Chattanooga Football Game Notes
Mercer Bears (2-2, 1-1 SoCon) at No. 3/5 Chattanooga Mocs (5-0, 3-0 SoCon)
Finley Stadium (20,668) – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016 – 4:00 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 third-ranked Chattanooga Mocs "Go for the Gold" this week when they host Mercer for Homecoming 2016.  The University has chosen an Olympic theme for this year's festivities that culminate with Saturday's 4:00 p.m. (E.D.T.) kickoff against the Bears in Finley Stadium.
 
UTC, the only 5-0 squad in the Football Championship Subdivision, sits atop the Southern Conference standings at 3-0.  Mercer brings a 2-2 mark and a 1-1 ledger in league action.
 
The Homecoming Game is sponsored by FSG Bank. For more information on the Homecoming events during the week, visit www.utc.edu/homecoming. 
 
The Mocs 5-0 start is the first since the 1979 season.  UTC is trying to go 6-0 for the first time since 1968 when Coach Harold Wilkes guided the University of Chattanooga to a 9-1 record. 
 
There is also a sense of payback in the air, with the Mocs looking to avenge 17-14 loss to Mercer in Macon, Ga., on Nov. 7 last season.  That loss is the only SoCon defeat for UTC since the start of the 2014 campaign.  Chattanooga has won 16 of 17 league games during that span.   
 
The Mocs stay at No. 3 FCS Coaches Poll for the third 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 41 consecutive weeks, the sixth longest streak in the FCS.  
 
After holding ETSU to a paltry seven points and 132 yards of total offense in last week's 37-7 road win, UTC is No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense (8.4) and total defense (202.8).  Chattanooga also leads the nation in third down defense (14-70 20%), is second in passing yards allowed (140.4) and third in rushing defense (62.4).  
 
Offensively, the Mocs lead the SoCon with 428.0 yards per game and are No. 9 in the FCS at 39.8 points per outing.
 
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. 8 at 12:00 p.m.  All other ticket windows open at 1:00 p.m. on gameday.  The Gold Mini Plan is still available for the final three home games, starting at $40 for all three games.
 
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.
 
WATCH ON MOCSVISION
Fans can also watch the MocsVision broadcast through the video link on the football schedule page on GoMocs.com.  This video stream includes the radio call from the Mocs Sports Network.  
 
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.
 
HOMECOMING NOTES
• UTC is 56-27-3 all-time on Homecoming. 
• The Mocs are 6-1 on Homecoming in the Russ Huesman era (since 2009) ... only Homecoming loss was 34-17 against No. 17 Appalachian State on Sept. 22, 2012.
• UTC is 11-7 on Homecoming in Finley Stadium. 
• The Mocs are 3-2 all-time against Mercer on Homecoming ... all five of those meetings were played between 1932-36.
 
MOCS RIDE LONG HOME WINNING STREAK IN SOCON PLAY
Chattanooga has won 12 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 22 of 25 home league games since the start of the 2013 season. 
 
QUICK NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOCS
General
• Head coach Russ Huesman is in his eighth season at his alma mater.  He is 55-33 (.625) overall and 39-18 (.684) in Southern Conference action ... 20-8 (.714) in SoCon home games.
• No. 3 national ranking ties the highest in school history ... last three weeks and the week of the Mercer game on Nov. 7, 2015. 
• Ranked in the FCS Top 25 for 41 consecutive weeks ... sixth longest active streak in the nation.
• The 2016 senior class has 32 wins ... second all-time at UTC ... school record is 33, set by both the 2015 and 1980 classes ... Coach Huesman's 1981 class is fourth all-time at UTC with 31 wins.
• 54-51 all-time at Finley Stadium …  26-10 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 45 FBS schools, including Rutgers, Purdue, Kansas and Oregon State from the Power 5 conferences.
• UTC has won 12-straight games in the month of October ... last October loss was against No. 2 Georgia Southern (38-31 OT) on Oct. 27, 2012.
 
Offense
• The Mocs lead the SoCon and are No. 29 in the FCS in total offense at 428.0 yards per game. 
• Second in the SoCon and No. 9 in the FCS in scoring offense (39.8 ppg).
• Third in the FCS in Team Passing Efficiency (172.65).
• Third in the SoCon - behind two triple-option teams - in rushing offense (222.2) ... 19th 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. 10 in the FCS with 6.7 yards per carry ... leads the SoCon and is sixth in the FCS with seven rushing TDs ... 104.0 rushing ypg is second in the SoCon and No. 15 in the FCS ... seven carries of 20+ yards.
• Senior WR Xavier Borishade is ninth the nation with 22.4 yards/catch ... five receiving TDs lead the SoCon and is 11th in the nation ...second in the SoCon with 80.6 yards per game.
• Senior WR C.J. Board has caught a pass in 22 straight games, longest active streak on the team ... sixth-longest at UTC.
• Junior WR James Stovall has caught a pass in 17 games in a row.
• Junior Alejandro Bennifield's pass efficiency rating is fifth in the nation (175.3) ... second the SoCon and No. 9 in the FCS with 11 passing TDs ... eight of his passing TDs have been 30+ yards ... eighth in the FCS in points responsible for (16.8) ... eighth in the country with 15.0 yards per completion. 
 
Defense
• UTC currently leads the nation in scoring defense (8.4 ppg), including shutouts in the first two games of the season.
• Also leads the nation in total defense (202.8) and third down defense (14/70 - 20%).
• Second in the FCS is passing yards allowed (140.4) and third in rushing defense (62.5).
• Seventh in the FCS in first down defense (12.2) and eighth in team pass efficiency defense (99.91). 
• 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) ... leads the SoCon and No. 7 in the FCS with 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).
• Senior DL Vantrel McMillan is second in the SoCon with 7.5 TFLs ... second in the SoCon with 4.0 sacks. 
 
Special Teams
• Freshman Colin Brewer would be tied for the FCS lead in punting at 47.2 yards per kick if he had enough attempts ... has 10 but needs 3.6 per game to qualify for NCAA ranking.
• No. 5 in the country in net punting (40.4). 
• 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 75.5 (40/53) career FG% is currently second all-time at UTC ... 40 makes is tied with Dennis Waters (1985-88) for second all-time at UTC ... 133-137 on PATs (school-record) in his career.
• Ribeiro's 253 career points is second all-time at UTC ... 11 points shy of Jacob Huesman's school-record (2012-15) 264.
• Ribeiro hit a career-long 52-yard FG at ETSU to earn his second consecutive SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week.
• Senior C.J. Board was a second team All-SoCon returner in 2015 ... currently second in the SoCon in yards per return (8.7).
• The Mocs have only had six kickoff returns this season. 
 
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MERCER SERIES
• These two teams met 24 times before Mercer stopped playing football in 1941.
• This is the 27th overall meeting and the third since Mercer restarted its program in 2013.
• UTC holds an 18-7-1 overall mark in the series ... 1-1 since Mercer joined the SoCon in 2014.
• Prior to the 2014 game, the last meeting was a 40-13 win for the Mocs in Chattanooga on Nov. 26, 1941 ... this was the final game of the 1941 season ... just over two weeks later, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and sent the United States into World War II ... Mercer did not take the field again until the start of the 2013 season. 
• UTC is 15-2-1 at home in the series, including seven consecutive wins. 
 
TWO GAMES WITH MERCER HAVE BEEN TOUGH
Mercer joined the SoCon in 2014 and both games with the Bears have been tough.  Last year's 17-14 loss snapped UTC's 12-game SoCon winning streak and cost the Mocs the outright league title.  The 2014 game was a 38-31 win for UTC, but Mercer had two shots to tie the game late at Finley Stadium.   
 
NOTES FROM LAST YEAR'S GAME WITH MERCER
• The No. 3 Chattanooga Mocs had their seven-game winning streak snapped with a 17-14 loss at Mercer on Nov. 7, 2105 … UTC dropped to 7-2 overall and a game behind The Citadel (7-2, 6-0 SoCon) in the SoCon race … Mercer improved to 4-5 overall and 1-4 in SoCon play.
• First SoCon home win for the Bears who were in their second year in the league.
• The loss snapped a school-record 12-game SoCon winning streak for UTC, dating back to the start of the 2014 season … the Mocs previous league loss was also 17-14, at Samford on Nov. 16, 2013.
• UTC committed a season-high four turnovers (2 INT, 2 fumbles lost).
• The Mocs posted 417 yards of total offense, compared to Mercer's 335.  Only time in 2015 UTC out-gained its opponent and lost.
• Mocs were just 2-4 inside the redzone.
• One of only two games the Mocs did not record a sack … other time was against triple-option Wofford.
• There was only one penalty in the game between the two teams … face-mask against UTC in the 4th quarter.
• Malcolm Colvin – had one of his two career catches in the game ... five yards ... only catch by a TE in 2015.
• Derrick Craine - 102 yards on 23 carries ... lost a fumble for just the second time in 2015.
• James Stovall – Career-highs with six catches for 78 yards.
• Lucas Webb - Career-high 10 tackles.
 
SCOUTING MERCER
• Head Coach Bobby Lamb is 23-16 in his fourth season at Mercer ... the former Furman head coach (2002-10) is 90-56 in 13 years overall. 
• Mercer's upset win over the Mocs in 2016 marked the program's first win over a Top 25 team.
• Saturday's game marks the 27th meeting all-time between the two schools, the most for any SoCon foe for Mercer.
• The Bears have forced a turnover in 23 of the last 26 games, including 13 in a row at one point.
• For Mercer, 10 of the last 13 games have been decided by one possession.
• The Bears are in their fourth season since reintroducing football in 2013.
• Mercer received votes in the 2016 STATS preseason poll ... Bears were picked fourth in the preseason SoCon media poll and fifth by the league's coaches. 
• 19-2 when scoring 30 points under head coach Bobby Lamb ... 20-5 when eclipsing 400 yards of total offense.
• Offense returns 10 starters from a balanced attack that posted 212.5 yards on the ground and 200.5 yards through the air in 2015
• Bears have forced a turnover in 23 of the last 26 games, including 13 in a row at one point
• QB John Russ has thrown a touchdown pass in 34 of 39 contests over the course of his career.
• Junior WR Avery Ward leads the SoCon with 80.8 receiving yards per game ... sophomore WR Marquise Irvin is third in the league with 6.2 receptions per game.
• Kicker Cole Fisher is 8-10 on FGs this season ... second-most makes in the FCS.
 
RIBEIRO'S SECOND STRAIGHT SOCON HONOR TIES LEAGUE CAREER MARK
Senior kicker Henrique Ribeiro has earned SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week each of the last two weeks.  That gives him eight for his career, tying former Appalachian State and current Detroit Lion punter Sam Martin (2008-12) for the most all-time in the SoCon. 
 
CRAINE GOES FOR 200+ AGAINST SAMFORD
Senior RB Derrick Craine was named the SoCon Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for a career-high 222 yards on 23 carries with two touchdowns in the 41-21 win. His 222 yards was the third-highest single-game total in school history and the most by anyone at the FCS level this season.  It was the 12th time a Moc had topped 200 rushing yards in a game and the first time since Eldra Buckley did it at Tennessee Tech (204) on Aug. 31, 2006. 
 
Craine was especially efficient in the second half, carrying 14 times for 194 yards after intermission. He added two receptions for nine yards in the win. He leads the Southern Conference and ranks 10th nationally with 114.3 yards per game. With Saturday's performance, he moved into eighth place on the school's all-time rushing list and now has 2,371 yards for his career.
 
On a national scale, Craine earned Honorable Mention recognition from the College Football Performance Awards and STATS.  He is also up for the American Sports Network FCS #GameChanger Award.  Fan voting for this weekly honor runs through Thursday.  
 
DEFENSIVE SCORES
Since head coach Russ Huesman took over in 2009, the Mocs have posted 18 defensive scores.  That is the most in the SoCon during that time.  These include 13 pick-6s and five fumbles returned for a score.  Junior Lucas Webb has three of those pick-6s, tying a Southern Conference record. 
 
MOCS RANKED FOR 41 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 third 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 15th consecutive week Chattanooga is ranked in the top 10.  UTC has been ranked in the Top 25 for 41 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 45 weeks in the Russ Huesman era (since 2009) and are 28-15 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