UTC not telling who will start at QB
Bennifield or Tiano?
Only those two players and their University of Tennessee at Chattanooga foootball coaches know who is going to be running the Mocs’ offense this evening when they face Western Carolina in a Southern Conference clash at 6 at Finley Stadium. Maybe it’ll be both. Alejandro Bennifield, last season’s starting quarterback for the Mocs, is back after a fourgame suspension due to an NCAA academics violation. In his absence, sophomore Nick Tiano started and completed 56 percent of his passes for 785 yards and six touchdowns and six interceptions.
Coach Tom Arth said during Tuesday’s news conference that he “wouldn’t share” who the starter was going to be, but Bennifield took most of the first-team repetitions during Thursday’s practice.
Offensive coordinator Justin Rascati said earlier in the week that both could play.
“It’s possible,” Rascati said. “We’ve got two really good players in that room, so it’s a good problem to have. I’m fortunate to be able to coach these guys and be around them every single day.”
Tiano is coming off his best game of the young season, throwing for 249 yards and four touchdowns in a 63-7 win over Virginia Military Institute. The Mocs racked up a season-high 397 yards in the largest margin of victory in a conference road game in school history, topping the 51-0 win over Western Carolina in 2014.
“It’s all about us,” Rascati said. “The way we prepare this week will define what we do on Saturday. Last week we played well, but there’s a lot to improve on, but there’s also something to build on as well. You saw the guys play with confidence, make plays, have fun and play with a lot of energy, passion and enthusiasm. That’s something I want to see every day in practice. It’s something we work on as an offense — coming in every day with the right mindset.
“We have to trust the process, but we’ve got the players and the talent to go have success. Our kids realize that, so I’m looking forward to getting through this week and watching them play on Saturday.”
Whoever gets the call at signal-caller will be facing a WCU defense that has allowed 434.5 yards and 29.8 points per game, averages that rank in the bottom of the league. The Catamounts have been at their best getting off the field on third downs, ranking second in the league with opponents converting 36 percent of their attempts into first downs.
UTC receiver Alphonso Stewart said that to build on last week’s success, the focus the Mocs had last week and their enthusiasm in practice and against the Keydets was going to have to bleed into today’s game.
“We just have to buy into what the coaches are saying,” Stewart said. “They’re going to put us in the best situations to make the plays we can make.
“It’s simple: Buy in and execute what’s put in front of us in practice.”
Whoever’s in the backfield making the calls.