Chattanooga tops The Citadel 31-23 to win SoCon FCS bid

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. -- Quarterback Jacob Huesman ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns and Chattanooga won the Southern Conference's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs by handing The Citadel its first conference loss, 31-23 on Saturday. The Mocs shocked the Bulldogs on the first play from scrimmage when backup quarterback Alejandro Bennifield took a swing pass from Huesman, stopped and threw a deep pass to Xavier Borishade for a 75-yard touchdown -- the quickest score in school history. Huesman scored on a 1-yard run late in the first quarter and had a 9 yarder with 1:06 left before halftime to put Chattanooga (8-2, 6-1) up 21-0. The Citadel (7-3, 6-1) closed within 24-14 in the third but Chattanooga regained control on Derrick Craine 's 46-yard run to cap a 92-yard drive midway through the fourth.