Chattanooga Football Game Notes
No. 6 Chattanooga Mocs (4-1, 2-0 SoCon) at VMI Keydeys (1-5, 0-2 SoCon)
Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium – Lexington, Va.
Saturday – Oct. 17, 2015 – 1:30 p.m.
Radio:  Mocs Sports Network – 96.1 FM (Flagship) – Jim Reynolds (pxp), Todd Agne (color), Will Poindexter (sideline)
TV:  ESPN3 - Wade Branner (pxp), Dave Harding (color)
Online:  Live audio, stats, video on GoMocs.com
 
The No. 6 Chattanooga Mocs hit the road this weekend for a Southern Conference matchup at VMI.  Game time is set for 1:30 p.m. (E.D.T.) at Foster Stadium in Lexington, Va. 
 
UTC is 4-1 overall and 2-0 in SoCon action.  The Mocs have won nine straight league games, the longest streak in school history.  It is also the longest run in the SoCon since Appalachian State won 26 straight from 2006-09. 
 
VMI is 1-5 overall and looking for its first conference win.  The Keydets played Furman tough on the road in a 24-21 loss on Sept. 26.  They also lost at Samford last week (49-13).  Their lone win of the year was a 43-40 victory over Morehead State on Sept. 12. 
 
MOCS SPORTS NETWORK
The Mocs Sports Network broadcasts the game on 96.1 The Legend 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 US 101 The Legend at 96.1 on their mobile device.
 
ESPN3
The VMI game is also being produced for ESPN3.  A link to the broadcast is available on the football schedule page on GoMocs.com. 
 
QUICK NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOCS
General
• UTC head coach Russ Huesman is in his seventh season at his alma mater.  He is 45-30 overall and 32-17 in Southern Conference action.  The Mocs only won 44 games total in the 12 years prior to Huesman's arrival.
• The Mocs led the SoCon in home attendance, averaging 10,146 in six games in 2014 ... UTC hit that mark only four previous times in school history ... three of those in the Russ Huesman era (2009, 2010, 2011).  UTC is currently No. 26 in the FCS in home attendance, averaging  10,978 fans in three home games.
• The Mocs have won nine consecutive SoCon games ... longest such streak in school history and longest in the league since Appalachian State won 26 straight from 2006-09.
 
Offense
• Senior QB Jacob Huesman finished tied for 11th in the Walter Payton Award voting and was named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Year in 2014.  He is the preseason SoCon Player of the Year in 2015 and on the STATS Offensive Player of the Year Watch List.   
• Junior offensive lineman Corey Levin won the Jacobs Blocking Award as the top offensive lineman in the SoCon last season.
• The Mocs are currently 7th in the FCS on third down (40/75 - 53.3%).
• Chattanooga leads the SoCon and is No. 10 in the FCS in Time of Possession (33:38).
• The Mocs have run for 245+ yards in the last four outings ... first time that has happened since 1980. 
• Chattanooga is No. 15 in the FCS in rushing offense at 234.4 yards per game.
 
Defense
• Chattanooga sacked Samford's Michael Eubank six times for -38 yards … most sacks in a game for the Mocs since recording six against Eastern Kentucky on Sept. 18, 2010. 
• The Mocs have 17 sacks on the year, No. 1 in the SoCon and No. 7 in the FCS. 
• Chattanooga is strong on third down, allowing just 33.8% (25/74) conversion.  That leads the SoCon and is No. 25 in the FCS.
• UTC has only allowed three points in the last two games ... Mocs are allowing a SoCon-low 16.2 ppg ... that is No. 8 in the nation.
• Chattanooga leads the SoCon and is No. 13 in the FCS in first down defense (15.4).
• UTC is second in the SoCon and No. 18 in the FCS in passing yards allowed (169.6).
• The Mocs have posted a pick-6 in each of the last two games ... three defensive scores overall this season ... 16 in the Huesman era and 13 in the last four years. 
• Junior DL Keionta Davis leads the SoCon in sacks (7.0) and TFLs (10.0).  He is second in the nation in both categories. 
• The Mocs lead the SoCon and at No. 14 in the nation in total defense (300.8 ypg).
 
Special Teams
• Junior Henrique Ribeiro is a preseason first team All-SoCon pick and on the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List.  He is also a two-time SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week.
• Ribeiro is averaging 44.9 yards per punt ... that leads the SoCon and would be No. 6 in the FCS if he had enough attempts.  
• Junior C.J. Board had a career-long 48-yard punt return against Jacksonville State.  He is No. 23 in the FCS, averaging 10.7 yards per return.
 
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE VMI SERIES
• This is the 22nd meeting between these two teams in a series that dates back to 1971.
• The Mocs are 6-4 at Foster Stadium, including a 19-16 loss on their last trip to Lexington on Oct. 13, 2001.
• UTC is 13-7-1 overall ... 7-3-1 at home and 3-1 in Finley Stadium. 
• Chattanooga won the last meeting, 55-7, on Oct. 4, 2014.
• These two teams met every year from 1991-2002.  The series was an even 6-6 in those 12 meetings. 
 
UTC-VMI CONNECTIONS
• UTC offensive coordinator Jeff Durden was an assistant coach at VMI from 1999-2003.  
 
SCOUTING VMI
• The Keydets are No. 2 in the SoCon with 277.3 passing yards per game.
• VMI is allowing a league-high 38.5 points per game and 442.5 yards per outing.
• VMI and Mercer are the only two teams in the league without an interception.
• Allowed a league-high 16 sacks.
• Second in the SoCon with 20.2 first downs per game.
• 37.5 is the fewest penalty yards per game in the league and No. 7 in the FCS.
• Sophomore QB Al Cobb, the 2014 SoCon Freshman of the Year, is tied for the SoCon lead with 259 passing yards per game ... he leads the league in total offense (272.5).   
• Junior Aaron Sanders leads the SoCon with 6.5 catches per game ... fifth with 65.0 receiving yards.
• Junior Dane Forlines is third in the SoCon with 5.3 receptions per game ... he is also leading the SoCon and No. 13 in the FCS in punt return average (15.7).
• Sophomore Ryan Francis is third in the league with 10.3 tackles per game.
• Sophomore Tony Richardson is second in the SoCon with 3.0 sacks.
 
LAST TIME VS. VMI - OCT. 4, 2014
• The Chattanooga Mocs scored a 55-7 win over VMI on Homecoming last season.
• 55 points is the most in the Russ Huesman era (since 2009) ... most points in a game for the Mocs since a 59-56 win against No. 17 Appalachian State on Oct. 30, 2004.
• 555 yards of total offense is the most for the Mocs since 568 in a 36-28 win at No. 25 Furman on Oct. 23, 2010.
• VMI came into the game with the No. 8 passing offense in the nation, averaging 298 yards per game ... held to just 112 ... 88 before the final drive of the fourth quarter.
• Mocs scored on their last five possessions of the first half.
• Richardre Bagley – Season-high 55 yards on 10 carries.
• C.J. Board – Four catches for 64 yards ... first career receiving TD ... career long 41-yard punt return.
• Derrick Craine – Five carries for 53 rushing yards ... first TD reception of his career.
• Jacob Huesman – Nine carries for 97 yards and two TDs ... 15-22 passing for 178 yards and four TDs ... became the first in school history with 2,000 rushing yards and 4,000 passing yards ... 4 TD passes ties a career-high set against Western Carolina on Oct. 5, 2013.
• T.J. Jenkins – First career INT.
• Alphonso Stewart – Team-high four catches…71 receiving yards and one TD.
 
HUESMAN'S ASSAULT ON THE RECORD BOOKS
Senior QB Jacob Huesman is the Mocs' first two-time SoCon Offensive Player of the Year and will own most of UTC's school records by the end of the season.  Here is a look at where he ranks in the league and school record books.  See the sidebar on page 7 for a detailed look at the record books.
• 27-12 record as a starter at QB ... most wins by a starting QB in school history.
• Career accuracy 67.0% (625-933) is a SoCon record and No. 1 among active players in the FCS ... 68.3% (164/240) in 2013 and 68.5% (226/330) in 2014 are the top two marks for season completion percentage in school history.
• 10,074 yards of total offense is the UTC record ... one of only three in SoCon history with more than 10,000 yards ... second among active players in the FCS in total offense ... 49th in FCS history to top 10,000 yards.
• 58 TDs and 20 INTs ... school record for passing TDs ... needs two more to pass Appalachian State's Richie Williams (2002-05) for third all-time in the SoCon.
• Third all-time at UTC with 6,823 passing yards ... needs 48 yards to pass B.J. Coleman (2000-11) for second.
• School-record 625 completions is fifth all-time in the SoCon ... 69 shy of Greg Ryan (ETSU - 1993-96) for fourth.
• Third all-time at UTC with 3,251 rushing yards ... needs 90 yards to pass Mike Smith (1977-80) for second ... needs 59 yards to pass Georgia Southern's Greg Hill (1996-99) to 10th all-time in rushing yards for FCS quarterbacks.
• School-record 33 career rushing TDs.
• 91 total TDs is a school record and second among active players in the FCS and third all-time in the SoCon.
• 198 career points is third all-time at UTC ... needs 18 points to pass Rodney Allen (1989-92) for second. 
• First Moc with 4,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in a career ... topped both marks against VMI on Oct. 4, 2014 ... active career leader in the SoCon for rushing yards and passing yards.
• Just the third in SoCon history with 4,000 passing and 3,000 rushing (Armanti Edwards - ASU (2006-09), Greg Hill - GSU (1996-99)).
 
KEIONTA DAVIS HAVING A GREAT YEAR
Keionta Davis is up to No. 2 in the FCS in sacks (7.0) and TFLs (10.0). His next sack will give him 15.0 for his career, moving into third place all-time at UTC.  That would make the top 3 in school history all under the tutelage of Russ Huesman and defensive line coach Marcus West.  Davis Tull (2010-14) – 37.0 and Josh Williams (2009-13) 23.0 are the other two.