The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team steps out of conference play for a trip to Knoxville, Tenn., to take on the Volunteers. This is Chattanooga's first visit to Neyland Stadium since 1969, renewing a series that dates back to 1904.
The Mocs are currently ranked No. 12 in the Football Championship Subdivision Coaches Poll with a 3-2 overall record. UTC is also No. 13 in the Sports Network Top 25, the other ranking recognized by the NCAA. Picked to win the Southern Conference title in the preseason, Chattanooga is 2-0 in league play for the first time since 1984.
Tennessee is 2-3 overall and 0-2 in the Southeastern Conference. Under the direction of second-year head coach Butch Jones, the Vols are led on offense by senior QB Justin Worley's 238.0 passing yards per game and freshman running back Jalen Hurd's 73.4 rushing yards per game. Worley is completing 61.3% of his passes while throwing nine touchdowns against five interceptions. Hurd has 82 carries with two scores.
Defensively, Tennessee is led by senior linebacker A.J. Johnson, who is second in the SEC and No. 8 in the nation with 11.8 tackles per contest. The Vols rank high in pass defense, including 14th in the nation in passing yards allowed (173.0) and pass efficiency defense (101.83) and 12th in the Football Bowl Subdivision in interceptions (8). Sophomore defensive back Cameron Sutton is 13th in the FBS with three picks and No. 21 with seven passes defended.
The Mocs bring an improving offense to the game, having scored 135 points in their last three outings (45.0 ppg). Junior Walter Payton Award Candidate and current SoCon Offensive Player of the Week Jacob Huesman is coming off a six TD performance against VMI last week, tying career-highs with four passing strikes and two rushing scores. His 178 passing yards (15-22) and 97 rushing yards in just over two quarters of work made him the first in school history with 2,000 rushing and 4,000 passing yards in a career.
Defensively, the Mocs are led by senior All-American and Buck Buchanan Award candidate Davis Tull. The Knoxville, Tenn., native (Bearden HS) has four sacks, six tackles for loss and six hurries in the last two games. He leads the SoCon with 5.0 sacks and 9.0 TFLs.
UTC leads the SoCon and is in the top 13 in the nation in scoring defense (13th - 16.6 ppg) and total defense (11th - 291.2 ypg). Chattanooga is also second in the league and 12th in the country in pass defense (133.0).
Special teams have been special for Chattanooga this season. UTC leads the nation in punt return average (34.4 ppg), thanks to two returns for touchdowns by senior Tommy Hudson. Sophomore C.J. Board also had a 41-yard return last week against the Keydets that set up another score. Senior Nick Pollard is second in the SoCon and No. 25 in the nation in punting (41.5). His rugby style has the Mocs on top of the league and No. 21 in the nation in net punting (37.8).
Chattanooga lost each of its previous eight trips to Knoxville. Its last win in the series was the historic 14-6 win on Nov. 8, 1958. UTC is no stranger to SEC venues. Under current head coach Russ Huesman, the Mocs have played Alabama twice (2009 & 2013) and Auburn (2010).
MOCS SPORTS NETWORK
The Mocs Sports Network broadcasts the game on 96.1 The Beat in Chattanooga. Jim Reynolds has the play-by-play with Todd Agne giving the color commentary and Will Poindexter on the sideline. A link for a free audio broadcast is available on the football schedule page on GoMocs.com. Fans can also listen to the game on the iHeart Radio app by searching for Chattanooga's 96.1 The Beat.
SEC NETWORK
Fans can catch the game on television on the SEC Network. Tom Hart is the play-by-play announcer, joined by Matt Stinchcomb (color commentary) and Heather Mitts (sideline). Check with local cable/satellite providers for specific channel information. A link to the WatchESPN online broadcast is available on the football schedule page on GoMocs.com
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE TENNESSEE SERIES
• This is the 40th meeting in the series that dates back to 1904.
• UTC is 2-35-2 overall ... 1-29-1 in Knoxville and 1-24 in Neyland Stadium.
• Tennessee won the last meeting in the series 31-0 on Nov. 20, 1969, in Knoxville.
• The Mocs two wins against Tennessee are 14-6 on Nov. 8, 1958 in Knoxville and 5-0 on Dec. 2, 1905 in Chattanooga.
• UTC is 3-113-3 all-time against current members of the SEC ... UTC's other win against the league was a 31-6 victory over Ole Miss on Nov. 29, 1945 in Chattanooga.
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOCS
• UTC head coach Russ Huesman is in his sixth season at his alma mater. He is 34-27 overall and 25-17 in Southern Conference action. The Mocs only won 32 games total in the 10 years prior to Huesman's arrival.
• Coming off an 8-4 record and a share of the SoCon title in 2013, Chattanooga was ranked as high as No. 14 in the FCS preseason polls. UTC is No. 12 in the FCS Coaches Poll and No. 13 in The Sports Network Top 25, the two polls recognized by the NCAA.
• The No. 12 ranking is the highest in the Russ Huesman era. Highest since checking in at No. 9 on Sept. 21, 1992.
• Chattanooga leads the SoCon and No. 11 in the FCS in total defense (291.2 ypg). UTC is No. 3 in the league and No. 12 in the nation in passing yards allowed (158.2). Chattanooga is also tops in the league and No. 13 in the FCS in scoring defense (16.6 ppg).
• Senior DE Davis Tull is on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List for the second year in a row. He is the FCS active leader and the Mocs' all-time record holder with 31.5 sacks. He is the two-time defending SoCon Defensive Player of the Year and the coaches pick to win the award again. He leads the SoCon with 5.0 sacks and 9.0 TFLs.
• Junior QB Jacob Huesman is on the Walter Payton Award Watch List. He was the 2013 SoCon Offensive Player of the Year. He is the first Moc with 2,000 rushing yards and 4,000 passing yards, topping both milestones against VMI.
• Tull, Huesman, senior TE Faysal Shafaat and senior DE Derrick Lott have all earned various preseason All-American honors.
• Tull, Huesman, Shafaat, senior RB Keon Williams, senior punter Nick Pollard and senior punt returner Tommy Hudson are all on the College Football Performance Awards Watch Lists for their positions.
• UTC is fourth in the nation and leading the SoCon in Red Zone defense (8-14, 57.1%).
• The Mocs lead the SoCon in first down defense, allowing just 78 on the year. That number ties for 16th, nationally.
• Senior Nick Pollard is second in the SoCon and No. 25 in the FCS in punting (41.5).
• Senior Tommy Hudson has returned two punts for TDs on the year...that leads the nation and is a first by a Moc since UTC joined the SoCon in 1977.
• Sophomore Dee Virgin is second in the SoCon and is No. 19 in the FCS with seven passes defended.
• Freshman Lucas Webb is tied for the SoCon lead and is No. 8 in the nation with three INTs.
MOCS OFFENSE IMPROVING
The Mocs started off the season with two very tough games against FBS Central Michigan and FCS No. 9 Jacksonville State. UTC only had 367 yards of total offense and two offensive scores in the first two games. Since then the Mocs have improved dramatically on offense, including in the following categories:
• 5-26 (19%) on third down first two games - 20-45 (44.4%) last three games.
• 183.5 yards of total offense per game first two games - 416.3 ypg since.
• Four TOs first two games (4 INTs) - only two (Fumbles) last three games.
• 89.5 rushing yards per game in first two - 231 per game since.
• Five sacks allowed in the first two games - only two since.
• 26:30 average TOP first two games - 32:40 TOP since.
IT'S ALL IN THE NAME
On first reference, it is acceptable to refer to us as the “University of Tennessee at Chattanooga”. After that, we prefer to be called “Chattanooga” or “UTC.” Our nickname is “Mocs.”
UTC-TENNESSEE CONNECTIONS
• UTC senior DE and Buck Buchanan Award Candidate is a graduate of Knoxville's Bearden High School. He suffered a broken leg as a senior in high school and slipped off the recruiting radar. He came to UTC as an invited walk-on before earning a scholarship.
• Tull and Tennessee senior RB Devrin Young were teammates at Bearden High School in Knoxville.
• UTC Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics David Blackburn spent 20 years in various administrative roles at Tennessee before joining the Mocs in April of 2013. He was most recently the Senior Associate Athletics Director for the football program.
• Sophomore linebacker Nikolay Timoshchuk spent two seasons as a walk-on with Tennessee.
• Freshman Jacob Revis is the younger brother of former UTC All-SoCon offensive lineman Kevin Revis. Kevin spent two seasons as a walk-on at Tennessee before transferring to Chattanooga.
• True freshman Penny Smith (Fulton HS) and Xavier Johnson (Bearden) are Knoxville natives.
• UTC sophomore WR C.J. Board and Tennessee sophomore DB Jalen Reeves-Maybin are both from Clarksville, Tenn. Board went to West Creek High School while Reeves-Maybin attended Northeast.
• Scott Altizer, UTC's Senior Associate AD for Internal Operations, recently joined the Chattanooga staff from Tennessee. He spent 20 years with the Vols, most recently the Director of Football Relations. He began his career with Tennessee in 1994 in the recruiting office.
• Sophomore defensive backs Cedric Nettles (UTC) and Cameron Sutton (UT) both graduated from Jonesboro (Ga.) High School.
• Chattanooga's Baylor School produced five players on the two rosters, including Colton Jumper (UT) and the Mocs' Jacob Huesman, Kota Nix, Emory Norred and Henrique Ribeiro.
SCOUTING TENNESSEE
• Tennessee is 2-3 overall and 0-2 in SEC action. The Vols have wins over Utah State (38-7) and Arkansas State (34-19) with losses to No. 3 Oklahoma (34-10), No. 12 Georgia (35-32) and Florida (10-9).
• Head coach Butch Jones is 7-10 in his second season at Tennessee ... he is 57-37 in eight seasons as a head coach ... he spent three years at Central Michigan (27-13 - 2007-09) and three years at Cincinnati (23-14 - 2010-13).
• Tennessee is first in the SEC and No. 3 in the nation in third down defense (18/73 - 24.7%).
• The Vols lead the SEC and are No. 6 in the FBS in fewest penalty yards per game (32.4 ypg).
• Tennessee is tough on opponents' passing games ... No. 12 in the FBS with eight interceptions ... No. 14 in passing yards allowed (173.0) and pass efficiency defense (101.83).
• The Vols lead the SEC and are No. 3 in the nation with 8.4 TFLs per game.
• Senior linebacker A.J. Johnson is second in the SEC and No. 8 in the nation with 11.8 tackles per game.
• Sophomore defensive back Cameron Sutton is 13th in the FBS with three picks and No. 21 with seven passes defended.
TENNESSEE TRANSFERS HAVE BEEN BIG FOR THE MOCS UNDER HUESMAN
The Mocs have benefitted from a few transfers from Tennessee in the Russ Huesman era, including current sophomore linebacker Nikolay Timoshchuk. He is a fixture on special teams and has three tackles in five games. The most notable transfers from Tennessee since 2009 are quarterback B.J. Coleman, defensive end Chris Donald and offensive lineman Kevin Revis. Coleman played three seasons with the Mocs (2009-11) and was a seventh-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers. The Chattanooga native is UTC's all-time leader with 52 touchdown passes. Donald had 7.5 sacks and was a second team All-SoCon pick in 2010, his only season with the Mocs. Revis started for three seasons on offensive line, and was a first team All-SoCon selection as a senior in 2013.
HUDSON SHINING AS PUNT RETURNER
Senior Tommy Hudson has grabbed two SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week honors, thanks to two punt returns for touchdowns. He scored on a 66-yard return against Samford on Sept. 27. He also had a 58-yard return against Austin Peay. He is the first Moc in UTC's Division I era (since 1977) to have two PR for TDs in a season. His 32.8 PR average on four attempts would lead the nation if he had enough attempts to qualify for the ranking. Individuals need 1.2 per game to be listed.
TULL STARTING TO TAKE OVER
After a slow statistical start to the season by his own standards, senior defensive end Davis Tull is putting up his customary numbers over the last three games. He has 8.0 TFLs and 5.0 sacks to go with six hurries and two forced fumbles in the last three outings.
He was named National Defensive Player of the Week by The Sports Network and SoCon Defensive Player of the Week for his play against Samford on Sept. 27. Tull had an outstanding game in the Mocs' 38-24 win, anchoring the Chattanooga defensive line with six tackles, four TFLs and two sacks. He also added a forced fumble and three quarterback hurries to his performance.
The two-time defending Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year is back on the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List for the second year in a row. He finished 13th in the national voting last season. He is the first Moc to win two league player of the year honors and the first defensive player to repeat in the SoCon since Appalachian State's Dexter Coakley took the award three times from 1994-96. Tull is already the Mocs all-time leader with 31.5 career sacks. He is also the active leader in the FCS for career sacks and career forced fumbles (10) and is second among active players in career TFLs (51.0).
HUESMAN NAMED SOCON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior QB Jacob Huesman was named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week after accounting for six touchdowns in the Mocs' 55-7 win over VMI on Oct. 4. He led UTC to 555 yards of total offense, Chattanooga's best number since 2010. The 55 points were also the most since a 59-56 win over No. 17 Appalachian State on Oct. 30, 2004. For his part, Huesman had 97 rushing yards and two TDs on nine carries to go with 15-22 passing for 178 yards and four scores. He did all of that before being pulled after the first possession of the second half. Huesman's four passing TDs tied a personal best he set last season against Western Carolina. He became the first Moc with 2,000 rushing yards and 4,000 passing yards, eclipsing both milestones in the win. His 20 career rushing TDs are tied for third all-time at UTC with teammate Keon Williams and others. They are four shy of the school-record held by Mike Smith (1977-80) and Ton Merendino (1975-78). This is the third time in three seasons Huesman has earned a SoCon Offensive Player of the Week honor. It is the first offensive honor for the Mocs this season and the fifth weekly award from the league overall.
Huesman is on the 2014 Walter Payton Award Watch List. The Payton Award goes to the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) and is presented annually by The Sports Network. Huesman was the 2013 Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Year, throwing for 16 touchdowns and rushing for nine more last season. He was fourth in the FCS with a 68.3 completion percentage in 2013. He connected 164 passes on 240 attempts and only had five interceptions. His career 67% accuracy is currently the best in school history at UTC. He was not only proficient through the air, but he was also a major weapon in the running game. He led the Mocs with 894 rushing yards on 176 carries and was fourth in the SoCon with 211 yards of total offense per game. He is the fifth Moc to be named to the Payton Award Watch List in recent memory, including Chris Sanders (2000), Cos DeMatteo (2001), Alonzo Nix (2004) and B.J. Coleman (2011).
MOCS CHASING CAREER NUMBERS
Senior DE Davis Tull is already the Mocs' all-time leader with 31.5 career sacks. He is currently tied for fourth in the SoCon with Furman's Kelly Fletcher (1986-89) and Bryan Dailer (1994-97). The league record is 36.5, set by the Mountaineers' Josh Jeffries (1999-02).
Junior QB Jacob Huesman is fifth in career TD passes (37) and eighth in passing yards (4,030). He has a chance to move up in each category this weekend against Tennessee. He needs three TD passes to catch Steve Woods (1978-81) for fourth and 103 passing yards to catch Tim Couch (1984-86) for seventh. He is also tied for third in career rushing TDs with 20. The school record is 24, set by Mike Smith (1977-80) and Tony Merendino (1975-78). He is also tied for second for the most wins by a starting QB in school history. His 16-9 overall mark is second only to Steve Woods' 21-6-1 tally from 1979-81.
Senior RB Keon Williams is tied for third all-time at UTC with 20 career rushing TDs. The school record is 24, set by Mike Smith (1977-80) and Tony Merendino (1975-78). Senior TE Faysal Shafaat is fifth in all-time receiving TDs with 15. He needs two more to tie Derek Hall (1992-95) for fourth.
DEFENSIVE REDZONE NUMBERS
The Mocs are currently fourth in the nation in Red Zone defense. They have stopped opposing teams six times on 14 trips inside their 20. The six stops are the most for the Mocs in a season since making seven in 2010.
NOTES ON THE RANKINGS
UTC finished the 2013 season ranked in the top 25 of both major polls that are recognized by the NCAA. The Mocs were No. 23 in The Sports Network Top 25 and No. 25 in the final Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Coaches poll. It was the first time Chattanooga was ranked in a season-ending top 25 since earning a No. 17 spot in the final NCAA Division I-AA Top 20 in 1984. UTC was also No. 17 in the final 1982 poll, the first year of an official I-AA poll. UTC has been ranked for 18 weeks in the Russ Huesman era (since 2009). UTC is 7-10 when ranked in the top 25 since 2010. This week's No. 12 ranking is the highest for UTC since a No. 9 ranking on Sept. 21, 1992.
WEBB OFF TO A STRONG START
Defensive back Lucas Webb is enjoying a strong start to his freshman season. He was the College Sports Madness National Defensive Player of the Week after posting two INTs against Samford on Sept. 27. He was named the Southern Conference Freshman of the Week following the Sept. 6 game against Jacksonville State. He was credited with six tackles and returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter. The Northport, Ala., native was also credited with another pass break-up against the Gamecocks. He is currently tied for the SoCon lead and is No. 8 in the FCS with three INTs.
TWO PICK-6'S AGAINST JACKSONVILLE STATE
The Mocs hung with No. 9 Jacksonville State on Sept. 6 thanks to a pair of defensive scores in the first half. Sophomore Dee Virgin ran one back 55 yards in the first quarter. Freshman Lucas Webb scored on a 37-yard pick just before halftime. It was the first time with two in a game for UTC since a 30-23 win over Tennessee Tech on Sept. 3, 2005 … (Quintez Smith - 30 yards & Jeff Phillips 35 yards).
COACH HUESMAN AT A GLANCE
A two-time SoCon Coach of the Year (2009 & 2013), Russ Huesman is 34-27 (.557) in his six years at Chattanooga after being hired as the 22nd head coach at UTC on Dec. 22, 2008. The Mocs won exactly 32 games in the 10 previous seasons to his arrival in 2009 (32-81).
A 1983 graduate of UTC and a former defensive back, Huesman guided Chattanooga to a 6-5 mark in 2009, equaling the number of wins UTC had seen in the previous three years combined. Huesman is 30-20 against FCS teams with 13 of those losses coming against ranked opponents, including eight in the top 10. He is 23-17 (.575) in SoCon action. The program won 21 games the previous 10 campaigns to 2009 (21-55). He is 18-8 (.692) at home, 14-16 (.467) on the road. There were just 15 road wins in the prior 11 years (1998-2008).
Prior to his return to Chattanooga, Huesman spent the 25 seasons building a reputation as one of the top defensive-minded assistant coaches in the country. He spent five seasons as the defensive coordinator at the University of Richmond before joining UTC and also coached at Memphis (1998-2003) and William & Mary (14 yrs), serving as the defensive coordinator for the 1996-97 seasons. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Huesman played prep football at perennial power Moeller High School, where he lettered for four years under head coach Gerry Faust.
SEASON NO. 107
The Chattanooga Mocs are in their 107th season of football in the fall of 2014. The University of Chattanooga was founded in 1886 and football began play in 1904. No teams were fielded in 1917 and 1918 due to World War I. There was also a two-year hiatus from football action during World War II in 1943 and 1944. The Mocs have an all-time record of 505-509-35 (.498) and have won 11 conference titles.
CHATTANOOGA WINS VS. FBS TEAMS
UTC picked up its third win in program history over an FBS opponent with last year's 42-14 victory at Georgia State. Prior to that, the last time the Mocs defeated an FBS team was a 9-7 win over Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 1, 1984, in Chattanooga. The other win since the divisional split in 1978 was at ULL, 38-14 on Sept. 17, 1983, in Lafayette, La.
WINNING RECORDS BECOMING COMMON AT CHATTANOOGA
UTC's 35-28 win at Appalachian State on Nov. 2, 2013, secured the Mocs fourth winning record in the last five years, all during the Russ Huesman era. UTC only had four winning seasons in the 23 years prior to Huesman's arrival in 2009 (1986-2008).
