catches for 82 yards) set career marks for receiving yards. Borishade also had the highlight play of the day, hauling in a 61-yard TD from Huesman to put the Mocs ahead by 21 points in the third quarter.

"When I caught it, I was running and praying to God that I didn't get hawked," Borishade said. "I was saying, 'Don't let anybody catch you.' I was looking back to see how close they were getting until I got to the end zone. That was a great feeling."

Tull continues his tear

Mocs defensive end Davis Tull added to his sack total with 1.5 against the Bears. That gives the senior All-American 35 for his career, just 1.5 from becoming the Southern Conference's all-time leader. After a slow start to the season, he has been on a tear of late, with 8.5 sacks in his last six games.

"I shook his hand (after the game)," said Mercer coach Bobby Lamb. "I've been in this league 27, 28 years, and I've seen a lot of good defensive players. I've never seen a D-end that can control the game like he can. I thought we did a good job on him, but he still had himself a day."

Mercer again loses close

Although the loss dropped Mercer to 1-4 in the SoCon, three of those losses are by a combined 15 points. Besides Saturday, the Bears also had one-possession losses to Furman (25-20) and Samford (21-18).

"We've played some close SoCon games, and this team is tired of being close," Lamb said.

Contact Stephen Hargis at shargis@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6293.

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