Mack, Mahaffey proud of defense despite loss
It certainly wasn’t the way he and his senior teammates wanted to go out at home, but even after Saturday’s odd 13-9 loss to Mercer, Isaiah Mack was all smiles.
The effervescent defensive lineman was a key part of what could have gone down as one of the greatest defensive games the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga ever has played. Though the details will fade quickly due to a plethora of missed opportunities, the statistics prove the unit’s dominance.
The Bears, third in the Southern Conference at 32.7 points per game and fourth in total offense at 400 yards per game coming in, managed just 149 yards against Mack and his mauling mates. Mercer’s only points were set up by a pair of long kickoff returns. Five of the Bears’ first six drives and 11 overall drives did not include an offensive first down.
“It’s tough, but I couldn’t be any more proud,” said Mack, who led the Mocs along with linebacker Marshall Cooper with eight tackles and added a sack. “We fought our tails off and we made them beat us. I wouldn’t want to lose with anybody else.”
Mack also had a good view of the game’s biggest play. Burned a couple of times early by welltimed Mercer screen plays, senior noseguard Derek Mahaffey sniffed one out and appeared to have given the Mocs the lift they needed with an interception and 69-yard touchdown return late in the first half.
The touchdown, though, was nullified when the 310-pounder was called for “high-stepping” on his way to the end zone. Mack could be seen trailing the play with his arms raised in triumph.
“I saw the end zone — that’s all I saw,” he said, the ever-present smile spreading wide as he looked at his friend. “I saw my boy running and I said in my mind, ‘I’ve got to get on the (celebration) pile.’ Sadly, they took away his fun.
“I could have taken the unsportsmanlike then with the celebration, but to see it taken away like that was tough.”
Mack wasn’t alone with his confusion about the play, which also included another unsportsmanlike penalty for sideline interference.
“I honestly don’t know what happened,” receiver Bryce Nunnelly said. “I saw Derek go into the end zone and do a little celebration, but I didn’t see anything before. Of course, our sideline got a little too excited and got the penalty, but I don’t know what happened before.
“I didn’t know that was a rule for a touchdown to get called back like that for celebration, so that was a little bizarre.”
Mahaffey, who added six tackles and broke up two passes with tips, naturally was disappointed with the call and the outcome. Like Mack, though, he was proud of the defense’s day.
“All week Coach emphasized to stop the run and then we could pin our ears back and go after the quarterback,” Mahaffey said. “Sometimes you have to just finish. Football comes down to an inch, and you have to be aware of your surroundings and take care of business. Those things will get you beat.”
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.