Chattanooga Football Game Notes
VMI Keydets (3-3, 1-2 SoCon) at No. 8/11 Chattanooga Mocs (6-1, 4-1 SoCon)
Finley Stadium (20,668) – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Saturday, Oct. 22, 2016 – 2:00 p.m. (E.D.T.)
Radio:  Mocs Sports Network (96.1 The Legend – Flagship) - Jim Reynolds (pxp), Todd Agne (color), Will Poindexter (sideline)
Online: Live Audio, MocsVision Broadcast & Live Stats on GoMocs.com

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team looks to get back to its winning ways when it returns home for a Southern Conference contest against VMI.  The eighth-ranked Mocs host the Keydets on Saturday, Oct. 22.  Kickoff is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. (E.D.T.) at Finley Stadium.
 
UTC is 6-1 overall and in second place in the SoCon race with a 4-1 mark following last weekend's 22-14 loss at No. 8 The Citadel.  VMI brings a 3-3 record that includes a 1-2 tally in league play.
 
The Mocs are trying to reach seven wins in a season for the fourth year in a row.  That would earn the 2016 senior class the most successful four-year run in school history.  Their current 33 wins over the last four years are tied with both the 2015 and 1980 classes.
 
VMI is trying to reach four wins in a season for the first time since 2008.  The Keydets have non-conference wins over Morehead State (17-13) and Bucknell [23-17 (OT)] and a SoCon victory against ETSU (37-7).  Their league losses are against Mercer [33-30 (OT)] and last week's 55-21 defeat at No. 24 Samford. 
 
FCS RANKINGS
The Mocs dropped to No. 8 in the FCS Coaches Poll after last weekend's loss at The Citadel.  Chattanooga is No. 11 in the STATS FCS Top 25, the other poll officially recognized by the NCAA.  UTC has been ranked for 43 consecutive weeks, the sixth longest streak in the FCS.  
 
HAMILTON COUNTY EDUCATION DAY
Saturday's game welcomes one of the biggest groups of the year with the Hamilton County Education Day.  A number of local elementary schools sold tickets to this game as a fundraiser, while the students who participated received free admission.  In return, student-athletes from UTC visit each of these schools to promote physical fitness and the importance of succeeding in the classroom later in the semester. 
 
BAND DAY
The VMI game is also Band Day, hosted by the UTC Marching Band.  A number of local high school bands perform with the Mocs during game and as a part of the halftime show. 
 
TICKETS
Tickets are available 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. M-F) at McKenzie Arena, the First Tennessee Pavilion ticket window at Finley Stadium opens on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 10:00 a.m.  All other ticket windows open at 11:00 a.m. on gameday.
 
FREE DOWNTOWN SHUTTLE
The FREE CARTA Electric Shuttle runs from downtown to the corner of Main & Chestnut streets on gameday.
 
STUDENT SHUTTLE FROM CAMPUS
The Mocs-branded CARTA busses run from Noon until 12:30 a.m., on game days.  Students can catch the bus at any of the regular CARTA stops on campus.  There are FREE T-shirts for students riding the shuttle for EACH game (while they last).  Drop off at Finley is the corner of Main and Chestnut Streets.  Students ride for free with a valid Mocs Card.
 
MOCS RIDE LONG HOME WINNING STREAK IN SOCON PLAY
Chattanooga has won 13 SoCon home games in a row.  Its last league loss at home was against No. 2 Georgia Southern (38-31 OT) on Oct. 27, 2012.  UTC has won 23 of 26 home league games since the start of the 2013 season. 
 
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.
 
SENIORS GOING FOR SCHOOL RECORD FOR WINS
The 2016 senior class has a 33-13 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.
 
6-7-8-9-WIN SEASONS
The Mocs have put up some unprecedented numbers since head coach Russ Huesman took over in 2009.  During that time, UTC has posted seven winning seasons, which is an amazing accomplishment consider there were only 30 of those in the entire history of the program prior to his arrival. 
6-win seasons - 37 overall - 7 under head coach Russ Huesman
7-win seasons - 21 overall - 3 under head coach Russ Huesman
8-win seasons - 8 overall - 3 under head coach Russ Huesman
9-win seasons - 4 overall - 2 under head coach Russ Huesman
 
QUICK NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOCS
General
• Head coach Russ Huesman is in his eighth season at his alma mater.  He is 56-34 (.622) overall and 40-19 (.678) in Southern Conference action ... 19-11 (.633) in SoCon road games.
• Ranked in the FCS Top 25 for 43 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. 96 in this week's Sagarin ratings that include all NCAA Division I programs ... ahead of 40 FBS schools, including Rutgers, Purdue and Kansas from the Power 5 conferences.
• Mocs have earned six SoCon weekly honors this season, the most in the league ... Nakevion Leslie (W3 & W7), Derrick Craine (W4), Henrique Ribeiro (W4, W5) and Montrell Pardue (W6)   
 
Offense
• Chattanooga is second in the SoCon and No. 13 in the FCS in scoring offense (37.9 ppg).
• The Mocs are third in the SoCon and No. 25 in the FCS in total offense at 423.7 yards per game. 
• Seventh in the FCS in Team Passing Efficiency (169.50).
• Third in the SoCon - behind two triple-option teams - in rushing offense (205.6) ... 22nd 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. 8 in the FCS with 6.9 yards per carry ... leads the SoCon and is seventh in the FCS with nine rushing TDs ... 101.1 rushing ypg is second in the SoCon and is No. 17 in the FCS ... 10 carries of 20+ yards.
• Senior WR Xavier Borishade leads the SoCon with 18.8 yards/catch ... six receiving TDs is second in the SoCon and No. 14 in the nation ... fourth in the SoCon with 75.4 yards per game.
• Senior WR C.J. Board has caught a pass in 24 straight games, longest active streak on the team ... fourth longest at UTC.
• Junior WR James Stovall has caught a pass in 19 games in a row.
• Junior Alejandro Bennifield's pass efficiency rating is fifth in the nation (171.0) ... second the SoCon and No. 7 in the FCS with 16 passing TDs ... nine of his passing TDs have been 30+ yards ... eighth in the FCS in points responsible for (17.1) ... 13th in the country in completion % (65.6%). 
 
Defense
• UTC currently leads the nation in total defense (245.0) and passing yards allowed (134.7).
• Second in the nation in scoring defense (13.6 ppg), including shutouts in the first two games of the season.
• Leads the SoCon in 3rd down defense (31/102 - 30.4%) ... No. 11 in the FCS.
• Also leads the SoCon in team pass efficiency defense (103.69) ... No. 13 in the FCS. 
• 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).
• Leslie posted his second SoCon Player of the Week honor with 19 tackles at The Citadel.  It was the most by a Moc since Ryan Consiglio against Wofford in 2011.
 
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 74.5 (41/55) career FG% is currently second all-time at UTC ... 41 makes trails only Matt Vick's (1997-00) 44 for the school record ... 140-144 on PATs (school-record) in his career.
• Ribeiro's 265 career points is the most in school history. 
• 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 averaging 8.2 yards per return.
 
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE VMI SERIES
• This is the 23rd meeting between these two teams in a series that dates back to 1971.
• UTC is 14-7-1 overall ... 7-3-1 at home and 3-1 in Finley Stadium. 
• Chattanooga won the last meeting, 33-27, on Oct. 17, 2015, at VMI.
• 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.
• Two of VMI's top players are from Tennessee.  Junior QB Al Cobb is a graduate of  Giles County HS in Pulaski, Tenn., while junior LB Ryan Francis is from Knoxville's West HS.   
 
NOTES FROM LAST YEAR'S GAME AT VMI
• Mocs scored a 33-27 win at VMI on Oct. 17, 2015.
• VMI led 21-20 at the half.
• VMI's first quarter touchdown was the first TD allowed by the Mocs since Samford scored with 12:40 left in the game on Sept. 19 … Mocs went eight full quarters (at Presbyterian, Furman) without allowing a TD.
• UTC held VMI to 90 yards and six points in the second half.
• Third straight game with a pick-6 for Chattanooga … fourth defensive score of the season … most since 2011.
• Mocs put up 490 yards … second most this season.
• 261 rushing yards was the fourth-most in 2015 … fourth straight game with 245+ rushing yards … 5.3 yards per carry is a season-high.
• Defense recorded five sacks … second most in 2015.
• UTC held the ball for 38:07 in the game
• Chattanooga was just 2/7 on the year on 4th down coming into the game … 2/3 in the game ... including the last one to seal the win.
• Derrick Craine – Game-high 112 rushing yards on 19 carries.
• Keionta Davis – 1.5 sacks.
• Sema'je Kendall – 28-yard pick-6 in the fourth quarter.
• Henrique Ribeiro – 4-4 on FGs to tie a school-record for makes in a game.
• James Stovall – Three catches for 36 yards and a TD.
• Wil Young – Six catches for 82 yards … career-highs for both … all in the first half.
 
SCOUTING VMI
• Head Coach Scott Wachenheim is in his second season at VMI.  He has a 5-12 overall record.  A 1984 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and veteran coach with over 25 years of experience, Wachenheim came to VMI from Virginia where he spend the previous five seasons. Prior to that, he was the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at Liberty for three years (2006-08).
• VMI is playing a ranked team on the road for the second week in a row ... lost at No. 24 Samford (55-21) last week.
• Junior QB Al Cobb is VMI all-time passing leader with 7,166 in his career.  His 243 yards per game are No. 3 in the SoCon and No. 25 in the FCS.  He is also No. 8 in the country in completion percentage (67%).
• Senior WR Aaron Sanders is second in the SoCon and No. 5 in the FCS with 8.0 catches per game ... caught a pass in 32-straight games.
• 261 passing yards per game is fourth in the SoCon and 29th in the FCS.
• Senior RB Alex Keys has six rushing TDs in the last three games. 
• VMI is 3-0 when posting over 100 rushing yards ... average 128 per game.  
• Junior Ryan Francis leads the SoCon and is No. 8 in the FCS with 6.0 sacks ... second in the league and No. 6 in the FCS with 12.0 TFLs. 
• Sophomore Riuq Trotman is tied for the SoCon lead with three INTs.
• VMI is second in the SoCon in fewest penalties per game (4.7 - 11th in the FCS) and fewest penalty yards per game (43.8 - 13th in the FCS).     
• Only lost two fumbles this season.
 
LESLIE'S 19 TACKLES AT THE CITADEL RESULT IS SECOND WEEKLY HONOR
Senior LB Nakevion Leslie was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week following a career-high 19 tackles in a losing effort at eighth-ranked The Citadel on Oct. 15.  This is the second SoCon honor for Leslie this season and the third of his career.  He also earned honorable mention national honors from STATS.com.  Leslie was credited with five solo stops and 14 assists for his third game of at least 10 tackles this season. His 19 stops were the most for at UTC defender since Ryan Consiglio had that many in 2011.
 
MOCS RANKED FOR 43 CONSECUTIVE WEEKS
The Mocs are No. 8 in the FCS Coaches Poll this week.  This is the 17th consecutive week Chattanooga is ranked in the top 10.  UTC has been ranked in the Top 25 for 43 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 47 weeks in the Russ Huesman era (since 2009) and are 29-16 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
Week 7 - Nakevion Leslie - SoCon Defensive Player of the Week
                                STATS National Defensive Performer of the Week - Honorable Mention