Big games at Finley Stadium have become common since Russ Huesman took over as head coach of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team in 2009.  However, none have been as big as the one on tap this weekend.
 
The No. 8/9 Chattanooga Mocs have their backs against the wall, hosting No. 20/21 The Citadel Bulldogs on Saturday, Nov. 14.  The Citadel leads the Southern Conference with a 6-0 league mark and have won five in a row to stand at 7-2 on the year.  UTC is second in the league at 5-1, with an identical 7-2 overall record. 
 
The Bulldogs have already wrapped up at least a share of the SoCon title, while the winner takes the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.  Chattanooga is looking to claim at least a portion of the league crown for the third year in a row. 
 
Game time is set for 2:00 p.m. (E.S.T.).  Live stats, SoCon Digital Network broadcast link and a link to the Mocs Sports Network radio call are all available on the football schedule page on GoMocs.com. 
 
MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY
Saturday is the annual Military Appreciation Day Finley Stadium.  All active military personnel and veterans, along with their immediate families, receive free general admission to the game.  Groups or individuals can contact the UTC Ticket Office this week at (423) 266-MOCS (6627) to secure a block of tickets in advance.  There will also be a table next to the First Tennessee Pavilion ticket booth where tickets will be distributed to individuals with some form of military identification.
 
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 or on the "Events" tab on the mobile GoMocs.com site.  Fans can also listen to the game on the iHeart Radio app by searching for US 101 The Legend at 96.1.
 
SOCON DIGITAL NETWORK
This game is available on the SoCon Digital Network.  A link to the FREE broadcast is available on the football schedule page on GoMocs.com. 
 
TICKETS
Tickets for the game are available now at the UTC Ticket Office by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627) or online on GoMocs.com.  In addition to the regular business hours of the UTC Ticket Office (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at McKenzie Arena, the First Tennessee Pavilion ticket window at Finley Stadium opens at 9:00 a.m. (E.D.T.) on gameday.
 
FREE DOWNTOWN SHUTTLE
The FREE CARTA Electric Shuttle runs from downtown to the corner of Main & Chestnut streets.  Service begins at 9:30 a.m. and runs until 5:45 p.m.
 
NOTES ON THE RANKINGS
UTC is currently No. 8 in the STATS FCS Top 25 and No. 9 in the FCS Coaches Poll.  The Mocs have been ranked as high as No. 3 in both polls this season, a school record.  This is the eighth week in a row Chattanooga is ranked in the top 10.  UTC has been ranked in the Top 25 for 32 consecutive weeks, dating back to Nov. 4, 2013.  That is the ninth longest active streak in the FCS.  UTC has been among the Top 25 for 35 weeks in the Russ Huesman era (since 2009).  The Mocs are 21-13 when ranked under Huesman.
 
HOME WINNING STREAK
Chattanooga has won 11 straight SoCon games in Finley Stadium ... the last loss was in overtime to No. 2 Georgia Southern (38-31) on Oct. 27, 2012. 
 
TWO LOSSES, SIX POINTS
Theoretically, the Mocs could be the No. 1 team in the country if it weren't for two losses by a mere six points.  UTC dropped its season opener to current No. 1 Jacksonville State (23-20) on Sept. 5.  The Mocs also lost by three last weekend at Mercer (17-14).
 
O-LINE CHANGES RAMP UP OFFENSE
The Mocs made a few adjustments in the offensive line prior to the Western Carolina game, moving right guard Josh Cardiello out to right tackle and Synjen Herren from left guard to right guard.  Corey Levin moved back inside on the left side where he was an All-American and winner of the SoCon Jacobs Blocking Award last season and Hunter Townson moved to left tackle.  Since then, UTC has posted over 900 yards of total offense, including 547 against Western Carolina and 417 last week at Mercer. 
 
MOCS MAKE UP LAST FOUR SOCON OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE MONTH
UTC is known for having one of the top defenses in the nation, but the offense has taken home the last four SoCon Offensive Players of the Month.  Derrick Craine won the honor in October, while Jacob Huesman was September's selection.  Keon Williams took the last one in November 2014, and Huesman had the October honor last season.  It is the first time in league history on school has won four straight Player of the Month honors. 
 
COACH HUESMAN'S 80TH GAME
Huesman is coaching his 80th game Saturday. He is 48-31 for a .608 winning percentage. In the 80 games prior to his return to the Scenic City, the Mocs were 19-61 (.238). He's led the program to six winning campaigns in seven seasons. There was just one in the previous 11, 6-5 in 2005 under Rodney Allison.
 
QUICK NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOCS
General
• UTC head coach Russ Huesman is in his seventh season at his alma mater.  He is 48-31 overall and 35-18 in Southern Conference action.
• 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. 21 in the FCS in home attendance, averaging  11,107 fans in four home games.
• A win over The Citadel gives the 2015 senior class 32 victories in their career ... that would be second all-time at UTC to the 1980 class that won 33 games ... the current group is tied with Coach Huesman's 1981 class and the 1982 seniors.
• UTC only had one penalty at Mercer, dropping the season average to 5.1 per game.  That is fifth in the SoCon, but also No. 20 in the FCS. 
 
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.
• UTC is third in the SoCon behind triple-option teams The Citadel and Wofford, and No. 11 in the nation, in rushing yards (240.6) ... RB Derrick Craine (98.2) and QB Jacob Huesman (97.7) are first and second in the league in rushing ... Craine is tied for the SoCon lead  and No. 10 in the FCS with 11 rushing TDs. 
• The Mocs are currently fifth in the FCS on third down (64/129 - 49.6%).
• Chattanooga leads the SoCon and is No. 8 in the FCS in Time of Possession (33:34).
• Craine needs one more 100-yard game to tie the season record of seven set by Eldra Buckley in 2006. 
 
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 ... UTC also had five sacks at VMI ... the Mocs have 24 sacks on the year, No. 1 in the SoCon and No. 7 in the FCS. 
• Mocs are allowing a SoCon-low 17.2 ppg ... that is No. 12 in the nation ... 15.2 in SoCon games.
• Chattanooga leads the SoCon and is No. 17 in the FCS in first down defense (16.1).
• UTC leads the SoCon and is No. 7 in the FCS in passing yards allowed (160.1).
• The Mocs have posted a pick-6 in three games ... four defensive scores overall this season is the most since 2011 ... 17 in the Huesman era and 14 in the last four years ... last time they had five was 2011.   
• Chattanooga allowed over 300 yards of total offense just twice in the last six games.
• Junior DL Keionta Davis leads the SoCon in sacks (8.5) and and is tied with junior LB Nakevion Leslie for the SoCon lead in TFLs (11.5). 
• The Mocs lead the SoCon and are No. 16 in the nation in total defense (300.2 ypg).
• UTC leads the SoCon in rush defense (140.1). 
 
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 six-time SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week ... has won three of the last five honors.
• Ribeiro is averaging 43.3 yards per punt ... third in the SoCon.
• Ribeiro is 12-15 on FGs this season.
• Junior C.J. Board had a career-long 48-yard punt return against Jacksonville State.  He is No. 16 in the FCS, averaging 11.6 yards per return.
 
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE CITADEL SERIES
• The Mocs have faced The Citadel 48 times, more than any other opponent.
• UTC holds a 29-17-2 advantage in the rivalry that dates back to 1926.
• The Mocs have won five of six in the series.
• UTC holds a slight 6-4 advantage in the last 10 meetings.
• Chattanooga is 17-6-1 at home and 5-4 in Finley Stadium. 
 
CITADEL-UTC RIVALRY HEATING UP
This is turning into one of the more heated rivalries in the league over the last few meetings. UTC has won five of six in the Huesman era, but three of the last four encounters have been battles.  Chattanooga scored a fourth quarter comeback in the 2013 meeting, scoring with just over two minutes remaining for a 28-24 win on Oct. 26.  The Mocs had to overcome a 17-7 halftime deficit to secure the win.  
 
In 2012, the Bulldogs were ranked No. 11 in the nation when they hosted the 1-3 Mocs. The Citadel had just posted wins over No. 3 Georgia Southern and No. 7 Appalachian State, before losing an FBS game at N.C. State. The Mocs went into Johnson Hagood Stadium and put on a dominating performance in a 28-10 victory for one of their biggest road wins in school history.
 
The 2011 game was the other side of the coin for UTC fans.  The 15th-ranked Mocs took a 27-0 lead into halftime. The Citadel stormed back with 28 unanswered points in the second half to post a 28-27 win.
 
UTC also had a three-point squeaker (31-28) in Russ Huesman's first year (2009).  The Citadel's Andre Roberts, currently with the Washington Redskins, scored on a rain-soaked 43-yard punt return with 1:46 left to play to give the Bulldogs a 24-21 win in 2008. 
 
SCOUTING THE CITADEL
• The Citadel is 6-0 in the SoCon for the first time in program history.
• The Bulldogs are one of 10 FCS teams still undefeated in conference play.
• The Citadel's current five-game winning streak is the program's longest since 1994-95 and longest in a single season since 1992.
• Held four of its last five opponents, including three straight, to less than 300 yards of total offense.
• The Citadel ranks 1st in FCS with 33 rushing touchdowns.
• Bulldogs rank 1st in the Southern Conference and tied for 3rd in FCS with five passing touchdowns allowed.
• The Citadel ranks 1st in the Southern Conference in scoring offense (34.2) and scoring defense (16.2) in conference games.
• In conference games, the Bulldogs lead the SoCon in touchdowns (26), rushing offense (352.8), rushing defense (115.3), PATs (23), pass efficiency (140.9), pass efficiency defense (102.8), sacks (20), sacks allowed (2), third down defense (.306), interceptions (11), and kickoff returns (24.9).
• The Bulldogs' average of 349.6 rushing yards per game is 1st in the Southern Conference and 2nd in FCS, and their average of 5.82 yards per carry is 1st in the SoCon and 4th in FCS.
• The Citadel is tied for 1st in FCS with 17 interceptions, tied for the sixth-highest single-season total in program history.
• The Citadel is tied for 1st in FCS with four interception return touchdowns, and its single-season school-record 426 interception return yards are 1st in FCS by 150.
• The Bulldogs rank 2nd in FCS with a defensive interception percentage of 6.49. The Citadel's 17 interceptions have come on 262 passes, an average of one for every 15.4 passes faced.
• The Bulldogs' 24 turnovers forced rank 1st in the Southern Conference and 2nd in FCS.
• The Citadel's +129 scoring margin ranks 1st in the Southern Conference. In conference play, the Bulldogs rank 1st with a +108 scoring margin.
• The Citadel ranks 1st in the Southern Conference in yards per completion (18.69, 2nd in FCS), sacks allowed (0.44, 2nd), tackles for loss allowed (2.89, 2nd), pass efficiency defense (97.90, 4th), scoring offense (34.1, 21st), third down defense (.341, 28th) and tackles for loss (7.1, 28th).
 
LAST TIME VS. THE CITADEL - OCT. 18, 2014
• The No. 15/17 Chattanooga Mocs posted a 34-14 win at The Citadel
• Mocs opened the game with a 66-yard pass completion from Jacob Huesman to C.J. Board for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage … score was 19 seconds into the game … fastest points for the Mocs since a safety on the first snap (14:53) at Arkansas on Oct. 6, 2007 … fastest TD in Division I history.   
• The Mocs were a season-high 8-13 (62%) on third downs … converted seven of first nine ... came into the game No. 6 in the SoCon at 36%.
• UTC had 315 rushing yards on a season-high 50 attempts … most since running 59 times last year against The Citadel (10/26/13).
• The Bulldogs came into the game No. 2 in the FCS in rushing yards per game (325.3) … season-low 198.
• Tough to do against a triple-option team, the Mocs ran 13 more plays (67 to 54) and dominated the Time of Possession 34:50 to 25:10.
• C.J. Board – 2 catches for 68 yards ... career-long 66-yard TD catch on the first play from scrimmage.
• Derrick Craine – Career highs with 135 rushing yards on 17 carries ... 75 yards in the first half.
• Jacob Huesman – 11-17 passing for 163 and two TDs ... 66-yard TD pass to C.J. Board on the first play from scrimmage ... 5 carries for 88 yards and one TD.
• Nakevion Leslie – Team-high 10 tackles ... third career game with 10+ tackles.
 
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.  He has started 43 games at QB and one at receiver and has a school-record 30-13 record as a starter at QB.  He also has 12 games with 100 yards each passing and rushing.
• 216 career points is second all-time at UTC ... needs 26 points to pass Matt Vick (1997-00) for the record. 
• Just the third in SoCon history with 4,000 passing and 3,000 rushing (Armanti Edwards - ASU (2006-09), Greg Hill - GSU (1996-99)).
• Has earned 12 weekly honors from the SoCon in his career (6 Off, 4 Fr.), most among active players ... third all time in the league right behind Appalachian State's Armanti Edwards (2006-09) with 13 and Georgia Southern's Adrian Peterson (1998-01) with 14.
 
 
 
Holds the following school records:
Rushing: Yards – 3,686 ... broke Gwain Durden's (1997-80) school record for career rushing yards with 112 at Mercer ... needs 79 yards to pass Morehead State's David Dinkins (1997-00) for sixth all-time in rushing yards for FCS quarterbacks ... TDs – 38 ... Rushes – 736 ... 100-yard rushing games - 13 ... tied with Eldra Buckley (2005-06), James Roberts (1989-93) and Mike Smith (1978-80).
 
Passing: Yards - 7,539 ... 196 yards shy of ETSU's Todd Wells (1997-00) for fifth ... Completions – 690 ... four shy of Greg Ryan (ETSU - 1993-96) for fourth all-time in the SoCon ... Completion % - 690/1025 – 67.3% ... also a SoCon record and tops among active players in the FCS ... Passing TDs – 59 ... tied with Appalachian State's Richie Williams (2002-05) for third all-time in the SoCon.
 
Total Offense – 11,245 ... third all-time in the SoCon and No. 27 in FCS history ... can move up to 23rd if he hits his season average of 260 ... one of only three in SoCon history with more than 10,000 yards ... 49th in FCS history to top 10,000 yards ... Total TDs – 97 ... third all-time in the SoCon.
 
HUESMAN AMONG ACTIVE PLAYERS
Senior QB Jacob Huesman is closing out one of the greatest careers in school history.  The numbers he has put up over the last three-plus seasons are among the nation's best.  Here is where he ranks in various categories among active players:
1st in Completion % (67.3%) and Total Offense (11,245)
2nd in Rushes (735) and Rushing Yards (3,686)
3rd in Total TDs (97)
4th in Rushing TDs (38) and Completions (690)
6th in Passing Yards (7,534) and TD Passes (59)
 
HUESMAN TRYING TO JOIN THE 40-40 CLUB
Jacob Huesman needs two more rushing touchdowns to become just the third all-time at the FCS level with 40 rushing and 40 passing TDs.  He has a school-record 38 rushing TDs and a school-record 59 passing TDs.  The other three to accomplish the feat are Armanti Edwards (Appalachian St. (2006-09), 65 rush - 74 pass), David Dinkins (Morehead St. (1997-00), 63 rush - 51 pass) and John Robertson (Villanova (2011-15), 48 rush - 65 pass).
 
CRAINE RUNNING HARD
Junior RB Derrick Craine is a poweful back who is leading the SoCon with 98.2 rushing yards per game.  That is also 18th in the FCS.  He scored four rushing TDs against Western Carolina, the most by a Moc since 1982.  He is tied for the SoCon lead and No. 10 in the FCS with 11 rushing TDs.  The Divsion I UTC season record is 14 by Jacob Huesman and Keon Williams.  The overall school mark for a season is 18 by Gene Roberts in 1945.  Craine also leads the SoCon in points per game (8.0). 
 
CRAINE-HUESMAN CLOSE TO 1,000-YARD TEAMMATES
Only 34 times in FCS history have teammates ran for 1,000 yards in the same season.  The Mocs are trying to do it for the second year in a row.  Both Derrick Craine (884) and Jacob Huesman (879) are closing in on 1,000 yards.  Huesman (1,009) and Keon Williams (1,037) did it last year.  Gwain Durden (1,045) and Mike Smith (1,090) both did it as freshmen in 1977. 
 
KEIONTA DAVIS HAVING A GREAT YEAR
Keionta Davis leads the SoCon in sacks (8.5) and TFLs (11.5). He is already third all-time at UTC with 15.5 in his career.  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.
 
RIBEIRO ONE OF THE TOP KICKERS AROUND
Junior Henrique Ribeiro is having a great year kicking and punting.  The Fred Mitchell Award Candidate is 31-31 on PATs and has a current streak of 74 in a row which is a school record and the seventh longest streak in SoCon history.  He is 12-15 (80.0%) on field goals on the year, after tying a school record with four at VMI.  He has won three SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week awards, and is also third in the SoCon in punting at 43.3 yards per kick.       
 
BACK-TO-BACK 150-YARD RUSHERS
Derrick Craine posted a career-high 169 rushing yards against Mars Hill.  Jacob Huesman followed that with 150 of his own at Samford.  It was the first time in school history two different Mocs rushed for 150+ yards in back-to-back games. 
 
TEAM CAPTAINS
Five Mocs were elected captains by their teammates for the 2015 season.  Seniors Jacob Huesman, A.J. Hampton, Josh Freeman and Synjen Herren and junior Keionta Davis were chosen for their leadership on and off the field.  This is Huesman's third year as a captain, the second for Freeman and the first for the other three.   
 
LETTERMEN/STARTERS RETURNING/LOST
UTC returns a total of 41 lettermen from the 2014 campaign. There are 18 on the offensive side of the ball and 21 on defense. Two specialists also return for the 2015 season. There are 16 starters back, including seven on offense, seven on defense and two on special teams.  A complete list of starters returning and lost is available on page 13 of the Training Camp Notes.   
 
SEASON NO. 108
The Chattanooga Mocs enter their 108th season of football in the fall of 2015.  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 519-513-35 (.503) and have won 12 conference titles.
 
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."
 
COACH HUESMAN AT A GLANCE
A three-time SoCon Coach of the Year (2009, 2013, 2014), Russ Huesman is 48-31 (.606) in his seven years at Chattanooga after being hired as the 22nd head coach at UTC on Dec. 22, 2008.  The Mocs won 44 games in the 12 previous seasons to his arrival in 2009.  
 
Huesman was 10th in the voting for the Eddie Robinson Award for the National Coach of the Year in 2014.  He garnered 109 points, including seven first-place nods.  It was the second year in a row he was a finalist for the Robinson Award, finishing 17th in 2013.
 
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 41-23 against FCS teams with 15 of those losses coming against ranked opponents, including 10 in the Top 10.  He is 35-18 (.660) in SoCon action.  The program won 29 league games the previous 12 campaigns to 2009 (29-63).  He is 25-11 (.694) at home, 23-20 (.535) on the road. There were just 17 road wins in the prior 12 years (1997-2008).
 
Prior to his return to Chattanooga, Huesman spent 25 seasons building a reputation as one of the top defensive-minded assistant coaches in the country. He spent five years 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 from 1996-97. 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.
 
CHEER LOCAL
Cheer Local has become the mantra for Mocs Athletics in their home town of Chattanooga.  It is a perfect slogan for the football team who has 29 student-athletes from the Chattanooga area.  That is the most local talent on the roster since 2002.
 
ATTENDANCE IN THE HUESMAN ERA
UTC has seen a dramatic growth in attendance at home football games since the hiring of Russ Huesman in December 2008.  Seven of the Mocs' top-10 crowds in school history have come in the 36 home games of the Huesman era.  Chattanooga is averaging 10,579 fans per game since the start of 2009.  Prior to Huesman's arrival, UTC averaged 5,767 fans per game in the 2008 season.  UTC averaged over 9,500 fans per game in each of his six years. Only once in the previous 12 seasons before Coach Huesman did Chattanooga football have that big of an average.
 
WINNING RECORDS BECOMING COMMON AT CHATTANOOGA
UTC secured its seventh win of the year against Western Carolina, assuring the Mocs of their sixth winning season in seven years under head coach Russ Huesman.  UTC only had four winning seasons in the 23 years prior to Huesman's arrival in 2009 (1986-2008).