Wofford quarterback Josh Collier posted 250 total yards of offense, including a career-high 191 yards rushing, to lead Wofford (8-3, 5-2) to a 42-16 victory over Chattanooga (2-8, 2-4) in a Southern Conference football game at Finley Stadium Saturday afternoon.
The Terriers piled up 444 total yards of offense, 349 coming on the ground, and took advantage of six Chattanooga turnovers to take control of the game early. After a 36-yard field goal by Chattanooga to open the game, the Terriers used a grinding offensive attack to score 28 points and roll to the 26-point victory.
Trailing by three, Wofford struck quickly on their first possession as Collier broke free for a career-long 62-yard touchdown run to put the Terriers ahead 7-3 with 10:10 to play in the first quarter. The score would stay that way until early in the second quarter courtesy of a Chattanooga punt and three straight possessions that resulted in turnovers, two of which were by the Terriers.
With 11:35 to go in the first half, Collier connected with junior tight end Fenn Allen for an 18-yard touchdown to extend the score to 14-3. Defensive play marked the rest of the first half as neither team was able to find the end zone for the remainder of the half.
The third quarter was far different as Wofford opened the half with a 15-play, 74-yard drive that ate up 8:17 off the clock and resulted in another Collier touchdown to push the Terriers' lead to 21-3. An interception on the Mocs' next possession by defensive back Dan Tavani gave Wofford excellent field position for its next drive.
That drive culminated in a two-yard touchdown run for tailback Michael Hobbs to make the score 28-3 with 2:10 to go in the quarter. Chattanooga's Antonio Miller answered with a 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end Joseph Pitman to close out the third quarter and make the score 28-10.
Sean Lees took the ensuing kickoff 79 yards for a touchdown to put the score at 35-10 with 14:50 to play. A James Mitchell interception at the 8:04 mark set up Wofford's final scoring drive as running back Adrian Young went in from two yards out to make the score 42-10.
The Mocs once again struck at the end of the quarter, this time with quarterback Tony Pastore completing a 31-yard touchdown pass to fellow sophomore Kelvon Yancey with no time on the clock to reach the final score of 42-16. The point after kick was not attempted.
Collier lead all rushers with a game-high 191 yards and two scores and completed five-of-six pass attempts for 59 yards and one touchdown. Wideout Tripp Smith had three catches for 24 yards to lead the Terriers.
Senior defensive back Chris Camacho led all tacklers with a game-high 18 tackles, including 15 solo, while linebackers Chris Johnson and Joseph Thornton each finished with 10 tackles.
Thornton added a fumble recovery while Johnson had a forced fumble. Senior defensive backs Jeff Phillips and Brandon Golder accounted for three turnovers, with Phillips nabbing a pick and a fumble recovery and Golder an interception.
Offensively, Antonio Miller completed 10-of-20 passes for 150 yards and one touchdown while junior tailback Bryan Fitzgerald topped the century mark with 116 yards rushing. Sophomore tailback Erroll Wynn added 62 yards. Junior wideout Thomas Hinton and Pitman each finished with 39 yards receiving for the Mocs.
The game marked the final home appearance for 17 Mocs' seniors.
Chattanooga wraps up the regular season next weekend when they travel to Appalachian State for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff in Boone, N.C.
