Chattanooga Football Game Notes
No. 3/5 Chattanooga Mocs (6-0, 4-0 SoCon) at No. 8/9 The Citadel Bulldogs (5-0, 3-0 SoCon)
Johnson Hagood Stadium (21,000) – Charleston, S.C.
Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016 – 3:04 p.m. (E.D.T.)
Radio:  Mocs Sports Network (96.1 The Legend – Flagship) - Jim Reynolds (pxp), Todd Agne (color), Will Poindexter (sideline)

TV: Fox Sports Southeast (EPB – 333) – Kevin Fitzgerald (pxp), Sadath Jean-Pierre (analyst)
Online: Live Audio, ESPN3 & Live Stats on GoMocs.com

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team has a huge Southern Conference road game at The Citadel this weekend.  The third-ranked Mocs visit the No. 8 Bulldogs on Saturday, Oct. 15, for a 3:04 p.m. (E.D.T.) kickoff in Johnson Hagood Stadium in Charleston, S.C. 
 
Catch the top 10 SoCon showdown on Fox Sports Southeast (EPB - 333) in Chattanooga, or listen to the Mocs Sports Network radio call on 96.1 FM.  Fans outside of the region can watch the game on the ESPN3 link on the football schedule page on GoMocs.com.
 
Both Chattanooga (6-0, 4-0 SoCon) and The Citadel (5-0, 3-0 SoCon) are undefeated on the season, and were the top two picks in the SoCon preseason polls.  These two teams shared the SoCon title last year with identical 6-1 league records.  The Mocs defeated the Bulldogs 31-23 on Nov. 14, 2015, in Chattanooga to grab a share of the league crown.
 
This is the first top 10 matchup between a pair of SoCon teams since No. 7 Georgia Southern topped No. 4 Wofford (17-9) in 2012.  It is also the first time the Mocs have been in a SoCon game when both teams were ranked in the top 10. 
 
The SoCon is the only league in the Football Championship Subdivision with two undefeated teams remaining, and Chattanooga is the only 6-0 squad in the FCS.  North Dakota State (5-0), Sam Houston State (5-0) and Harvard (4-0) round out the list of remaining teams with a perfect record to this point in the season. 
 
UTC's 6-0 start is the best since the 1968 season when head coach Harold Wilkes' University of Chattanooga team opened 7-0 on their way to a 9-1 campaign.  For the Bulldogs, it is their best start since 1992. 
 
The Mocs stay at No. 3 in the FCS Coaches Poll for the fourth week in a row, tying a school record they also reached prior to last year's Mercer game.  Chattanooga is No. 5 in the STATS FCS Top 25, the other poll officially recognized by the NCAA.  UTC has been ranked for 42 consecutive weeks, the sixth longest streak in the FCS.  
 
The Citadel is No. 8 in the STATS Top 25 and ninth in the FCS Coaches Poll.  The Bulldogs have been ranked for 12 straight weeks, the 2nd-longest streak in program history.  They are in the  top 10 for the fourth straight week, their longest stretch inside the top 10 since 1992.
 
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 or the TuneIn radio apps, by searching for US 101 The Legend at 96.1 on their mobile device.
 
FOX SPORTS SOUTHEAST
Saturday's game is on regionally on Fox Sports Southeast.  Kevin Fitzgerald is the play-by-play and Sadath Jean-Pierre is the analyst.  See below for a list of channels in the Chattanooga area. 
EPB - 33/333HD
Comcast - 53/402HD
DirecTV - 649
Dish - 437
 
OFFENSE VS. DEFENSE
This game features the No. 1 defense in the SoCon against the league's top offense.  UTC leads the nation in total defense (225.7) and scoring defense (12.2) while The Citadel's triple-option attack is No. 1 in the SoCon in total offense and No. 15 in the FCS at 454.2 yards per game.  The Bulldogs have the No. 1 ranked rushing attack in the country with 388.8 yards per game. UTC's rushing defense is No. 3 in the nation, allowing just 71.7 yards per game.  
 
VS. RANKED TEAMS
UTC is 9-17 against ranked FCS teams under head coach Russ Huesman (since 2009).  The last win over a ranked opponent was in last year's FCS playoffs when UTC defeated No. 17 Fordham (50-20) on Nov. 28.  The Mocs are 1-12 against top 10 ranked opponents in the Huesman era with the lone win coming against No. 10 Jacksonville State (38-17) on Sept. 10, 2011.
 
The last time the Mocs beat a team ranked as high as No. 8 was a 30-27 win over No. 6 Appalachian State (30-27) on Oct. 28, 2000, in Chattanooga.  UTC has never had a road win over an opponent ranked as high as No. 8 in the country.     
 
VS. THE TRIPLE-OPTION
UTC has an 11-7 record against triple-option teams in the Russ Huesman era.  The Mocs are 6-1 against The Citadel, 4-3 against Wofford and 1-3 against Georgia Southern.
 
SENIORS GOING FOR SCHOOL RECORD FOR WINS
The 2016 senior class has a 33-12 record with three SoCon titles.  That is tied with the 2015 and 1980 seniors for most wins by a class in school history.  Coach Huesman's 1981 class is fourth all-time at UTC with 31 wins.
 
QUICK NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOCS
General
• Head coach Russ Huesman is in his eighth season at his alma mater.  He is 56-33 (.629) overall and 40-18 (.690) in Southern Conference action ... 19-10 (.655) in SoCon road games.
• No. 3 national ranking ties the highest in school history ... last four weeks and the week of the Mercer game on Nov. 7, 2015. 
• Ranked in the FCS Top 25 for 42 consecutive weeks ... sixth longest active streak in the nation.
• 55-51 all-time at Finley Stadium …  27-10 in the Huesman era.
• The Mocs led the SoCon in home attendance in the regular season for the second year in a row, averaging 11,204 in 2015 ... second-highest average on record (12,699 - 2010) ... Chattanooga averaged 10,000 fans per game only five times in school history ... four of those in the Huesman era (2009, 2010, 2011, 2015). 
• The Mocs are No. 91 in this week's Sagarin ratings that include all NCAA Division I programs ... ahead of 42 FBS schools, including Rutgers, Purdue, Kansas and Syracuse from the Power 5 conferences.
• UTC has won 13-straight games in the month of October ... last October loss was against No. 2 Georgia Southern (38-31 OT) on Oct. 27, 2012.
• Five Mocs have earned SoCon weekly honors this season, the most in the league ... Nakevion Leslie (W3), Derrick Craine (W4), Henrique Ribeiro (W4, W5) and Montrell Pardue (W6)   
 
Offense
• Chattanooga leads the SoCon and is No. 7 in the FCS in scoring offense (41.8 ppg).
• The Mocs are second in the SoCon and No. 22 in the FCS in total offense at 445.2 yards per game. 
• Seventh in the FCS in Team Passing Efficiency (174.54).
• Third in the SoCon - behind two triple-option teams - in rushing offense (230.7) ... 18th in the FCS.
• Two preseason All-Americans on offense.  Senior RB Derrick Craine is on the STATS Offensive Player of the Year Watch List.  Senior offensive lineman Corey Levin is a two-time winner of the Jacobs Blocking Award as the top offensive lineman in the SoCon.
• Craine posted 222 yards against Samford on Sept. 24, earning SoCon Player of the Week honors ...  leads the SoCon and is No. 9 in the FCS with 7.2 yards per carry ... leads the SoCon and is eighth in the FCS with eight rushing TDs ... 113.3 rushing ypg leads the SoCon and is No. 16 in the FCS ... nine carries of 20+ yards.
• Senior WR Xavier Borishade leads the SoCon with 19.7 yards/catch ... six receiving TDs lead the SoCon and is seventh in the nation ...second in the SoCon with 83.2 yards per game.
• Senior WR C.J. Board has caught a pass in 23 straight games, longest active streak on the team ... fourth longest at UTC.
• Junior WR James Stovall has caught a pass in 18 games in a row.
• Junior Alejandro Bennifield's pass efficiency rating is fourth in the nation (176.6) ... second the SoCon and No. 6 in the FCS with 15 passing TDs ... eight of his passing TDs have been 30+ yards ... seventh in the FCS in points responsible for (19.0) ... 11th in the country in completion % (66.7%). 
 
Defense
• UTC currently leads the nation in scoring defense (12.2 ppg), including shutouts in the first two games of the season.
• Leads the nation in total defense (225.7) and 3rd down defense (18/82 - 22%).
• Fourth in the FCS is passing yards allowed (154.0) and third in rushing defense (71.7).
• Ninth in the FCS in first down defense (13.0) and 13th in team pass efficiency defense (104.60). 
• Posted back-to-back shutouts in the first two games of the season for the first time since 1964 … 18-0 vs. Tennessee Tech (Sept. 23) and 7-0 vs. ETSU (Oct. 3). 
• The shutout against Presbyterian was the fifth in the Russ Huesman era .
• Held three teams to under 200 yards of total offense this season ... Shorter (16), Presbyterian (196) and ETSU (132). 
• Three preseason All-Americans on defense, including Keionta Davis (DL), Nakevion Leslie (LB) and Lucas Webb (DB). 
• Davis is on the STATS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List ... his 25.5 career sacks are second all-time at UTC behind Davis Tull's SoCon-record 39.5 (2011-14) ... 5.0 this season.  
• Webb has three career pick-6s ... school-record and tied for the SoCon record ... nine career INTs ... tied for ninth all-time at UTC with Coach Huesman (1978-81).
• Sophomore Montrell Pardue is the current SoCon Defensive Player of the Week after eigth tackles and a pick-6 against Mercer. Pardue has three career takeaways with two scores.
 
Special Teams
• Senior Henrique Ribeiro is on the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List for the kicker of the year outside of the FBS (FCS, DII, DIII, NAIA) ... preseason third team All-American according to College Sports Madness ... preseason first team All-SoCon.
• Ribeiro's 75.9 (41/54) career FG% is currently second all-time at UTC ... 41 makes trails only Matt Vick's (1997-00) 44 for the school record ... 133-137 on PATs (school-record) in his career.
• Ribeiro's 263 career points is second all-time at UTC ... one point shy of Jacob Huesman's (2012-15) school-record 264.
• Ribeiro hit a career-long 52-yard FG at ETSU to earn his second consecutive SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week against ETSU.
• Senior C.J. Board was a second team All-SoCon returner in 2015 ... currently second in the SoCon in yards per return (8.9).
 
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE CITADEL SERIES
• This is the 50th meeting in the series.
• The Mocs have faced The Citadel more than any other opponent.
• UTC holds a 30-17-2 advantage in the rivalry that dates back to 1926.
• The Mocs have won six of seven in the series.
• UTC holds a slight 6-4 advantage in the last 10 meetings.
• Chattanooga is 12-11-1 at The Citadel, including three-straight wins.
• This is the second year in a row both teams are ranked ... No. 8 Chattanooga won last year's matchup 31-23 over The Citadel's No. 20 team on Nov. 14, 2015, in Chattanooga.
 
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 six of seven in the Huesman era, but four of the last five encounters have been battles.
 
Last year, UTC ran out to a 21-0 halftime lead before a 31-23 victory gave the Mocs a share of the SoCon title.  Chattanooga posted 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 in that victory. 
 
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 the 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 captured a three-point squeaker (31-28) in Russ Huesman's first year (2009).  The Citadel's Andre Roberts, currently with the Detroit Lions, 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.
 
NOTES FROM LAST YEAR'S GAME WITH THE CITADEL
• The No. 8/9 Chattanooga Mocs posted a 31-23 win over No. 20/21 The Citadel at Finley Stadium … the win gave UTC a share of its third straight SoCon Title with a 6-1 mark in league play, 8-2 overall … the Bulldogs dropped to 6-1 in SoCon action and 7-3 on the year.
• UTC secured the SoCon's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs for the second year in a row and the third time in school history.
• First play from scrimmage was a 75-yard TD pass from Alejandro Bennifield to Xavier Borishade for a score … took 12 seconds … quickest TD for the Mocs in Division I history … longest pass play of the season … fastest points for the Mocs since a safety on the first snap (14:53) at Arkansas on Oct. 6, 2007 … UTC opened the 2014 game at The Citadel with a 66-yard pass completion from Jacob Huesman to C.J. Board for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.
• Mocs had two 100-yard receivers C.J. Board (5-116) and Xavier Borishade (5-107) for the first time in a game since Clint Woods (175) and Blue Cooper (159) did it against Cumberland in 2008.
• Chattanooga came into the game leading the SoCon in rushing defense (140.1).  UTC held The Citadel's triple-option attack to 291 rushing yards … that was well below its average of 349 that was No. 2 in the FCS.
• The Mocs snapped The Citadel's five-game winning streak … their longest since 1994-95 and longest in a single season since 1992.
• UTC quarterbacks Jacob Huesman (192) and Alejandro Bennifield (75) combined for 267 passing yards … most in a game by the Mocs this season … Bennifield's came on the opening play of the game.
• C.J. Board – Career-high 116 yards on five catches ... only 100-yard receiving game of his career.
• Xavier Borishade – 107 yards and a TD on five catches ... career-long 75 yard TD catch on the first play of the game ... second 100-yard game of his career.
• Derrick Craine – 82 yards and a TD on 17 carries.
• Keionta Davis – 2.0 sacks against a triple-option team ... career-high eight tackles.
• Nakevion Leslie – Career-high 15 tackles, including one for loss.
• Vantrel McMillan – Career-high 10 tackles.
 
SCOUTING THE CITADEL
• Head Coach Brent Thompson is in his first season at The Citadel ... most wins by a Citadel coach to start the season, surpassing Ralph Foster who won his first four games in 1906-07.
• The Citadel is 5-0 for the 2nd time in program history and 1st since 1992.
• The Citadel has started 3-0 in the Southern Conference in back-to-back seasons for the first time in program history and is 3-0 in the SoCon for the 7th time overall.
• The Bulldogs are 26-17 all-time when ranked, including 23-14 against FCS opponents, and 11-4 when ranked in the top 10.
• The Citadel has rushed for 500 yards in back-to-back games for the first time in school history. At North Greenville, the Bulldogs totaled 559 yards on the ground one week after rushing for 513 yards at Western Carolina.
• In the last three games, the Bulldogs averaged 497.0 rushing yards..
• The Citadel's 8.0 sacks at Western Carolina are the most by a Southern Conference team this season and tied for the most in FCS.
• The Bulldogs' turnover margin of +6 is tied for 1st in the SoCon and for 9th in FCS. Since the beginning of the 2015 season, The Citadel has forced 41 turnovers for an average of 2.3 per game.
• The Citadel is the only FCS team that has not allowed a sack this season. The Bulldogs are ranked 1st in the SoCon and 3rd in FCS with an average of 3.00 tackles for loss allowed per game.
• Including quarterback Dominique Allen, the Bulldogs have five of the top-9 rushers in the Southern Conference. Tyler Renew is 3rd, Reggie Williams ranks 4th, Cam Jackson is 6th, Allen is 7th and Rod Johnson ranks 9th.
• Defensive Back Dee Delaney is on the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Watch List.
 
DEFENSIVE SCORES
Since head coach Russ Huesman took over in 2009, the Mocs have posted 19 defensive scores, including Montrell Pardue's pick-6 against Mercer.  That is the most in the SoCon during that time.  These include 14 pick-6s and five fumbles returned for a score.  Junior Lucas Webb has three of those pick-6s, tying a Southern Conference record. 
 
LUKE DAVIS SAT TWO GAMES FOR A SPECIAL REASON
Redshirt freshman linebacker Luke Davis is expected to be a staple on many of the Mocs's special teams units this season.  However, he missed the last two games after recovering from donating stem cells to a cancer patient at Vanderbilt hospital the week before the Presbyterian game.  Each year, the Mocs take part in the "Be the Match" bone marrow registry started by Villanova head coach Andy Talley.  Not only does the team recruit student to register, but they also sign up themselves as potential donors.  Davis is back in the lineup and available for action against Samford. 
 
MOCS RANKED FOR 42 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS
The Mocs stayed at No. 3 in the FCS Coaches Poll this week, tying the highest ranking in the school's FCS history for the fourth week in a row.  It also occurred last season when UTC climbed to No. 3 in both the STATS.com and FCS Coaches Polls on Nov. 2, 2015.  This is the 16th consecutive week Chattanooga is ranked in the top 10.  UTC has been ranked in the Top 25 for 42 consecutive weeks, dating back to Nov. 4, 2013.  That is the sixth-longest active streak in the country.  The Mocs have been among the Top 25 for 46 weeks in the Russ Huesman era (since 2009) and are 29-15 when ranked under Huesman.  UTC was ranked as high as No. 3 on Nov. 1, 1968, in the Small College Top 20, before the FCS was created in 1978.
 
LIST OF WEEKLY HONORS FOR THE MOCS
Week 1 - Vantrel McMillan - SouthernPigskin.com SoCon Defensive Player of the Week
Week 2 - Alejandro Bennifield - CFPA National Performer of the Week
                                SouthernPigskin.com SoCon X-Factor of the Week
Week 3 - Nakevion Leslie - College Sports Madness National Defensive Player of the Week
                                SoCon Defensive Player of the Week
                                SouthernPigskin.com SoCon Defensive Player of the Week
                                College Sports Madness SoCon Defensive Player of the Week
Week 4 - Derrick Craine - CFPA National Performer of the Week - Honorable Mention
                                STATS National Offensive Performer of the Week - Honorable Mention
                                SoCon Offensive Player of the Week
                                SoCon Student-Athlete of the Week
                                SouthernPigskin.com SoCon Offensive Player of the Week
                                College Sports Madness SoCon Offensive Player of the Week
                Keionta Davis - Reese's Senior Bowl National Defensive Player of the Week
                Henrique Ribeiro - STATS National Special Teams Performer of the Week - Honorable Mention
                                SoCon Offensive Player of the Week
                                SouthernPigskin.com SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week
                Dale Warren - SouthernPigskin.com SoCon Defensive Player of the Week
Week 5 - Henrique Ribeiro - SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week
                                STATS National Special Teams Performer of the Week - Honorable Mention
Week 6 - Montrell Pardue - SoCon Defensive Player of the Week.