NOTES | QUOTES | STATS | PHOTOS
 
CHATTANOOGA---The No. 8 Chattanooga Mocs dominated the line of scrimmage in a 30-13 victory over VMI at Finley Stadium today. The offensive line paved the way for 297 yards rushing, 519 total, while the defensive front claimed six sacks and five hurries.
 
Richardre Bagley ran for a career-high 189 yards with two touchdowns, subbing for an injured Derrick Craine. He posted 122 of those yards after intermission, protecting a 17-0 lead the Mocs built in the first half.
 
"It's a huge confidence booster," Bagley shared. "All credit goes to our great offensive line and receivers blocking down field. The coaches did a great job preparing us. Everyone did their role.
 
"It was a great team effort."
 
The Mocs scored three times in the first half. Bingo Morton's 21-yard run-and-catch from Alejandro Bennifield got things started with 4:52 left in the first quarter. Bennifield tacked on a 14-yard scamper early in the second, while Henrique Ribeiro added a 30-yard field goal for a 17-0 halftime advantage.
 
The Keydets struck first after the break. Al Cobb found Javeon Lara on the first play of their second drive for 79 yards down the middle of the field. Bagley's first score came on the ensuing possession, a 27-yard run to make it 23-7 after a blocked PAT.
 
Cobb directed an 82-yard, 12-play drive resulting in a 1-yard run after a penalty thwarted a C.J. Fritz fumble recovery in the end zone. Fritz intercepted the two-point conversion attempt to make it a 23-13 game.
 
It was all Bagley and the defense from there. After turning the Keydets over on downs on a 4th-and-1 at their 45, the Mocs turned to the junior runner. He went around the right side and 45 yards later it was 30-13.
 
While the hosts rolled up 297 yards on the ground, they were stingy defensively with just 11 rushing yards allowed.  That's the fewest by an opponent this season.
 
"We came out ready to play, ready to execute" Keionta Davis stated. "The coaches did a great job of getting us prepared throughout the week. We knew we had to win this game. It was a very important game…a conference game.
 
"Playing the way we did today was due to the way we prepared during the week."
 
Davis had three of the six sacks and three hurries. Dale Warren, Nakevion Leslie and Isaiah Mack each added one, with Warren matching Davis' three total tackles for loss. Leslie also forced a fumble and had a near interception.
 
Bennifield threw for 224 yards with 21 completions on 33 attempts. Tyler Roberson came in relief of Bennifield in the fourth quarter, running for 43 yards of his own on just four totes. James Stovall led the receiving corps with six catches for 61 yards as Bennifield found eight different receivers today.
 
Cobb threw for 238 despite the pressure with 18 connections in 35 tosses. Aaron Sanders was his most frequent target with seven receptions for 61 yards. Daz Palmer ran five times for a team-high 12 yards as the 11 total came in 23 tries.
 
UTC is now 7-1, 5-1 in the SoCon, while VMI moves to 3-4, 1-3 in league play. The Mocs are currently second in the conference standings behind The Citadel which won in overtime, 24-21, at Wofford.
 
The Mocs are back on the road next week traveling to Western Carolina. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m., on the CW Chattanooga and the SoCon Digital Network. Access links to video, audio (Mocs Sports Network on 96.1 the Legend) and live stats on GoMocs.com's football schedule page.
 
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