BOONE, N.C. --- Despite a shutdown effort from the Chattanooga Mocs defense, the 13th-ranked squad lost 14-12 at No. 3 Appalachian State at Kidd Brewer Stadium Saturday afternoon. In what is becoming an annual tradition, UTC and App State played one of the most exciting games of the year. The loss drops the Mocs to 2-2 and 0-1 in the Southern Conference. ASU improves to 3-1 and 1-0 in SoCon action.
UTC's defense has been lights out the last three games. Coming into today's contest, they had not allowed a point in the second half in the previous two games and no scores in the fourth quarter all year. They kept that intensity going, shutting out the Mountaineers in the first half. It was the first time ASU had been blanked in the first 30 minutes of an FCS game since 2004.
Appalachian's defense was just a stingy. The only points the Mocs could muster in the first half was a 22-yard Nick Pollard (Nashville, Tenn.) field goal late in the second quarter. Both teams combined for just 283 yards before intermission.
The second half looked to be more of the same with neither team scoring in the first 13 minutes of the third quarter. Pollard extended the Mocs lead with another 22-yarder to make it 6-0. The Mocs rushing attack had been stymied to just 8 yards entering the drive, but had 35 yards on six carries to get within four yards of the goal line.
On the very first play of the ensuing Mountaineers possession, Ryan Consiglio (Franklin, Tenn.) forced a DeAndre Presley fumble. Toyvian Brand (Greensboro, Ala.) pounced on the ball to give the Mocs prime real estate on the ASU 30.
UTC got inside the 10 for the third time in the game only to be stopped at the ASU nine. Pollard came on for a 27-yard attempt but the snap was fumbled. Mountaineer Rodger Walker scooped it up and returned it 73 yards for App State's first score to end the third quarter.
On the next Mocs possession, lightning struck again for an opportunistic Mountaineers defense. B.J. Coleman's (Chattanooga, Tenn.) pass was picked off by Jeremy Kimbrough who returned it 46 yards for a 14-6 ASU lead.
Coleman rallied his troops and answered right away. Chaz Moore (Memphis, Tenn.) returned the kickoff to the UTC 47 putting the offense in great field position. Coleman marched the Mocs 53 yards in nine plays, capped by a 20-yard pass to Sloan Allison (Ooltewah, Tenn.) in the end zone down the right sideline. The two-point conversion failed and the Mocs trailed 14-12 with just under 10 minutes to play.
Alas, UTC had just one more true possession before a desperation one to end the contest. ASU registered four of its seven second-half first downs in its final two drives to run time off the clock to seal the win.
Consiglio and Wes Dothard (Carrollton, Ga.) led the Chattanooga defense which was the story of the game. Consiglio had a game-high 13 tackles with one for loss and a forced fumble. Dothard made 11 tackles in limiting ASU to a meager 284 total yards. The Mocs have kept its opponent's offense out of the end zone in eight of its last 10 quarters.
Coleman moved into third-place all-time on the Mocs passing list during the game. He was 22 of 42 for 270 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. Marlon Anthony (Acworth, Ga.) was his top target with six catches for 48 yards. Joel Bradford (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Jeff Veres (Thompson's Station, Tenn.) each had five for 89 and 57 yards, respectively.
DeAndre Presley had 195 yards of total offense. He completed 12 of 22 tosses for 143 yards and two interceptions - Chris Lewis-Harris (Smyrna, Ga.) and Kadeem Wise (Lawrenceville, Ga.) had the picks - while running for 52 (18 carries). Tavaris Cadet led all rushers with 63 yards on 11 rushes.
Kimbrough led a stout effort on defense for the Mountaineers with 11 tackles, two sacks and two pass-breakups to go with his pick-six. Brandon Grier also had 11 stops for ASU.
UTC made five trips in the red-zone today compared to just one for the Mountaineers, a missed 25-yard Sam Martin field goal attempt. It's the only time in the last two weeks the Chattanooga defense has been breached at the 20.
The Mocs return to Chattanooga next Saturday as The Citadel invades Finley Stadium. Game time is slated for 6 p.m.
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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2
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3-0
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1:08
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Nick Pollard 22 yard Field Goal
Drive: 8 plays, 56 yards, 2:53
Key Play(s): 1/10/H35 - B.J. Coleman to Joel Bradford 29 yds
|
|
3
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6-0
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1:55
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Nick Pollard 22 yard Field Goal
Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 4:19
Key Play(s): 1/10/H37 - 16 yd run by Chris Awuah
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|
3
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6-7
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0:00
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Rodger Walker 73 yard Fumble Return
Drive: N/A
Key Play(s): Snap on 27 yd FGA fumbled
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|
4
|
6-14
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13:38
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Jeremy Kimbrough 46 yard Interception Return
Drive: N/A
Key Play(s): N/A
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|
4
|
12-14
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9:51
|
Sloan Allison 20 yard Pass from B.J. Coleman (Pass Failed)
Drive: 9 plays, 53 yards, 3:45
Key Play(s): 3/8/H36 - 11 yd pass Coleman to Marquis Green
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