Chattanooga Football Game Notes
No. 3/5 Chattanooga Mocs (4-0, 2-0 SoCon) at ETSU Buccaneers (2-1, 1-1 SoCon)
Tipton Stadium (6,500) – Johnson City, Tenn.
Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 – 12:00 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, SoConDN Broadcast & Live Stats on GoMocs.com

The third-ranked Chattanooga Mocs are back on the road this week, visiting ETSU for the first time in 13 years.  Game time is set for Noon (E.D.T.) on Saturday, Oct. 1, at Tipton Stadium at Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tenn.
 
Chattanooga is off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 1979, but is 2-0 in SoCon action for the third year in a row.  ETSU is in its second season of competition after restarting its program in 2015.  The Bucs are 2-1 overall and 1-1 in league play, including a 34-31 win against Western Carolina in Week 3.   
 
The Mocs maintain their No. 3 national ranking in the FCS Coaches Poll.  That ties a school record set during the week of last year's Mercer game on Nov. 7.  Chattanooga is also No. 5 in the STATS FCS Top 25, the other poll officially recognized by the NCAA.
 
ETSU was receiving votes in both polls following its 2-0 start.  The Bucs dropped off the list after last week's 31-0 loss at Wofford.
 
Chattanooga rolls out its vaunted defense that is No. 1 in the nation in points allowed (8.8) and 3rd down conversions (15.5%).  The Mocs are also No. 2 in the country in total defense (200.5), third in rushing defense (57.8) and fourth with 15 sacks.   
 
UTC is trying to go 5-0 for the first time since 1979, head coach Russ Huesman's sophomore year.  Ironically, ETSU snapped that winning streak with a 35-0 victory in Johnson City. 
 
Although Chattanooga owns a 20-18-1 advantage in the all-time series, the Bucs were 9-3 against the Mocs from 1992-03.  UTC has not won in Johnson City since a 17-14 victory in 1997.   
 
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.
 
GET ON THE BUS
The Mocs are taking a Fan Bus to the game this weekend.  Registration is available on GoMocs.com or by calling the Mocs Club at (423) 425-5866.  Price is $50 per person and includes the bus trip, food at the pregame tailgate and a ticket to the game.  The bus leaves from Chattanooga on Saturday at 7:00 a.m. and returns after 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 54-33 (.621) overall and 38-18 (.679) in Southern Conference action ... 18-10 (.643) in SoCon road games.
• No. 3 national ranking ties the highest in school history ... other times were last week and the week of the Mercer game on Nov. 7, 2015. 
• Ranked in the FCS Top 25 for 40 consecutive weeks ... sixth longest active streak in the nation.
• The 2016 senior class has 31 wins ... tied for third all-time at UTC with 1982 and Coach Huesman's 1981 class ... school record is 33, set by both the 2015 and 1980 classes. 
• 54-51 all-time at Finley Stadium …  UTC is over .500 at Finley for the first time since the 2002 season … 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. 90 in this week's Sagarin ratings that include all NCAA Division I programs ... ahead of 48 FBS schools, including Virginia, Rutgers, Purdue and Kansas from the Power 5 conferences.
 
Offense
• Chattanooga is third in the FCS in Team Passing Efficiency (192.1).
• The Mocs are third in the SoCon - behind two triple-option teams - in rushing offense (223.5) ... 17th in the FCS.
• Second in the SoCon and No. 12 in the FCS in scoring offense (40.5 ppg).
• 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 is coming off a 222-yard performance against Samford, earning SoCon Player of the Week honors ...  leads the SoCon and is No. 4 in the FCS with 7.8 yards per carry ... leads the SoCon and is 10th in the FCS with 114.3 rushing ypg ... seven carries of 20+ yards.
• Senior WR Xavier Borishade is third the nation with 28.2 yards/catch ... five receiving TDs lead the SoCon and is fourth in the nation ... leads the SoCon with 91.5 yards per game.
• Senior WR C.J. Board has caught a pass in 21 straight games, longest active streak on the team ... sixth-longest at UTC.
• Junior WR James Stovall has caught a pass in 16 games in a row ... caught a TD in four of the last six games.
• Junior Alejandro Bennifield's pass efficiency rating leads the nation (197.5) ... leads the SoCon and is No. 3 in the FCS with 11 passing TDs ... eight of his passing TDs have been 30+ yards ... leads the FCS with 197.5 pas eff. rating ... fifth in the FCS in points responsible for
(21.0) ... fourth in the country with 16.4 yards per completion. 
 
Defense
• UTC currently leads the nation in scoring defense (8.8 ppg), including shutouts in the first two games of the season, and third down defense (9/58 - 15.5%) ... second in the FCS in total defense (200.5) ... third in rushing defense (57.8) and team pass efficiency defense (101.9) and fourth in sacks (15). 
• Leads the SoCon and No. 14 in the FCS in first down defense (50).
• 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).
• 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. 6 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 leads the SoCon 6.5 TFLs ... second in the SoCon with 4.0 sacks. 
• Junior LB Dale Warren is tied for third in the SoCon with 3.0 sacks.  
 
Special Teams
• Freshman Colin Brewer would be tied for the FCS lead in punting at 47.9 yards per kick if he had enough attempts ... has nine but needs 3.6 per game to qualify.
• UTC is No. 16 in the country in net punting (39.5). 
• 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 75.0 (39/52) career FG% is currently second all-time at UTC ... third in made FGs at UTC, one shy of Dennis Waters (1985-88) for second ... 129-132 on PATs (school-record) in his career.
• Ribeiro's 246 career points is second all-time at UTC ... 18 points shy of Jacob Huesman's school-record (2012-15) 264.
• Ribeiro was 2-2 on FGs, including a career-long 48-yarder, against Samford to earn SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week.
• Senior C.J. Board was a second team All-SoCon returner in 2015 ... currently leads the SoCon in yards per return (9.2).
• The Mocs have only had four kickoff returns this season.   
 
SCOUTING ETSU
• After a 13-year hiatus, the ETSU football team makes its return to the Southern Conference ... the Bucs played as an FCS Independent a year ago ... ETSU did not field a FCS football program from 2004-14.
• Head Coach Carl Torbush is 4-10 in his second season ... the former North Carolina head coach has former N.C. State head coach Mike O'Cain as his offensive coordinator. 
• Bucs are 2-1 overall and 1-1 in SoCon action ... wins over Kennesaw State (20-17 OT) and Western Carolina (34-31) ... lost to Wofford (0-31) last week.
• Second in the SoCon and No. 11 in the FCS on third down (48.9%).
• Only lost one fumble on the season and has given up just one INT ... second in the FCS in turnovers lost. 
• Sophomore QB Austin Herink is No. 14 in the FCS in completion percentage (65.9%).
• Sophomore kicker J.J. Jerman is 4-4 on FGs and 6-6 on PATs.
• Sophomore LB Dylan Weigel leads the team and is tied for No. 8 in the SoCon with 25 tackles. 
• Junior Daren Ardis has forced a pair of fumbles.  
 
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE ETSU SERIES
• This is the 40th meeting between these two teams that dates back to 1961.
• UTC is 20-18-1 overall ... 7-10-1 at Johnson City.
• Coach Huesman went 2-1 as a player in the series ... 1-1 in Johnson City.
• ETSU has won four of the last five and nine of the last 12. 
 
UTC-ETSU CONNECTIONS
• ETSU defensive coordinator Billy Taylor held the same position at UTC from 2005-07.
• ETSU defensive line coach Scott Brumett was a defensive assistant at UTC in 2007. 
• ETSU offensive line coach Erik Losey is a native of Hixson, Tenn.
• ETSU tight ends coach Kevin Shipley was the Recruiting Coordinator for D1 Sports Training in Chattanooga prior to joining the Bucs' staff.
• There are seven Bucs on the roster from the Chattanooga area, including sophomore QB Austin Herink from Cleveland High School; sophomore LB Austin Gatewood, sophomore DB Alonzo Francois and sophomore Tony Francois are from East Hamilton High School; sophomore LB Kahlil Mitchell from South Pittsburg High School; sophomore DL Joe Dossett from Notre Dame High School and freshman OL Myles Smith from Red Bank High School.
• UTC redshirt freshman Malcolm White and freshman Quintin Alibocas graduated from Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tenn., where Saturday's game is played.
 
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.  
 
RIBEIRO NAMED SOCON PALYER OF THE WEEK FOLLOWING SAMFORD GAME
Senior kicker Henrique Ribeiro turned in a strong all-around performance for the Mocs in the 41-21 win against Samford and was rewarded with his seventh career SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week honor.  That is one shy of the league record set by former Appalachian State kicker Sam Martin (2008-12).  Ribeiro made both field goal attempts, including a career-long of 48. With 11 points in the game, he moved into second place on UTC's all-time scoring list with 246. The senior punted three times against the Bulldogs and also kicked off eight times, averaging 61.6 yards per kick.
 
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. 
 
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. 
 
MORE NOTES ON HIGHEST NATIONAL RANKING IN FCS HISTORY
The Mocs stayed at 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 14th consecutive week Chattanooga is ranked in the top 10.  UTC has been ranked in the Top 25 for 40 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 44 weeks in the Russ Huesman era (since 2009) and are 27-15 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 AFTER PRESBYTERIAN GAME
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 AFTER PRESBYTERIAN GAME
Thanks to a five-touchdown performance against Presbyterian, junior QB Alejandro Bennifield was the 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.
 
MOCS RIDING 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.
 
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