Chattanooga Football Game Notes
ETSU Buccaneers (4-6, 2-5 SoCon) at Chattanooga Mocs (2-8, 2-5 SoCon)
Finley Stadium (20,668) – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Saturday, Nov. 18, 2017 – 2:04 p.m. (E.S.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 University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wraps up the 2017 football season with a visit from in-state rival ETSU on Saturday, Nov. 18.  Game time is set for 2:04 p.m. (E.S.T.) at Finley Stadium. 
 
The Mocs have shown great improvement in their last three outings, including a 23-21 road win at No. 8 Samford on Oct. 28.  UTC almost knocked off No. 8 Wofford on Nov. 4, falling in overtime to the Terriers 24-21.
 
The Mocs are 2-8 overall and 2-5 in Southern Conference action under first-year head coach Tom Arth.  The Buccaneers bring a 4-6 overall mark and are tied with the Mocs for seventh place in the league race under third-year head coach Carl Torbush. 
 
ETSU has one win in its last four games, a 24-6 victory at VMI on Nov. 4.  The Bucs lost 42-7 last week at No. 14 Samford. 
 
The Mocs come into the game No. 16 in the FCS in passing yards allowed.  UTC is giving up 170.3 yards through the air, which is also No. 5 in the SoCon.  Overall, UTC is third in the league in total defense (374.4) after holding Wofford to a season-low 233 yards in their last game. 
 
ETSU is third in the SoCon in passing, averaging 212.4 yards per game.  The Bucs are fourth in the league in total defense (356.6) and seventh in total offense (288.1).  Junior AB Austin Herink, a native of Cleveland, Tenn., is second in the SoCon in passing yards.
 
Saturday is Senior Day for 20 Mocs who are playing in their final game.  The Class of 2017 won two SoCon titles and made three appearances in the FCS Playoffs.  They have a 30-20 overall record, the sixth-most wins by a class in school history.  A victory today would move them into a tie for fourth all-time with the 1981 and 1982 classes. 
 
This group includes quarterback Alejandro Bennifield, running backs Darrell Bridges and Richardre Bagley, receivers James Stovall, Alphonso Stewart and Dy'Kari Hickey, fullback Chris Jones, tight end Malcolm Colvin, offensive linemen Josh Cardiello and Alex Hooper, defensive linemen D.J. Prather, Taylor Reynolds and Brandon Bourk, linebackers Tae Davis, Dale Warren, Joshua Phillips and T.J. Jenkins, defensive backs Trevor Wright and Lucas Webb and long snapper Emory Norred.
 
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, Nov. 18 at 10:00 a.m. All other ticket windows open at 11:00 a.m. on gameday.
 
RUSSELL DICKERSON TO PLAY PREGAME
Country music artist Russell dickerson is playing the pregame Mocs Block Tailgate, powered by EPB and presented by iHeart Media on Chestnut Street, beginning at 12:30 p.m. This is a FREE concert open to all fans.
 
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 ETSU game.  This week's contest is produced by Chattanooga with Chris Goforth (pxp) and B.J. Colemand (analyst) on the call.  UTC kicked off against Jacksonville State on ESPN, while the LSU game was on the SEC Network. 
 
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.
• 32-13 in league play since the start of the 2012 season ... 27-10 since 2013.
 
Offense
• Eighth in the league in total offense (270.6) ... eighth in rushing (77.5) and fifth in passing (193.1). 
• Eighth in the SoCon in scoring offense (18.5 ppg).
• Eighth in the SoCon on third down (43/135 - 31.9%). 
• The Mocs have given up a league-high 30 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 four games with an injury ... he played sparingly at Samford and Wofford and missed the previous two games. 
• Third in the league in total defense (177.1) ... seventh in scoring defense (28.1) ... eighth in pass efficiency defense (147.3).
• Fifth in the SoCon and No. 16 in the FCS in passing yards allowed (170.3).
• 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.
• Senior DL Taylor Reynolds has posted 10+ tackles in three of the last five games, including a career-high  and game-high 14 at Wofford ... he recovered a fumble and had his first career INT 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 39.7 yards per kick.
• Freshman K Victor Ulmo is eight for 10 on FGs 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 14.3 yards on nine attempts ... returned kickoffs the last four games and had two 50-yarders against The Citadel.     
• Fourth in the league in kickoff coverage (41.6).
• Sixth in the SoCon in net punting (36.0).
 
TURNOVERS ARE AN ISSUE
Turnovers continue to be a problem for Chattanooga after giving the ball away two more times at Wofford.  It was also the sixth time this season the Mocs did not force a turnover.  UTC is -12 in the turnover margin, and has given up 62 points off turnovers.  
 
INJURIES
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 five games, setting freshman records with 317 passing yards and 30 completions on 42 attempts against Furman.  He is 110-178 (61.8%) for 1,023 yards, six touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
 
BRIDGES HEATING UP
With senior Richardre Bagley out with an injury the last four games, fellow senior Darrell Bridges has been the only true running back seeing time for the Mocs.  He is averaging 94 yards on 20 carries per game in that stretch, including three of his team-high six rushing touchdowns.  He had a season-high 149 yards on 18 carries against The Citadel.  He has had 22 attempts in each of the last two games, including 89 yards at Samford and 80 yards at Wofford.    
 
COPELAND POSTING TOP FRESHMAN NUMBERS
True freshman Cole Copeland has stepped into the starting lineup over the last five games and is putting up near-record numbers for a UTC rookie.  He is 110-178 (61.8%) for 1,023 yards and six TDs against 11 INTs, leading the Mocs on game-winning or game-tying drives in the fourth quarter in each of the last two games.  He has the second-most completions by a UTC freshman, trailing Jacob Huesman's 167 in 2012 and the fourth-most attempts by a freshman, trailing Kenyon Earl's 181 in 1991 for third.  He also has the fourth-most passing TDs by a freshman, trailing Brian Hampton's seven in 1995 for third and the fourth-most passing yards by a freshman, trailing Stan Nix's 1,147 for third.
 
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 did not play in the previous three games and his status for the Wofford 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 against Western Carolina.  He did not play in the last four games and his status for the Wofford game is also unknown.  Freshman Dominic Caldwell came in for the final three drives against Western Carolina, tossing a TD pass to Darrell Bridges for UTC's only score of the game.  The transfer from Florida International was 1-2 with 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., started against Furman and set UTC freshman records with 317 yards on 30/42 passing with two touchdowns and four interceptions.      
 
MORE ON COLE COPELAND'S DEBUT
Copeland was the first freshman to start a game at QB for the Mocs since Jacob Huesman vs. Elon (W, 24-17) on Nov. 17, 2012.  He was also the first true freshman to play at QB for the Mocs since Antonio Miller in 2004 and the first true freshmen to start at QB for the Mocs since Brian Hampton in a 21-23 loss to Furman on Nov. 18, 1995, on Chamberlain Field.  Hampton won his first start that season, 29-24 over The Citadel on Nov. 4, 1995.  Copeland's first pass was a seven-yard completion to Alphonso Stewart and he went on to complete his first eight.  His 317 passing yards were the most by a Moc since Jacob Huesman had 335 at No. 1 New Hampshire on Dec. 12, 2014.
 
LAST TIME OUT - NOTES ON THE NOV. 4 LOSS AT WOFFORD
• The Mocs dropped a 24-21 2OT game at No. 8 Wofford on Nov. 4. 
• UTC had a chance to upset a top-10 team on the road for the second-straight game.
• Chattanooga drove into the Wofford redzone twice in the first half but only scored FGs on those two possessions … those two drives were 14 plays long … only one longer was 17 (TD) at VMI on Sept. 23
• UTC defense held Wofford to a season-low 233 yards of total offense … 188 rushing and a season-low 45 passing … Wofford came into the game No. 5 in the FCS in rushing at 282 ypg.
• The Mocs have lost five consecutive OT games … last win was 45-38 at Georgia Southern on Sept. 22, 2007.
• UTC is 3-13 in games decided by three points or less since 2009.
• UTC's last three trips to Wofford have come down to the last play.  Mocs won 20-17 on a Henrique Ribeiro FG on Oct. 24, 2015 … Wofford won 16-13 in OT on Nov. 10, 2012.
• After allowing 31 ppg first seven games, Mocs have given up 21 ppg last three.
• UTC is 11-13 overall against the Terriers … lost two in a row … 3-8 on the road.
• Mocs defense forced three-and outs on five of Wofford's nine possessions in regulation.
• UTC posted 300 yards of offense against a Terrier defense that came into the game No. 2 in the SoCon and No. 21 in the nation in total defense.
• Mocs were 7-16 on third down today … Mocs were 6-35 on third down in previous three games.
• UTC had two turnovers in the game without forcing one … Mocs are -12 on turnovers for the season.
• Darrell Bridges – Sr.-RB - 80 yards on 22 carries ... tied a season-high for carries ... 318 yards on 62 carries last three games.
• Cole Copeland – Fr.-QB - 27-39 for 201 yards, two TDs and one INT ... orchestrated a 9-play, 43-yard drive to tie the game in regulation ... caught the game-tying 2-pt. conversion to send the game to OT.
• Tae Davis – Sr.-LB - 12 tackles ... second-straight game with 10+ tackles … third of his career.  
• Brandon Dowdell - Fr.-DB - 21-yd PR in the first quarter.
• Derek Mahaffey – Jr.-DL - Tied a career-high with nine tackles.
• DeJuan McQuarters – Jr.-WR - Three catches for 19 yards ... season-high and tied a career-high on receptions.
• Bingo Morton – Jr.-WR - Career-high seven catches for 23 yards and a score ... 5th career TD ... caught the 6-yard TD that helped tie the game at the end of regulation ... threw the pass to QB Cole Copeland on the 2-pt. conversion trick play.
• Taylor Reynolds – Sr.-DL - Game-high and career-high 14 tackles ... third career game with 10+ tackles … all in last five games.
• Alphonso Stewart – Sr.-WR - Six catches for 68 yards and a TD ... powered in for an 11-yard score in OT ... 34 catches for 422 yards and 4 TDs are all career-bests ... nine career TDs.
• Victor Ulmo – Fr.-K - 20-yd FG in the first quarter ... 28-yd FG in the second quarter ... missed from 47 yards in the fourth quarter ... 8-10 on the year ... eight FGs is tied with Mickey Brokas (1971) for third-most by a UTC freshman.  
• Dale Warren – Sr.-LB - Season-high nine tackles.
 
SCOUTING ETSU
• ETSU head coach Carl Torbush (Carson-Newman, Ky. '74), is in his third season with the Buccaneers.  He has an 11-20 record at ETSU.  His overall mark is 31-46, including three seasons at North Carolina (1998-00) and one at Louisiana Tech (1987).
• A seven-minute stretch doomed any hopes the ETSU football team had of a second-straight win over the Samford Bulldogs.  After pulling to within 14-7 early in the second quarter Saturday afternoon at Seibert Stadium, the Buccaneers had a controversial pass interference call go against them and that play ultimately helped ignite a 21-point surge by No. 14 Samford. The end result was a 35-7 halftime deficit that culminated in a 42-7 win for the Bulldogs.
• With the loss, the Bucs dropped to 4-6 overall, 2-5 in Southern Conference play and still have yet to win a road league game since returning to the SoCon a year ago.
• Junior quarterback Austin Herink (Cleveland, Tenn.) suffered through one of his toughest outings as a Buc, accounting for four turnovers -- two of which led to Samford scores and one that sabotaged a possible ETSU scoring drive deep in Samford territory.           
• ETSU had only 211 yards in total offense at Samford.
• A bright spot for the ETSU defense on Saturday was the second half of play, where the Bucs forced five straight three-and-outs by the Samford offense coming out of halftime.
• With his sack in the fourth quarter, sophomore defensive lineman Nasir Player (Columbia, S.C.) collected his sixth sack of the year and now ranks tied for fifth on the program's single-season list.
• Herink reached the 5,000-yard milestone on Saturday, collecting 139 yards through the air on 14-of-26 passing. He becomes only the sixth quarterback in ETSU program history to reach that number for total passing yards.
 
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE ETSU SERIES
• This is the 41st meeting between these two teams in a series that dates back to 1961.
• UTC is 21-18-1 overall ... 13-8 at home ... 2-1 at Finley Stadium
• Prior to the Mocs 37-7 win in Johnson City last year, ETSU had won four of five and nine of 12 in the series.
• This is ETSU's first trip to Chattanooga since restarting its program in 2015 ... the last time the Bucs came to the Scenic City, Chattanooga won 27-10 on Nov. 16, 2002. 
 
UTC-ETSU CONNECTIONS
• ETSU defensive coordinator Billy Taylor held the same position at UTC from 2005-07.
• 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 junior QB Austin Herink from Cleveland High School, junior LB Austin Gatewood, junior LB Alonzo Francois and junior WR Tony Francois are from East Hamilton High School, sophomore OL Myles Smith from Red Bank High School, freshman DB Tyrik Stewart from the McCallie School and freshman DL Robert Murphy from Notre Dame High School.
• UTC sophomore Malcolm White and redshirt freshman Quintin Alibocas graduated from Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tenn.
 
NOTES FROM LAST YEAR'S 37-7 WIN AT ETSU
• The No. 3 Chattanooga Mocs scored a 37-7 win at ETSU on Oct. 1, 2016.  The Mocs improved to 5-0 for the first time since the 1979 season and are 3-0 in SoCon action.  ETSU dropped to 2-2 overall and 1-2 in league play.
• Second time this season with five rushing TDs as a team … other was in the season-opener against Shorter.
• The Mocs allowed just 132 yards of total offense in the game … fewest allowed against a Division I opponent since giving up 117 at Presbyterian last season (9/26/15) … 51 passing yards allowed today are also the fewest against a DI team since giving up 43 in last year's Presbyterian game.
• Henrique Ribeiro's 52-yard FG is tied for the second-longest in school history … longest by a Moc since All-American Craig Camay hit one at Presbyterian on Sept. 19, 2009.
• 12th straight win in the month of October for the Mocs … last time UTC lost in October was in overtime to No. 2 Georgia Southern (39-31) on Oct. 27, 2012.
• Mocs turned the ball over twice going in to score … Bennifield threw an INT in the endzone in the first quarter … Alex Trotter fumbled inside the five in the fourth quarter.
• ETSU had 71 yards of offense in the first quarter … 17 in the second … 12 in the third … 32 in the fourth.
• Mocs came into the game leading the nation in scoring defense at 8.8 points per game … gave up just seven today.
• ETSU only managed seven first downs … Mocs came into the game leading the SoCon in first down defense.
• The Bucs were 5-12 (41.7%) on third down today … Mocs came into the game leading the nation in third down defense (9-58 15.5%).
• Mocs improved to 25-0 in the Russ Huesman era when allowing 14 points or less … Mocs are 44-8 since 2009 when scoring over 25 points.
• The Mocs are yet to trail in a game this season.
• This was the 32nd win for the 2017 senior class … third all-time at UTC and one behind the school record set last season and 1980 … broke a tie with Coach Huesman's 1981 class.      
• Richardre Bagley – 10 carries for 34 yards and a TD ... first rushing TD of the season … third of his career.
• Henrique Ribeiro – 52-yard FG is tied for the second-longest in school history … longest by a Moc since All-American Craig Camay hit one at Presbyterian on Sept. 19, 2009.
• Tyler Roberson - Career-high 63 yards on five carries ... career-long 45 yard run.
• James Stovall – Three catches for 63 yards … both season highs ... 17th-straight game with a catch.
• Trevor Wright – Second-straight game with an INT ... two this season … three in his career.
 
NOTES FROM THE BUCS LAST TRIP TO FINLEY ON NOV. 16, 2002
• UTC scored a 27-10 at Finley Stadium on Nov. 16 in Donnie Kirkpatrick's final season.
• It was the Mocs' second win in a row after starting the season 0-9.
• UTC QB Ryan McCann threw for 225 yards and one TD on 20-32 passing.
• Jason Ball scored first on a three-yard run in the first quarter.
• Todd Campbell returned a punt 79 yards that set up Mario Hain's 6-yard TD run in the second quarter.
• McCann connected with Cortez Rankin in the second quarter to give UTC a 21-10 halftime lead.
• Patrick Shutters hit two field goals in the fourth quarter (27 & 42).
• Mocs defense held ETSU to just 275 total yards.
• Joey Peters caught a career-high six passes for 51 yards.
• Ball ran 20 times for 55 yards and the score.
• Josh Cain posted double-digit tackles for the 12-straight game with 14. 
• Senior Emmanuel DeWalt had seven tackles, including three for loss.
 
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.
 
WARREN BACK IN THE LINEUP
Senior LB Dale Warren returned to the lineup for the first time, recording seven tackles at Mercer.  He sat out the first six games of the season due to an NCAA suspension.  He also posted seven tackles against The Citadel and Samford.  The preseason All-American led the SoCon with 19.0 TFLs last season. 
 
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. 
 
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 530-526-35 (.502) 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".