Chattanooga Football Game Notes
Samford Bulldogs (2-0, 0-0 SoCon) at No. 3/5 Chattanooga Mocs (3-0, 1-0 SoCon)
Finley Stadium (20,668) – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Saturday, Sept. 24, 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 third-ranked Chattanooga Mocs open Southern Conference home action against the unbeaten Samford Bulldogs on Saturday, Sept. 24.  Game time is set for 2:00 p.m. (E.S.T.) at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga, Tenn.
 
UTC's No. 3 national ranking in the FCS Coaches Poll ties a school record set during the week of last year's Mercer game on Nov. 7.  The Mocs are No. 5 in the STATS FCS Top 25, the other poll officially recognized by the NCAA.
 
Chattanooga brings a 3-0 mark that includes Saturday's 21-14 win at Furman and shutouts over Shorter (66-0) and Presbyterian (34-0).  UTC currently leads the nation in scoring defense (4.7), total defense (164.3 ypg) and passing yards allowed (102.7).  The Mocs are also fourth in team pass efficiency defense (83.9) and sixth in sacks (10).
 
This is Samford's first SoCon game of the year and it counters with an unblemished 2-0 record.  The Bulldogs are coming off an impressive 35-29 win at Central Arkansas on Sept. 10 and are just outside of the Top 25 in both polls.  They opened with a 77-7 victory against Mars Hill.
 
Samford enters this week as the FCS leader in scoring, averaging 56.0 ppg.  The Bulldogs also rank seventh nationally in passing offense (317.0 ypg.) and ninth in team pass efficiency (167.77).
 
The Mocs are trying to go 4-0 for the first time since 1979.  That season they started 5-0 with sophomore Russ Huesman playing defensive back.  UTC went on to finish with a 9-2 record and win its third consecutive SoCon title with a 5-1 league mark. 
 
UTC has won the last two meetings in the series and is 6-1 against the Bulldogs since Huesman took over in 2009.  The Mocs are 28-10-3 all-time against Samford, including 20-5-2 at home. 
 
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 app, or the TuneIn radio app, by searching for US 101 The Legend at 96.1 on their mobile device.
 
TICKETS
Tickets 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 on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 10:00 a.m.  All other ticket windows open at 11:00 a.m. on gameday.

GAME SPONSOR/GIVEAWAYS
The UT Erlanger Institute for Sports and Health, the official Docs of the Mocs, is the game sponsor for Saturday's matchup against Samford.  Look for FREE T-Shirts   to be given out throughout the game.  
 
QUICK NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOCS
General
• Head coach Russ Huesman is in his eighth season at his alma mater.  He is 53-33 (.616) overall and 37-18 (.673) in Southern Conference action ... 19-8 (.704) in SoCon home games.
• No. 3 national ranking ties the highest in school history ... last time was the week of the Mercer game on Nov. 7, 2015. 
• The 2016 senior class has 30 wins.  The school record is 33, set by both the 2015 and 1980 classes. 
• 53-51 all-time at Finley Stadium …  UTC is over .500 at Finley for the first time since the 2002 season … 25-10 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. 87 in this week's Sagarin ratings that include all NCAA Division I programs ... ahead of 42 FBS schools, including Virginia, Rutgers, Purdue, Iowa State and Kansas from the Power 5 conferences.
 
Offense
• Chattanooga leads the nation in Team Passing Efficiency (238.7).
• The Mocs are third in the SoCon - behind two triple-option teams - in rushing offense (204.0) ... 25th in the FCS.
• The Mocs are second in the SoCon and No. 12 in the FCS in scoring offense (40.3 ppg).
• The Mocs have 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 has 2,149 career rushing yards and is 110 shy of breaking into the top 10 at UTC ... his 21 rushing TDs are fifth all-time at UTC ... he currently leads the SoCon with 6.5 yards per carry.  
• Senior WR Xavier Borishade leads the nation with 35.9 yards per catch ... he leads the SoCon and is in the top 10 in the FCS in receiving TDs (4) ... he also leads the league in receiving yards per game (95.7). 
• Senior WR C.J. Board has caught a pass in 20 straight games, longest active streak on the team.
• Junior WR James Stovall has caught a pass in 14 games in a row ... caught a TD in four of the last five games ... currently No. 2 in the SoCon and No. 17 in the FCS with 22.0 yds/rec.
• Junior Alejandro Bennifield's pass efficiency rating leads the nation (256.8) ... No. 4 in the FCS in passing TDs (9) and points responsible for (66) ... tied for the FCS lead in completion percentage (30/40 - 75%).  
• Chattanooga's 100 points in the first two games of the season the most for UTC in consecutive games since a 72-14 win over Appalachian State (10/7/78) and a 28-21 win over Jacksonville State (10/14/78) in the 1978 season. 
• UTC's 66 points in the season opener was the fifth game in the Huesman era with 50+ points … first with 60+ points.
 
Defense
• UTC currently leads the nation in total defense (164.3), including just 16 yards allowed (14 rush, 2 pass) in the season opener against Shorter ... also leads the nation in scoring defense (4.7 ppg), with a pair of shutout, and passing yards allowed (102.7).
• Lead the SoCon and No. 4 in the FCS in team pass efficiency defense (83.9).
• Lead the SoCon and No. 6 in the FCS in rushing defense (61.7).
• Lead the SoCon and No. 3 in the FCS in third-down defense (7/44 - 15.9%).
• 10 sacks in the first three games lead the SoCon and are No. 6 in the FCS.
• The Mocs 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 (since 2009).
• Chattanooga has 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 22.5 career sacks are third all-time at UTC and one shy of second-place Josh Williams (2009-12). 
• Webb has three career pick-6s ... school-record and tied for the SoCon record.
• Webb has nine career INTs ... tied for ninth all-time at UTC with Coach Huesman (1978-81).
• Senior DL Vantrel McMillan leads the SoCon and is No. 7 in the nation with 4.0 sacks ... he also leads the SoCon with 6.5 TFLs. 
 
Special Teams
• Freshman Colin Brewer leads the SoCon and is No. 4 in the nation with 46.8 yards per punt.
• UTC is No. 3 in the country in net punting (42.8). 
• 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 74.0 (37/50) career FG% is currently second all-time at UTC ... fourth in made FGs at UTC, two shy of Rodney Allen (1989-92) for third ... 124-127 on PATs (school-record) in his career.
• Ribeiro's 235 career points is third all-time at UTC ... 8 points shy of Matt Vick (1997-00) for second.
• Senior C.J. Board was a second team All-SoCon returner in 2015 ... he is currently second in the SoCon in yards per return (7.2).
• The Mocs have only had one kickoff return this season.   
 
MOCS RIDING 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.
 
SCOUTING SAMFORD
• Head Coach Chris Hatcher is 8-5 in his second season at Samford ... he was also the coach at Georgia Southern from 2007-09 ... 129-62 in 17 seasons as a head coach.
• Samford was picked third in the SoCon Coaches Poll and fifth by the league media.
• Bulldogs are receiving votes in both polls and would be 29th in the FCS Coaches and 30th in the STATS listings if they were extended.
• Samford enters the game with a record of 2-0. The Bulldogs took the last week off from competition.  Samford last played on Sept. 10, when the Bulldogs earned a 35-29 win at Central Arkansas
• Leads the FCS in scoring (56.0 ppg).
• Seventh nationally in both passing offense (317.0 ypg.) and net punting (41.31 ypk.).
• Ninth in the country in team pass efficiency (167.77).
• Samford quarterbacks have completed passes to 13 different receivers in the Bulldogs' first two games of the season. Eight of those 13 receivers have caught at least one touchdown pass.
• Leads the Southern Conference in passing offense (317.0 ypg.) ... 8th in the FCS.
• Eight players named to the preseason All-SoCon teams, including first-team honorees Armando Bonheur (OL), Karel Hamilton (WR), Ahmad Gooden (DL) and Jamerson Blount (DB) ... Devlin Hodges (QB), Kelvin McKnight (WR), Xavier Forrest (DL) and Austin Barnard (P) made the second team.
• Bonheur and Blount are both preseason All-Americans.
• Hodges is No. 2 in the FCS in completion percentage (73.8%) and completions per game (31.0) ... 162.4 pass efficiency rating is No. 10 in the FCS ... eight passing TDs ... No. 8 in the FCS with 297.5 passing yards per game.
• Junior Austin Barnard is No. 7 in the FCS with 44.4 yards per punt.
• Senior Roosevelt Donaldson is No. 6 in the FCS with 2.5 TFLs per game.
• Freshman WR Tadarryl Marshall is fourth in the SoCon and No. 17 in the FCS with 7.0 receptions per game.
 
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE SAMFORD SERIES
• This is the 42nd meeting between these two teams in a series that dates back to 1906.
• UTC is 28-10-3 overall ... 6-2 since Samford joined the SoCon in 2008 and 6-1 under head coach Russ Huesman.
• UTC is 20-5-2 all-time against the Bulldogs at home ... 5-2 at Finley Stadium.
• Most of this series was played between 1906 and 1968. There was a 30-year gap in games between 1968 and 1998. UTC is 10-3 against Samford since the 1998 season.
 
UTC-SAMFORD CONNECTIONS
• UTC junior LB T.J. Jenkins and Samford sophomore TE Clarke Miller are both from Plant HS in Tamps, Fla.
 
NOTES FROM THE LAST MEETING - SEPT. 19, 2015
• The No. 10/12 Chattanooga Mocs scored a 31-21 win at Samford.
• Samford came into the game No. 2 in the nation in passing yards (399.5) and total offense (644.0) and No. 3 in scoring (51.5) … the Mocs defense held Samford to 255 yards passing and 313 in total offense.
• UTC defense allowed 84 yards and a 63-yard TD pass on the opening drive … 15 yards allowed on the next four Samford possessions to close out the half.
• Samford's Karel Hamilton had a 100-yard KOR for a TD in the first quarter.
• 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 dominated Time of Possession, 36:42 to 23:18.
• Samford's Emmanuel Obajimi caught 11 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown.
• Richardre Bagley – 47 yards on a career-high 15 carries.
• C.J. Board – then-career-highs with six catches and 92 yards.
• Xavier Borishade – Two catches for 37 yards and a TD.
• Keionta Davis – Tied a then-career-high with 2.0 sacks.
• Jacob Huesman – 150 rushing yards and a TD on 23 carries ... 14-23 passing for 181 yards, 2 TDs and an INT.
• Nakevion Leslie – Team-high 11 tackles, including one for 3-yard loss.
• Isaiah Mack – Then-season-high four tackles.
• Vantrel McMillan – First career INT ... added three tackles, including 1.0 sacks and 1.5 TFLs ... also forced a fumble.
 
LUKE DAVIS SAT OUT LAST 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. 
 
MORE NOTES ON HIGHEST NATIONAL RANKING IN FCS HISTORY
The Mocs are up to No. 3 in the FCS Coaches Poll this week, tying the highest ranking in the school's FCS history.  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 13th consecutive week Chattanooga is ranked in the top 10.  UTC has been ranked in the top 25 for 37 consecutive weeks, dating back to Nov. 4, 2013.  UTC has been among the Top 25 for 41 weeks in the Russ Huesman era (since 2009).  The Mocs are 26-15 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.
 
LESLIE EARNS MULTIPLE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Senior linebacker Nakevion Leslie was named the FCS National Player of the Week by College Sports Madness after leading the Mocs to a 21-14 win at Furman on Sept. 17.  He was also the Southern Conference and SouthernPigskin.com SoCon Defensive Player of the Week and received honorable mention from STATS.com.  Leslie tied a career high with 15 tackles against the Paladins.  He helped UTC's defense shut out Furman for three quarters.  He also broke up a career-high three passes in the win.
 
BENNIFIELD NAMED CFPA NATIONAL PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Thanks to a five-touchdown performance against Presbyterian, junior QB Alejandro Bennfield was the current College Football Performance Award National Performer of the Week.  In just his second career start at QB, Bennifield was 11-15 passing for 279 yards and four touchdowns.  Those were career marks for completions, attempts and yards.  He also ran 13 times for 34 yards and another score.