For all of the impressive things the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga defense has done this season -- especially holding opponents to a 3-for-28 third-down conversion rate in the past two games -- it has given up some big plays.
In all three games, the No. 14 Mocs (2-1) have been burned for big gains, though sometimes the wounds were self inflicted.
That was the case last Saturday at Eastern Kentucky when cornerback Chris Lewis-Harris blew an interception that instead led to a 29-yard touchdown. And with seconds to go in the first half safeties D.J. Key and Jordan Tippit somehow let EKU's 6-foot-7 tight end bounce off them and score a 55-yard TD that gave the Colonels a 14-10 lead.
"I took my eyes off the ball and missed an opportunity," Lewis-Harris said. "Those plays are extremely frustrating and you just want to get out there and make up for it as soon as you can."
The Mocs have given up 13 plays of 15 yards or more this season: six at Nebraska, four against Jacksonville State and three at EKU. And of those 13, four have been touchdown plays.
Those numbers aren't bad, they're far ahead of last season's pace, but Lewis-Harris said giving up one big play (which UTC considers 20 yards or more) is one "too many."
UTC will face a big-play offense Saturday at No. 3 Appalachian State (2-1). In their 42-41 come-from-behind win over the Mocs last season, the Mountaineers had eight plays of at least 15 yards. And in three games this season they have 23, though 21 have come in blowout wins against North Carolina A&T and Savannah State.
Morgan to start
True freshman Brandon Morgan replaced redshirt freshman Taylor Dodds at left tackle in the first quarter at EKU last week and will make his first start Saturday. Morgan said the EKU game was a learning experience that should help him against the Mountaineers.
"It will help a lot as far as getting to know the speed of everybody and the toughness of everybody," he said. "It's a lot tougher than high school, I realized that once I got out there."
Dodds has missed both practices this week with a concussion, but Mocs coach Russ Huesman said he expects him to be available.
Extra points
Running back Chris Awuah (ankle) did not practice Wednesday, and backup center Shaun Hill suffered a sprained foot. ... Appalachian State has won 27 of its last 28 Southern Conference games. The loss came last season at Georgia Southern.