CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- It was a dominant performance by the Chattanooga Mocs on a beautiful afternoon at Finley Stadium against the Samford Bulldogs today. UTC (6-4, 5-2 SoCon) sent 11 seniors off in style by commanding both sides of the ball from the opening drive in the 48-14 win in the Southern Rail Rivalry.
The Mocs posted 550 yards of total offense featuring a 300-yard passer, 100-yard rusher and 100-yard receiver. Junior B.J. Coleman (Chattanooga, Tenn.) topped the 5,000-yard mark in his career with 319 yards on 12 completions in 20 attempts with four scores.
Sophomore Brian Sutherland (Smyrna, Ga.) had a career-high 167 yards receiving on five catches with three touchdowns. In the last two games, Sutherland has 15 catches and 264 yards with four TDs.
It was a memorable senior day for running back Erroll Wynn (Jonesboro, Ga.). Wynn posted a 100-yard effort (21 carries) in his regular-season finale on Davenport Field.
Chattanooga's defense was smothering allowing just 232 yards of offense. It limited Samford's Chris Evans to 57 yards rushing although he did move past the 1,000 yard mark (1,015) for the year with one touchdown.
The Mocs limited the Bulldogs (4-6/2-5) to six three-and-outs and only one sustained drive. D.J. Key (Centerville, Tenn.) and Ryan Consiglio (Franklin, Tenn.) each had eight tackles with two-and-half stops for loss by Consiglio.
Senior Jaron Norfleet (Nashville, Tenn.) led a defensive line that dominated the line of scrimmage with five tackles. Seven-and-a-half of UTC's 10 tackles for loss and both sacks can from the defensive line.
Chattanooga set the tone on the opening drive. Wynn carried the ball six times for 49 yards keying an 11-play, 62-yard drive that was capped by sophomore J.J. Jackson's (Marietta, Ga.) three-yard run. Coleman's 4th down strike to Chris Marshall (Pasadena, Calif.) at Samford's 26 set up Jackson's score.
The Mocs kept the pressure on at the start of the second quarter with its second scoring drive. It was a quick strike offense after Keon Williams (Chattanooga, Tenn.) ran three straight times for 30 yards, Coleman found Sutherland from 45 yards for the first of his three scoring catches.
UTC's defense held the Bulldogs to a three-and-out, Coleman went back to work on his own 18 yard line. On the first play of the drive, Coleman and Sutherland hooked up for a 35-yard gain. Four plays and 27 yards later, Coleman lofted a 20-yard pass to the back corner of the end zone that Sutherland ran a perfect route on for a 21-0 lead.
The Samford offense answered. Evans broke a tackle to narrowly convert a fourth-and-inches on his own 41. The Bulldogs converted three more third downs to set up an Evans six-yard touchdown run, needing a strong second and third effort to close the Mocs' lead to 21-7.
On the Bulldogs' next possession, the offense continued its momentum moving inside Chattanooga territory. Going for it on fourth and three from the Mocs' 35, quarterback Dustin Taliaferro's pass was intercepted by safety Jordan Tippit (Huntsville, Tenn.) who bobbed and weaved his way 66 yards for the final tally of the half giving UTC a 27-7 cushion at the break.
It was more of the same in the second half. The Mocs' defense held the Bulldogs to a three-and-out on the first possession of the second half. The Mocs' offense scored quickly thereafter moving 66 yards in four plays with Coleman going deep again for 53 yards to Joel Bradford (Chattanooga, Tenn.).
On the ensuing possession, the Bulldogs were stymied by the Chattanooga defense. The offense answered again as Coleman dialed long distance for a 65-yard score to Sutherland. Coleman completed seven passes of 20 yards or more, three for more than 40 yards.
Samford had a big strike of its own midway through the third quarter. Taliaferro hit Quin Roberson for a 51-yard catch and run to make it 41-14 at 7:07.
The Mocs put the game away to start the fourth quarter. The offense mounted an impressive 17-play, 71-yard drive that lasted 9:42 of clock time. UTC methodically moved the ball down the field rushing 15 of the 17 plays for 53 yards. Senior Courtland Ellzey (Jacksonville, Fla.) dove in from a yard out to end the scoring at 48-14.
Bradford just missed another 100-yard receiving effort with 98 yards on three catches with the score. Williams rushed for 80 yards in 13 carries and he, Wynn and Chris Awuah (Marietta, Ga) combined for 218 of the Mocs' 231 rushing yards.
The defense was nearly perfect in stopping the Bulldogs twice on short fields following a turnover and blocked punt. The blocked punt gave Samford the ball on the Mocs' 17, but five plays and negative 11 yards later, Cameron Yaw's 45-yard field goal attempt missed.
While UTC gained 550 yards of offense, the Bulldogs managed just 232. The Chattanooga defense was stingy allowing just 3.7 yards per play, compared to 7.5 for UTC.
Taliaferro threw for 162 yards on 14 completions in 30 attempts with an interception. Jeff Ogren caught five of his passes for 58 yards. Bryce Smith recorded 15 tackles, two for loss, to lead the Bulldogs defensively.
The Mocs conclude the 2010 regular season at No. 4 Wofford next Saturday at 3 p.m. The game will be televised on SportSouth with live stats and audio available on GoMocs.com.
SCORING SUMMARY:
1st Quarter/10:32: (UTC) J.J. Jackson 3 yd run (Jeff Veres Kick)
Drive: 11 plays, 62 yards, 4:28
Key Play(s): 3/3/H45: Erroll Wynn rush 8 yds. 4/4/V26: B.J. Coleman to Chris Marshall for 8 yds.
Chattanooga 7, Samford 0
2nd Quarter/13:48: (UTC) Brian Sutherland 45 yd pass from B.J. Coleman (Veres Kick)
Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:04
Key Play(s): Keon Williams 3 carries for 30 yds before TD strike
Chattanooga 14, Samford 0
2nd Quarter/9:15: (UTC) Sutherland 20 yd pass from Coleman (Veres Kick)
Drive: 6 plays, 82 yards, 2:40
Key Play(s): 1/10/H18: Coleman to Sutherland 35 yds
Chattanooga 21, Samford 0
2nd Quarter/3:56: (SAM) Chris Evans 6 yd run (Cameron Yaw Kick)
Drive: 14 plays, 68 yards, 5:07
Key Play(s): 4/1/V41: Evans 1 yd run. Bulldogs convert 3 3rd downs.
Chattanooga 21, Samford 7
2nd Quarter/0:19: (UTC) Jordan Tippit 66 yd interception return (Kick Blocked)
Drive: N/A
Note: 1st INT return for TD since Raeshon Ball at Western Carolina in 2008
Chattanooga 27, Samford 7
3rd Quarter/11:36: (UTC) Joel Bradford 53 yd pass from Coleman (Veres Kick)
Drive: 4 plays, 66 yards, 1:41
Key Play(s): 3/1/H43: Williams 1 yd rush
Chattanooga 34, Samford 7
3rd Quarter/8:16: (UTC) Sutherland 65 yd pass from Coleman (Veres Kick)
Drive: 4 plays, 84 yards, 2:00
Key Play(s): 2/8/H18: Williams rush for 15 yds
Chattanooga 41, Samford 7
3rd Quarter/7:07: (SAM) Quin Roberson 51 yd pass from Dustin Taliaferro (Yaw Kick)
Drive: 2 plays, 68 yards, 0:58
Key Play(s): N/A
Chattanooga 41, Samford 14
4th Quarter/6:22: (UTC) Courtland Ellzey 1 yd run (Veres Kick)
Drive: 17 plays, 71 yards, 9:34
Key Play(s): 5 3rd downs converted
Chattanooga 41, Samford 7
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