Chattanooga Football Game Notes
Chattanooga Mocs (2-7, 2-4 SoCon) at No. 8/9 Wofford Terriers (7-1, 5-1 SoCon)
Gibbs Stadium (13,000) – Spartanburg, S.C.
Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017 – 1:30 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 – Mark Hauser (pxp), Thom Henson (analyst), Van Hipp (sideline).
Online: Live audio, ESPN3 & live stats links on GoMocs.com
 
Fresh off its first road win over a top 10 opponent since 1983, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team is back on the road this week against another highly ranked foe.  The Mocs visit No. 8 Wofford on Saturday, Nov. 4, for a 1:30 p.m. (E.D.T.) kickoff in Spartanburg, S.C. 
 
Chattanooga got its second win of the season last week at No. 8 Samford, thanks in part to a 39-yard field goal from freshman Victor Ulmo with 19 seconds left to play.  The last time UTC beat a top 10 squad on the road was a 30-9 victory at No. 10 Appalachian State on Oct. 8, 1983.  UTC has never posted two top-10 road wins in a season since joining the Southern Conference in 1977.   
 
UTC is currently in seventh place in the SoCon race at 2-4 in league action and 2-7 overall.  The Terriers are tied for first in the conference with a 5-1 league tally and 7-1 overall.  Wofford is No. 8 in the STATS FCS Top 25 and No. 9 in the FCS Coaches Poll.   
 
The Terriers held off ETSU 31-24 last weekend.  Wofford's defense stopped the Buccaneers on 4th-and-1 with 42 seconds left to preserve the win.  Each of Wofford's SoCon games have been one possession contests.  They scored one-point wins over Furman (24-23) and Mercer (28-27), an overtime victory against Western Carolina (35-28) and a three-point loss to Samford (21-24). 
 
Wofford enters the game with the No. 5 rushing attack in the country.  The Terriers average 282 yards per game on the ground.  The Mocs are currently fifth in the SoCon in rushing defense, giving up 175.9 yards per game. 
 
Overall, the Mocs are fourth in the SoCon in total defense (360.1) and passing yards allowed (184.2) and seventh in scoring defense (28.6).  Wofford is fifth in the league in scoring (27.1), while its triple-option attack still generates 199 yards through the air.     
 
Turnovers continue to be a problem for Chattanooga after giving the ball away four more times at Samford.  However, UTC forced the Bulldogs into seven miscues (3 INTs, 4 fumbles), to snap a four game stretch where they did not force a turnover. 
 
Chattanooga has been hit hard by injuries this season, having lost its top two quarterbacks for an extended period of time.  True freshman Cole Copeland has started the last four games, setting freshman records with 317 passing yards and 30 completions on 42 attempts against Furman.  He is 83-139 (59.7%) for 822 yards, four touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
 
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 on the ESPN family of networks, including the Wofford game.  This week's contest is produced by Wofford with Mark Hauser (pxp), Thom Henson (analyst) and Van Hipp (sideline).  UTC kicked off against Jacksonville State on ESPN, while the LSU game was on the SEC Network.  The Mocs final game against ETSU is also scheduled for an ESPN3 broadcast. 
 
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.
• 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.   
• 57-56 all-time at Finley Stadium ... 38-43 in SoCon home games.
• 32-12 in league play since the start of the 2012 season ... 27-9 since 2013.
 
Offense
• Eighth in the league in total offense (267.3) ... eighth in rushing (75.1) and fifth in passing (192.2). 
• Eighth in the SoCon in scoring offense (18.2 ppg).
• Eighth in the SoCon on third down (36/119 - 30.3%). 
• The Mocs have given up a league-high 28 sacks.
• Senior RB Darrell Bridges had a strong showing at LSU with 88 rushing yards and a TD on 15 carries ... he also had a career-high 149 yards and two TDs on 18 carries against The Citadel.  
• Senior WR Alphonso Stewart posted a career-high 138 rec. yds and a TD on 7 rec. against Furman.
• Mocs had 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 a SoCon record four career pick-6s ... 13 career INTs is tied for the school record ... twice been tagged as a preseason All-American ... three picks this season is tied for second in the SoCon. 
• Junior LB Tavon Lawson was among the league leaders in tackles earlier in the season, but has been hampered the last three games with an injury ... he played sparingly at Samford and missed the previous two games. 
• Fourth in the league in total defense (360.1) ... seventh in scoring defense (28.6) ... eighth in pass efficiency defense (149.54).
• Leads the SoCon in passing yards allowed (184.2).
• Senior LB Dale Warren led the SoCon with 19.0 TFLs in 2016 ... missed the first six games of the year due to a suspension.
• Kareem Orr recovered two fumbles at Samford ... that puts him tied with six others for the SoCon lead.
• Senior DL Taylor Reynolds has posted 10+ tackles in two of the last four games, including a career-high 12 against The Citadel ... he recovered a fumble and had his first career INT last week at Samford.  
• 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 eighth in the league at 39.6 yards per kick.
• Freshman K Victor Ulmo is six for seven on FG this season, including a career-long 44-yarder at Mercer and a game-winning 39-yarder at Samford.
• 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 ... had a 37-yard return against The Citadel ... averaging 13.5 yards on eight attempts ... returned kickoffs the last three games and had two 50-yarders against The Citadel.     
• Fifth in the league in kickoff coverage (41.5).
• Seventh in the SoCon in net punting (35.7).
 
Davis, Ulmo Named SoCon Players of the Week
Senior LB Tae Davis was the Defensive Player of the Week, while freshman K Victor Ulmo was the Special Teams Player of the Week following the Mocs' 23-21 win at No. 8 Samford on Oct. 28.
 
Davis had 14 tackles and a game-changing forced fumble. The Oxford, Ala., native stuffed the stat sheet on the day, adding a quarterback hurry and a pass break-up and counting 1.5 tackles for loss among his career-best tackle total, 11 of which were solo stops. With the Mocs trailing 21-20 and Samford inside the UTC 30-yard line threatening to add on, Davis forced a fumble with 2:37 left in the game to set up Chattanooga's game-winning drive.
 
Ulmo kicked the game-winning field goal with 19 seconds left Saturday.  He also kicked off five times for an average of 64.0 yards per kick, recording one touchback. With Chattanooga trailing by one point late in the fourth quarter, Ulmo converted from 39 yards out to give the Mocs the win. The 39-yard make was the second-longest of the season for the rookie, who improved to 6-for-7 in field-goal attempts on the year and has made his last three.
 
WEBB SCORING ON DEFENSE
Senior DB Lucas Webb has two defensive scores this season.  He found the endzone on a 28-yard fumble return at VMI and posted a 20-yard pick-6 at Samford.  He has five defensive scores in his career, tying Furman's Ryan Steed for the SoCon record.  Webb has the SoCon mark with four career pick-6s, while Steed had three pick-sixes and two fumble returns for a TD from 2008-11. 
 
NOTES ON LAST WEEK'S WIN AT SAMFORD
• The Mocs scored a 23-21 Southern Conference win at No. 8 Samford … UTC improved to 2-7 overall and 2-4 in SoCon action … the Bulldogs dropped to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in league action.
• This is the Mocs' first road win over a top 10 team since a 30-9 victory at No. 10 Appalachian State on Oct. 8, 1983 … UTC's first win over any top 10 opponent since a 38-17 triumph over No. 10 Jacksonville State on Sept. 10, 2011 in Finley Stadium.
• Mocs avoided their first five-game slide since 2008.
• UTC snapped Samford's nine-game home winning streak.  
• Victor Ulmo kicked a game-winning field goal with 19 second left to play … first game-winning kick for the Mocs since Henrique Ribeiro in a 20-17 win at Wofford on Oct. 24, 2017.  
• Mocs turned the ball over three times on Samford's side of the field … trailing 7-0 in the first quarter Copeland was picked off on 2nd and 8 from the Samford 26 … scored tied 7-7 in the second quarter, Darrell Bridges fumbles on 1st and goal from the Bulldogs' four … leading 20-7 Copeland was picked off on 2nd and eight from the Samford 36 in the third quarter.
• Michael Bean forced a fumble that was recovered by Taylor Reynolds … first takeaways in four contests … stretch lasted 283:04 of clock time … Reynolds added an INT in the second quarter.   
• UTC turned the ball over four times today (2 INTs, 2 fumbles).
• Mocs forced Samford into seven miscues (3 INTs, 4 fumbles) … most fumble recoveries for the Mocs since four in a 38-20 loss at Western Carolina on Oct. 22, 2005 … most turnovers forced since posting three INTs and four FRs in a 34-20 win at Furman on Nov. 19, 1994.     
• 17 of Chattanooga's 23 points came off of turnovers.
• UTC game into the game -13 in the turnover margin for the year … the Mocs had only forced six turnovers all season before the seven today.
• Mocs led at the break 14-7 … second game in a row with a halftime lead … third time this season (at VMI).
• UTC was flagged 12 times for 107 penalty yards … most since 15 penalties for 165 yards vs. ETSU in a 32-10 loss on Nov. 10, 2001.
• Mocs were 4/14 on third down, but 3/4 on fourth down in the game.
• UTC is 27-9 in SoCon play since 2013.
• This is Chattanooga's third win by three points or less since 2009 … 3-12 in that span.
• 30-10-3 all-time against Samford … 8-2 since Samford joined the SoCon in 2008 … 9-5 all-time in Birmingham … fourth win in a row in the series.
• Win No. 30 for the 2017 senior class … sixth all-time at UTC … 30-19.
• Darrell Bridges – Sr.-RB - 89 yards on a career-high 22 carries ... 238 yards last two games.
• Michael Bean – So.-LB - First forced fumble of his career.
• Cole Copeland – Fr.-QB - 14-27 for 144 yards, two TDs and two INTs.
• Tae Davis – Sr.-LB - Career-high 14 tackles … 11 solo ... 1.5 TFLs ... FF, PBU & QBH.
• Isaiah Mack – Jr.-DL - Three hurries to go with four tackles.
• Kareem Orr – Jr.-DB - Season-high seven tackles ... forced two fumbles and broke up a pass.
• Joseph Parker – Jr.-WR - Four catches for 38 yards ... 14-yard TD catch in the second quarter … second of the year … first since the season-opener vs. Jacksonville State.
• Taylor Reynolds – Sr.-DL - Two tackles, including a TFL ... recovered a fumble in the first quarter … second of his career … first since his freshman season ... first career INT in the second quarter.
• Alphonso Stewart – Sr-WR - two catches for 29 yards ... 13-yard TD catch in the third quarter … third of the year … eighth of his career … most in a season ... converted a 4th and two in the wildcat with a seven yard run.  
• Alex Trotter – Jr.-RB - Career-highs with 58 yards on 14 carries ... 35 yards on four carries on the game-winning drive.
• Victor Ulmo – Fr.-K - Game-winning 39 yard FG with 19 seconds left ... 6-7 on the year.
• Dale Warren – Sr.-LB - Seven tackles ... 2.0 TFLs ... forced and recovered a fumble.
• Lucas Webb – Sr.-DB - 20-yard pick-6 before the half … fourth of his career is a SoCon record.  
- Second defensive score of the year (FR at VMI) … fifth of his career ties Furman's Ryan Steed (2008-11) for the SoCon record … Steed had 3 INTs and 2 FRs ... 13th career INT ties Bucky Wolford (1965-67) and Phillip Aldridge (1982-85) for the school record.
 
SCOUTING WOFFORD
• Wofford head coach Mike Ayers (Georgetown, Ky. '74), the winningest coach in school history, is in his 30th season at the Terrier helm with a record of 197-136-1. Ayers has spent 33 years as a
collegiate head coach and has a record of 208-157-2 that includes a three-year stint as the head coach at East Tennessee State from 1985-87.
• The Terriers enter the game 7-1 overall and 5-1 in the Southern Conference after a pair of one-point wins over Furman and Mercer, an overtime win against Western Carolina and a 20-16 win at The Citadel, along with a 24-21 loss to Samford and a 31-24 win at ETSU.
• Wofford is in a tie for first place with Furman, but has the tie-breaker.
• Wofford reached the FCS Playoff quarterfinals last season with a 10-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in the Southern Conference.
• Wofford is ranked 8th in the STATS FCS poll and #9 in the FCS Coaches poll.
• Wofford has played in seven games that have been decided by one possession with a 6-1 record in those games.
• The game is the final home game of the season and the final regular season home game for 22 seniors.
• The Terriers are fifth in the nation with 282.0 rushing yards per game, second in the SoCon.
• Wofford was picked to finish first in the Southern Conference preseason voting for the first time.
• The Terriers are 46th in the nation in passing defense, 36th in scoring defense and 21st in total defense.
• In the last two games, the defense has allowed just 10 (Samford) and 15 (ETSU) rushing yards.
• The Wofford defense has allowed just two 100+ yard rushers in the last 47 games.
• The Terriers opened the 2017 season with a 6-0 mark for the first time since 1990.
• The Terriers are one of ten teams that have one loss at the FCS level, while three teams are undefeated.
• QB Brandon Goodson posted a 200-yard passing game (the first for Wofford since 1994) at The Citadel (10/14).
• Wofford has three players - Blake Morgan (16-329), R.J. Taylor (16-232) and Jason Hill (12-218) who all have more receiving yards this year than the 2016 leading receiver (13-205 yards).
• Of the 35 scoring drives, fourteen have been for 10 or more plays, while 16 covered 70 yards or more and 13 took over five minutes off the clock.
• 33 of Andre Stoddard's 109 rushes have been for a first down or touchdown.
• Wofford has seven rushes on fourth down, with two resulting in a touchdown and five first downs.
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE WOFFORD SERIES
• This is the 24th meeting between these two teams, dating back to 1927. 
• Wofford leads the series 12-11, but the Mocs have won three of the last four. 
• The Mocs are 4-4 against Wofford since 2009.
• Four of the last six meetings have been decided by one score or less.
 
UTC-WOFFORD CONNECTIONS
• Wofford junior DB JoJo Tillery graduated from Chattanooga's East Ridge High School.
• Wofford junior TE Chandler Gouger is from Chattanooga and graduated from Baylor.
• Wofford freshman DB Ulysses Strawter is from Chattanooga's Baylor School.
 
NOTES FROM LAST YEAR'S 36-28 LOSS TO WOFFORD
• The No. 7 Chattanooga Mocs dropped a 36-28 Southern Conference contest to Wofford on Nov. 12, 2016 … UTC fell to 8-2 overall and 6-2 in SoCon action … the Terriers move to 7-3 overall and 5-2 in league play.
• Chattanooga turned the ball over on a pair of interceptions, and did not force a turnover for the fourth consecutive game.
• The Mocs put up a season-low 265 yards of total offense, including a season-low 88 rushing yards … Wofford came into the game with the fifth-ranked defense in the FCS. 
• Chattanooga allowed two long kick returns, including a 100-yard KOR for a score on Wofford's first possession … it was the first KOR for a TD allowed since the Samford game last season … the other was a 60-yard return on a free kick following a safety … both returns were by Wofford's Lennox McAfee.
• Chattanooga's 14-game home SoCon winning streak was snapped … previous league loss was 38-31 (OT) against No. 2 Georgia Southern on Oct. 27, 2012.  UTC is 22-9 in home SoCon games in the Russ Huesman era (since 2009) … 38-40 all-time at Finley Stadium.
• Mocs trailed at the half against an FCS opponent for the first time since a 17-14 deficit against No. 9 Jacksonville State (lost 26-23 (OT)) on Sept. 6, 2014.
• Despite not forcing a turnover, UTC's defense did manage two fourth-down stops in the second half.
• Wofford came into the game No. 5 in the FCS with 298 rushing yards per game … held to 247 today.
• Wofford takes a one-game advantage in the all-time series lead 12-11.
• Richardre Bagley – Three catches for 20 yards and two TDs ... four receiving TDs this season … five in his career ... ran 15 times for 28 yards.
• Alejandro Bennifield – 19-32 for 177 yards and four TDs ... four TDs ties a career-high for the fourth time ... 23 passing TDs ties Jacob Huesman (2014) for third-most in a season in school history.
 
NOTES FROM THE MOCS LAST TRIP TO WOFFORD ON OCT. 24, 2015
• The No. 5 Chattanooga Mocs posted a 20-17 win at Wofford on Oct. 24, 2015 … UTC improved to 6-1 overall and 4-0 in league play with today's win … Wofford dropped to 3-5 overall and 1-3 in SoCon action.
• Junior Henrique Ribeiro nailed a 38-yard FG as time expired for the win … it was UTC's first game-winning FG as time expired since Esteban Lopez had a 38-yarder on last play to beat No. 19 Georgia Southern 27-26 at Finley Stadium on Sept. 23, 2006.
• The Mocs snapped a seven-game losing streak at Wofford … it was UTC's first win in Spartanburg since a 31-3 victory on Oct. 3, 1998.
• The Mocs trailed 9-7 at the break … fewest points in the first half for the Mocs since only scoring three at Tennessee on Oct. 11, 2014 … Mocs trailed at the half for the second game in a row.
• UTC extends its school-record SoCon winning streak to 11 games … longest in the league since Appalachian State won 26 from 2006-09.
• The Mocs evened the overall record with Wofford at 11-11.
• The Mocs were just 2-10 on third down today … came into the game No. 11 in the FCS at 50%.
• Chattanooga was No. 6 in the country in time of possession (34:22), but Wofford held the ball for 35:39 in today's game.
• The Mocs did not record a sack against Wofford's triple-option … first time this season without a sack for UTC … Chattanooga came into the game No. 4 in the FCS with 22 sacks this season.
• C.J. Board – Jr.-WR - Tied career high with six catches...also had six earlier this season at Samford ... 41 receiving yards.
• Derrick Craine – Jr.-RB - 14 carries for a game-high 90 yards and a TD ... 7th rushing TD of the season … 13th of his career.
• Keionta Davis – Jr.-DL - Career-high six tackles ... added a PBU.
• Josh Freeman – Sr.-DL - Season-high six tackles ... Also recovered a fumble.
• A.J. Hampton – Sr.-LB - Career-high and tied for game-high with 11 tackles ... second career game with 10+ tackles. 
• Jacob Huesman – Sr.-QB - 15-23 for 109 yards and two INTs ... only the third time in his career with multiple INTs in a game ... 15 carries for 58 yards and a TD ... 5th rushing TD of the season … school-record 35 career rushing TDs ... 3-4 for 17 yards passing and two runs for 21 yards on the final game-winning drive.
• Isaiah Mack – Fr.-DL - Career-high 10 tackles … big numbers for an interior lineman ... career-high 2.5 TFLs ... forced and recovered a fumble.
• Henrique Riberio – Jr.-K/P - 2-2 on FGs, connection from 34 and 38 yards ... has made seven in a row ... 10-12 (83.3%) on the year … 29-39 (74.4%) for his career … passed Craig Camay (2006-09) for fifth all-time in career FGs made ... first career game-winner at any level ... 2-2 on PATs to extend his school-record streak to 67 ... averaged 42.5 yards on four punts with a long of 57.
 
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".