CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The Chattanooga Mocs (1-1) scored 21 unanswered in running past Jacksonville State 38-17 on a perfect night at Finley Stadium. The 23rd-ranked Mocs defense limited the Gamecocks (1-1), ranked No. 10 in the country, to just 17 second-half yards to lead the romp.
Chattanooga's offense was more than up to the task of matching its defense. It accumulated 508 total yards with a very balanced attack. The running game churned out 212 yards on 44 carries, while the Mocs gained 296 yards in the air.
Senior wide receiver Joel Bradford (Chattanooga, Tenn.) tied his career high with 15 catches for 162 yards and one touchdown. He helped fuel a strong night from B.J. Coleman (Chattanooga, Tenn.) who had 336 yards of total offense.
Coleman completed 23 of 33 passes for 296 yards and two scores. He also picked up a career-high 40 yards on the ground on seven carries, two of which were sacks for six yards lost.
Chris Awuah (Marietta, Ga.) was a catalyst as well. He had 77 yards on 17 carries and two scores, while adding 57 yards on three catches.
The Mocs struck first taking advantage of good field position after a 30-yard punt by Coty Blanchard gave them the ball on the JSU 43. Coleman ran for 19 yards to the 23-yard line and Awuah took over from there. Following an eight-yard run over left tackle, he went around the right end beating the Gamecocks defense to the pylon for a 15-yard score.
Jacksonville State answered right away. Taking over on its own 30, the Gamecocks marched 70 yards in eight plays capped by a Washaun Ealey four-yard run. The big strike came on second-and-13 from the UTC 46 when Blanchard hit Alan Bonner for 39 yards to the Mocs seven. Ealey scored two plays later.
The Gamecocks continued their hot first quarter on their next possession. JSU looked stymied choosing to go for it on fourth-and-four on its own 48. But Blanchard forced an offsides and on the free play, pass interference on the Mocs moved the Gamecocks 15 yards to the 37. Three plays later, Calvin Middleton dashed in from eight yards to make it 14-7 JSU.
It was Chattanooga's turn to score on back-to-back drives with 10 straight points. The first came on a laser strike from Coleman to Marlon Anthony (Acworth, Ga.) for 24 yards. Nick Pollard (Nashville, Tenn.) regained the lead 17-14 with a 25-yard chip shot.
The Gamecocks scored for the final time answering the Mocs drive with a 28-yard James Esco effort. But that's when the Mocs defense took over. To that point, JSU had 190 yards on 26 plays. From then on, UTC slammed the door allowing 37 yards on 23 plays including just 17 in the second half.
Coleman and Bradford put the Mocs up for good on a 47-yard hook up on a deflection. Awuah's one-yard third quarter plunge opened the second half, while Wes Dothard (Carrollton, Ga.) returned an interception 30 yards for a score to cement the final score at 38-17.
D.J. Key (Centerville, Tenn.) led the defense with nine tackles with two for loss (13 yards) including a fourth quarter sack. He forced a fumble and broke up one pass. Ryan Consiglio (Franklin, Tenn.) added seven stops, while Joshua Williams (Griffin, Ga.) had six tackles with one-and-a-half sacks.
Blanchard completed 13 of 23 passes for 164 yards with an interception. Ealey gained 43 on 11 carries with the one score. Alan Bonner had 61 yards receiving on four catches.
Rashard Smith led the Gamecocks defense with eight tackles. Rodney Garrott had four tackles, two for loss, with one sack and three quarterback hurries.
The Mocs hit the road next Saturday, traveling to Richmond, Ky., to face another Ohio Valley Conference opponent, Eastern Kentucky. Kickoff is slated for 6:00 p.m. Fans can follow all the action on the Mocs Sports Network (ESPN 105.1 FM).
SCORING SUMMARY
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Quarter
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Score
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Time
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Play
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1
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7-0
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7:25
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Chris Awuah 7 yard rush (Nick Pollard Kick)
Drive: 4 plays, 43 yards, 1:32
Key Play(s): 2/9/V42 - B.J. Coleman 19 yd run
|
|
1
|
7-7
|
4:28
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Washaun Ealey 4 yard rush (James Esco Kick)
Drive: 8 plays, 70 yards, 2:52
Key Play(s): 2/12/H46 - 39 yd pass Coty Blanchard to Alan Bonner
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|
1
|
7-14
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0:52
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Calvin Middleton 8 yard rush (Esco Kick)
Drive: 6 plays, 58 yards, 2:08
Key Play(s): 4/4/V48 - Offsides (declined)/Pass Int on UTC
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|
2
|
14-14
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13:09
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Marlon Anthony 24 yards from B.J. Coleman (Pollard Kick)
Drive: 7 plays, 82 yards, 2:34
Key Play(s): Coleman 4-5, 71 yds on drive
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|
2
|
17-14
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6:45
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Pollard 25 yard FG
Drive: 11 plays, 53 yards, 5:06
Key Play(s): 3/3/H46: Coleman 9 yds to Sloan Allison
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|
2
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17-17
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4:49
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Esco 28 yard FG
Drive: 5 plays, 49 yards, 1:56
Key Play(s): 1/10/V40: Coty Blanchard 43 yards to Justin Howard
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|
2
|
23-17
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3:01
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Joel Bradford 47 yards from Coleman (Kick Blocked)
Drive: 4 plays, 73 yards, 1:40
Key Play(s): Marquis Green 3 rushes for 26 yds
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|
3
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31-17
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10:46
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Awuah 1 yard rush (Coleman Rush)
Drive: 7 plays, 78 yards, 2:48
Key Play(s): 1/10/H22 - Coleman to Awuah for 44 yards
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|
4
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38-17
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6:16
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Wes Dothard 30 yard Interception Return (Pollard Kick)
Drive: N/A
Key Play(s): N/A
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