Chattanooga Football Game Notes
Furman Paladins (2-3, 1-1 SoCon) at Chattanooga Mocs (1-4, 1-1 SoCon)
Finley Stadium (20,668) – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 – 4:04 p.m. (E.D.T.)
Radio:  Mocs Sports Network (Real 96.1 FM – Flagship) - Jim Reynolds (pxp), Todd Agne (color), Will Poindexter (sideline)
TV:  ESPN3 – Chris Goforth (pxp), B.J. Coleman (analyst)
Online: Live audio, ESPN3 & live stats Links on GoMocs.com
 
The Chattanooga Mocs are back in Finley Stadium for the second week in row, hosting Furman for Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 7.  Game time is set for 4:04 p.m. (E.D.T.) in Chattanooga, Tenn.
 
The Homecoming Game is sponsored by Atlantic Capital and the theme is a Blue and Gold Masquerade. For more information on the Homecoming events during the week, visit www.utc.edu/homecoming. 
 
Both teams enter the game tied for third in the Southern Conference race with a 1-1 league mark.  The Mocs are 1-4 overall, while the Paladins are 2-3.  UTC is coming off a tough 45-7 loss against Western Carolina, while Furman posted an impressive 56-35 win over ETSU. 
 
Chattanooga is still receiving votes in the STATS FCS Top 25.  UTC entered the season ranked No. 12 in the STATS FCS Top 25.  The Paladins were picked to finish seventh in the league by the SoCon coaches.
 
Despite allowing 29.0 points per game this season, the Mocs are still third in the SoCon in total defense at 334.6 yards per game.  Furman comes into the game ranked No. 2 in the league in scoring (34.2) and No. 3 in the SoCon in total offense (421.6).      
 
The Paladins are led by senior quarterback P.J. Blazejowski.  He is No. 4 in the nation with a 178.4 passer rating, averaging 218 passing yards per game with eight passing TDs.
 
The Mocs' biggest question heading into the game is who will play quarterback.  Senior Alejandro Bennifield was knocked out of the Western Carolina game in the first quarter and did not return.  Sophomore Nick Tiano suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter, while redshirt freshman Dominic Caldwell played the rest of the game.  The Mocs also have two-star true freshman Cole Copeland available.  He is attempting to redshirt the season.
 
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, Oct. 7, at 12:00 p.m. All other ticket windows open at 1:00 p.m. on gameday.
 
MOCS SPORTS NETWORK
The Mocs Sports Network broadcasts the game on the radio on Real 96.1 FM 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 by searching for Real 96.1 FM on their mobile device.
 
MOCS ON ESPN3
Nine of the 11 games on the Mocs slate are scheduled to be on the ESPN family of networks, including the Furman game on ESPN3.  Chris Goforth (pxp) and former Moc B.J. Coleman (analyst) have the call from Finley Stadium.  UTC kicked off against Jacksonville State on ESPN, while the LSU game was on the SEC Network.  Five of the Mocs' other six games can be found on ESPN3. 
 
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.  Drop off at Finley is the corner of Main and Chestnut Streets.  Students ride for free with a valid Mocs Card.
 
QUICK NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOCS
General
• Tom Arth is in his first season with the Mocs ... he came to UTC from John Carroll University where he was the NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year ... 40-8 record the previous four years at JCU.
• Receiving votes in the STATS FCS Top 25 ... school-record streak of 51 consecutive weeks ranked was snapped after the UT Martin game ... prior to that, the last time UTC was out of the top 25 was Oct. 28, 2013 ... it was the sixth-longest active streak in the nation.   
• 57-54 all-time at Finley Stadium ... 38-41 in SoCon home games.
• 31-9 in league play since the start of the 2012 season ... 26-6 since 2013.
 
Offense
• Eighth in the league in total offense (251.0) ... ninth in rushing (69.4) and sixth in passing (181.6). 
• Eighth in the SoCon in scoring offense (20.0 ppg).
• Seventh in the SoCon on third down (24/70 - 34.3%). 
• The Mocs have given up a league-high 18 sacks in the first five games of the season. 
• Junior WR Bingo Morton is fourth in the SoCon with three receiving TDs. 
• Senior RB Darrell Bridges had a strong showing at LSU with 88 rushing yards and a TD on 15 carries. 
• Mocs have to replace six starters on offense, including All-American RB Derrick Craine, All-American OG Corey Levin and All-American center Jacob Revis.  Others not returning include WRs C.J. Board and Xavier Borishade and OT Hunter Townson. 
• Two offensive linemen return with SoCon postseason honors.  Senior Josh Cardiello started all 13 games and made the All-SoCon second team.  Sophomore-to-be Malcolm White returns to the offensive line after making the SoCon All-Freshman team.
 
Defense
• Senior Lucas Webb has three career pick-6s ... school record and tied for the SoCon record ... 12 career INTs is tied for third all-time at UTC ... twice been tagged as a preseason All-American.
• Junior LB Tavon Lawson is tied for eighth in the SoCon with 8.0 tackles per game. 
• Third in the league in total defense (334.6) ... fifth in scoring defense (29.0) ... second in passing defense (180.6) and seventh in pass efficiency defense (157.6). 
• Senior LB Dale Warren led the SoCon with 19.0 TFLs in 2016.
• Warren and Webb lead five returning starters on the defensive side.  Senior Taylor Reynolds is the lone returning starter on the defensive line.  Junior Isaiah Mack is also back on the interior.  He posted 7.5 sacks in 2016.  Senior Trevor Wright and junior C.J. Fritz give the Mocs a total of three returning starters in the secondary.
• Mocs have to replace six starters on defense, including All-American DL Keionta Davis, All-American LB Nakevion Leslie and first team All-SoCon DL Vantrel McMillan.  Others not returning include DBs Montrell Pardue and Cedric Nettles and DL Justin King.
 
Special Teams
• Sophomore Colin Brewer returns as the punter, earning SoCon All-Freshman honors in 2016.  He is currently fifth in the league and No. 32 in the FCS at 41.1 yards per kick.
• Freshman K Victor Ulmo hit three of his first four FG attempts.
• Ulmo is replacing K Henrique Ribeiro, the school's career scoring leader at UTC with 307 points ... 76.2% (48/63) career FG% is second all-time at UTC ... eight-time SoCon Special Teams Player of the Week is tied with Appalachian State's Sam Martin (2009-12) for the SoCon mark.
• True freshman Brandon Dowdell took over the punt return duties at VMI and posted 42 yards on two tries.  
• Third in the league in punt returns (9.5).
• Fourth in the league in kickoff coverage (41.2).
• Fifth in the SoCon in net punting (37.1). 
 
HOMECOMING NOTES
• UTC is 57-27-3 all-time on Homecoming. 
• The Mocs are 7-1 on Homecoming since 2009 ... only Homecoming loss was 34-17 against No. 17 Appalachian State on Sept. 22, 2012.
• UTC is 12-7 on Homecoming in Finley Stadium. 
• This is just the second time the Mocs have played Furman on Homecoming.  UTC scored a 33-9 win over the Paladins on Oct. 12, 2013 in the prior Homecoming meeting.
 
MORE ON THE QB SITUATION
Senior QB Alejandro Bennifield started against Western Carolina after sitting out the first four games due to an NCAA Academic Suspension.  The preseason All-SoCon pick was knocked out of the game in the first quarter and did not return.  He status for the Furman game is still unknown. 
 
Sophomore Nick Tiano, who played the first four games of the season, stepped back in, but was injured early in the fourth quarter.  His status for the Furman game is also unknown.  Freshman Dominic Caldwell came in for the final three drives, tossing a TD pass to Darrell Bridges for UTC's only score of the game.  The transfer from Florida International was 1-2 for the six-yard score. 
 
During Bennifield's suspension, freshman Cole Copeland was listed as the No. 2 QB on the depth chart, but he was also attempting to redshirt.  The former two-star prep prospect from Bradley Central High School in Cleveland, Tenn., could be called upon if Bennifield and Tiano are not able to play. 
 
WEBB SCORING ON DEFENSE
Senior DB Lucas Webb scored on a 28-yard fumble return at VMI.  It was the fourth defensive score of his career, which is now second in SoCon history.  Furman's Ryan Steed has the record with three pick-sixes and two fumble returns for a TD from 2008-11.  Webb and Steed and both tied with four others with the most pick-sixes in SoCon history. 
 
SCOUTING FURMAN
• Head coach Clay Hendrix is in his first season.
• Coming off a 56-35 win over ETSU that saw senior wide receiver Logan McCarter haul in seven passes for 178 yards and a touchdown.  He also returned a kickoff 47 yards for another score ... most receiving yards by a Paladin since 2010, marked a career high and represented the sixth highest tally in program history.
• That win move Furman to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the Southern Conference.
• The Paladins rushed for 308 yards and passed for 301 to post a season-high 609 yards of total offense.
• Quarterback P.J. Blazejowski completed 17-of-22 attempts for 301 yards and three touchdowns, while Kealand Dirks carried the ball 15 times for 100 yards. Darius Morehead added a career high 97 yards rushing on 13 carries, including a pair of touchdown runs.
• Trailing 17-14 midway through the second quarter, the Paladins closed the first half in strong fashion, taking the lead on a 30-yard touchdown strike from Blazejowski to tight end Andy Schumpert and then covering 70 yards in seven plays for a 3-yard scoring run from Darius Morehead with less than a minute to play for a 28-17 halftime lead.
• The Paladins took command with a pair of third quarter scores.  Kealand Dirks' 32-yard touchdown run on a 4th-and-two play was followed by Blazejowski's third scoring strike of the contest, a 64-yard hook-up with McCarter, who gathered in the pass over the middle, turned, and sprinted untouched into the end zone for a 42-17 advantage.
• Furman entered the ETSU game as the SoCon leader with 11 sacks, saw six players combine for the six sacks against the Buccaneers.
• No. 2 in the SoCon in scoring offense (34.2).
• No. 3 in the SoCon in total offense (421.6).
• No. 1 in the SoCon in pass efficiency (176.4).
• No. 1 in the SoCon in kickoff returns (24.9).
• No. 9 in the SoCon in punt returns (2.3).
• Last in the league with only one interception.
• Second in the SoCon, only allowing five sacks.
• 20.6 first downs is second in the league.
• Freshman Grayson Atkins is second in the league in field goald (6/7).
• Sophomore Quandarius Weems is the only one in the SoCon to recover two fumbles.   
 
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE FURMAN SERIES
• This is the 47th meeting between these two teams.
• Furman leads the all-time series 27-19.
• The Mocs snapped a 15-game losing streak with a 36-28 win at Furman on Oct. 23, 2010.
• UTC has won six of the last seven games, including five in a row ... Mocs have never won six-straight in the series. 
• UTC has a better road record (11-12) than home mark (8-15) against Furman.
• 2-8 all-time against Furman in Finley Stadium ... won the last two ... prior to that, the Mocs had lost nine in a row at home to the Paladins. 
 
UTC-FURMAN CONNECTIONS
• There are three players in the game from Hillgrove High School in Marietta, Ga., including Chattanooga's Richardre Bagley and Dy'Kari Hickey and Furman's Jaylan Reid.
• Mocs freshman DB Cortez Davis and Furman junior TB A'lencio Graham are both from Flowery Branch High School in Lawrenceville, Ga.
• Senior OL Josh Cardiello and Furman freshmen OL Caleb Auer and Dillon Vann are all from Buford High School in Buford, Ga.

NOTES FROM LAST YEAR'S 21-14 WIN AT FURMAN
• The No. 4 Chattanooga Mocs scored a 21-14 win at Furman on Sept. 17, 2016.
• The Mocs gave up a TD in the fourth quarter … first points allowed by UTC in 2016 … Mocs started the year holding opponents scoreless for nearly three hours (171:51).
• UTC won its fifth-straight in the series against Furman … first time for that since the series began in 1928.
• Keionta Davis blocked a FG attempt at the end of the first half … first one in his career … first by a Moc since Davis Tull at Central Michigan (8/28/14).
• Alejandro Bennifield – 11-14 passing for 146 yards, TD, INT ... ran 12 times for 38 yards and a score.
• Dale Warren – tied a then-career-high with eight tackles for the second game in a row.
 
NOTES FROM FURMAN'S LAST TRIP TO CHATTANOOGA ON OCT. 10, 2015
• UTC won its fourth in a row with an impressive 31-3 victory over Furman … snapped a three-game winning streak for the Paladins … Chattanooga improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in SoCon play … Furman drops to 3-3 and 1-1 in league games.
• Mocs allowed 69 yards and a FG on Furman's opening drive … 75 yards the rest of the half.
• UTC has allowed a total of 99 yards and no points in the second half of the last two games.  
• UTC had its first red-zone stop of the season just before halftime … added another with an INT in the endzone in the second half.
• The Mocs converted a fourth down for the first time this season (twice in the game) … UTC was 0/5 on fourth down coming into the game in 2015.
• The Mocs came into the game No. 7 in the FCS in time of possession.  Furman held the ball for 17:41 of the first 30 minutes today … UTC had it for 19:30 in the second to hold a 31:49 to 28:11 advantage by the end of the game.
• UTC had interceptions by Lucas Webb and Sema'je Kendall … first two picks by DBs for the Mocs this season.
• Lucas Webb's pick-6 was the third defensive score for Chattanooga this season.
• The Mocs had 245 rushing yards on 48 attempts … fourth game in a row with at least that many rushing yards.
• James Stovall – then-career-highs with three catches for 42 yards ... also had a then-career-long 20-yard catch.
• Lucas Webb – 35-yard pick-6 in the second quarter ... seventh career INT … second pick-6 ... third defensive score for the Mocs this season.
 
SEASON NO. 110
The Chattanooga Mocs are in their 110th season of college football in 2017.  The University of Chattanooga was founded in 1886 and football began play in 1904.  No teams were fielded in 1917 and 1918 due to World War I.  There was also a two-year hiatus from football action during World War II in 1943 and 1944.  The Mocs have an all-time record of 530-523-35 (.503) and have won 13 conference titles.
 
IT'S ALL IN THE NAME
On first reference, it is acceptable to refer to us as the "University of Tennessee at Chattanooga". After that, we prefer to be called "Chattanooga" or "UTC."  Our nickname is "Mocs".