Chattanooga Football Game Notes
Western Carolina Catamounts (3-1, 1-0 SoCon) at Chattanooga Mocs (1-3, 1-0 SoCon)
Finley Stadium (20,668) – Chattanooga, Tenn.
Saturday, Sept. 30, 2017 – 6:04 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 return home to host the red-hot Western Carolina Catamounts this weekend.  The Mocs play their first SoCon home game of the season on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 6:04 p.m. (E.D.T.) at Finley Stadium.   
 
Both teams come into the game with a 1-0 record in conference play.  UTC is 1-3 overall and coming off an impressive 63-7 victory at VMI.  The 63 points were the second-most in a league game in school history.  The Catamounts are 3-1 overall after posting a 38-34 win over No. 17 Samford last weekend. 
 
Chattanooga is still receiving votes in both the FCS Coaches Poll and the STATS FCS Top 25.  The same is true for Western Carolina (27th - 189) who has a slight lead over the Mocs (29th - 107) in the 'Others Receiving Votes' category in the STATS FCS Top 25.  UTC is four spots outside of the FCS Coaches Top 25 with 24 points, while WCU would be 34th with 10 points.  
 
Western Carolina brings one of the top offensive attacks in the country.  The Catamounts lead the SoCon and are No. 13 in the nation in scoring at 40.3 ppg.  They are second in the league and sixth in the FCS in rushing offense (275.3) and first in the SoCon and No. 3 nationally in total offense (571.3).  
 
Individually, WCU has the reigning SoCon Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week in sophomore quarterback Tyrie Adams and senior defensive back Keion Crossen.  Senior running back Detrez Newsome is currently No. 4 in the nation with 139.3 rushing yards per game.   
 
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.
 
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. 30, at 2:00 p.m. All other ticket windows open at 3:00 p.m. on gameday.
 
MOCS ON ESPN3
Nine of the 11 games on the Mocs slate are scheduled to be on the ESPN family of networks, including Western Carolina 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' remaining six games can be found on ESPN3. 
 
CHORD OVERSTREET TO PLAY PREGAME
Former Glee actor Chord Overstreet is playing the pregame Mocs Block Tailgate, powered by EPB and presented by iHeart Media  on Chestnut Street, beginning at 4:30 p.m. This is a FREE concert open to all fans.


 
COACH TO CURE MD
For the 10th-consecutive year, college football coaches nationwide join in support of the Coach To Cure MD program, held during games of Saturday, Sept. 30. The annual effort has raised more than a $1.5 million to battle Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.  Coach Arth and his staff are among more that 500 programs wearing patches on their sleeves today to raise awareness of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.  Visit CoachtoCureMD.org for more information.   
 
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 both FCS polls ... school-record streak of 51 consecutive weeks ranked was snapped last week ... prior to last week, the last time UTC was out of the top 25 was Oct. 28, 2013 ... it was the sixth-longest active streak in the nation.   
• 57-53 all-time at Finley Stadium ... 38-40 in SoCon home games.
• Trying to go 2-0 in SoCon play for the fourth year in a row.
• 31-8 in league play since the start of the 2012 season ... 26-5 since 2013. 
 
Offense
• Eighth in the league in total offense (270.8) ... ninth in rushing (74.5) and sixth in passing (196.2). 
• Seventh in the SoCon in scoring offense (23.2 ppg).
• Seventh in the SoCon on third down (21/56 - 37.5%). 
• The Mocs have given up a league-high 11 sacks in the first four games of the season. 
• Sophomore QB Nick Tiano is fifth in the SoCon in passing (196.2) and fourth total offense per game (221.0).
• Junior WR Joseph Parker is sixth in the league in receptions per game (3.8) and seventh in receiving yards per game (48.8).  He had six catches for 104 yards at LSU.   
• Junior WR Bingo Morton is third 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.
• Senior LB Tae Davis is tied for ninth in the SoCon with 8.5 tackles per game. 
• Junior Isaiah Mack is second in the SoCon with 5.5 TFLs.
• Third in the league in total defense (319.2) ... fourth in scoring defense (25.0) ... third in rushing defense (136.0) ... third in passing yards allowed (183.2) and eighth in pass efficiency defense (110.9). 
• Lead the league with five interceptions. 
• UTC is currently third in the SoCon in red zone defense - 9/12 (75.0%).
• 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 and has 10 starts over the last two years.  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. 27 in the FCS at 42.2 yards per kick.
• Freshman K Victor Ulmo has 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.  
• Second in the league in punt returns (11.8).
• Fifth in the SoCon in KOR (18.2).
• Fifth in the league in kickoff coverage (41.8).
• Third in the SoCon in net punting (36.9).

 

BENNIFIELD BACK
Senior QB Alejandro Bennifield is back after serving a four-game NCAA suspension due to academic issues.  He is a preseason second team All-SoCon selection who has 29 career passing TDs.  Last year he was second in the SoCon and No. 11 in the FCS with 26 passing TDs, which tied with B.J. Coleman (2009) for second-most in a season at UTC.  He was also second in the SoCon and No. 12 in the FCS with a 152.6 pass eff. rating, third in the SoCon and No. 20 in the FCS in points responsible for (14.8) and third in the league and No. 10 in the FCS in completion % (64.4%).
 
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 WESTERN CAROLINA
• Head coach Mark Speir is in his sixth season ... 22-39 overall record. 
• Got its first win in 27 attempts against a ranked opponent with last week's 38-34 victory against No. 17 Samford in Cullowhee, N.C.
• Sophomore QB Tyrie Adams led the Catamounts to the upset of Samford, accounting for 464 yards of total offense, while earning SoCon Offensive Player of the Week honors ... threw for 312 yards, counting a 59-yard touchdown among his 19 completions ... also ran for a career-high 152 yards and another score on 20 rushes ... 152 yards on the ground were the most in the league on the week and good for an average of 7.6 yards per attempt ... currently No. 7 in the nation with 10 passing TDs ... 15th in passing yards (270.0) .. sixth in yards per completion (16.4) ... sixth in total offense (343.8).
• Senior DB Keion Crossen had eight tackles and two pass breakups in the Catamounts' win over No. 17 Samford, earning SoCon Defensive Player of the Week honors.
• Senior RB Detrez Newsome is on the Walter Payton Award Watch List and leads the FCS in all purpose yards (216.5) ... also No. 4 in the country in rushing yards per game (139.3) and second with seven rushing TDs ... 7.96 yards per carry is seventh in the nation.  
• Senior WR Terryon Robinson has five TD catches ... second in the SoCon and No. 4 in the FCS ... his 110.3 receiving yards per game is 10th nationally.  
• No. 1 in the SoCon and No. 3 in the FCS in total offense (571.3) ... leads the league and No. 13 in the nation in scoring offense (40.3) ... second in the league and No. 6 nationally in rushing offense (296.0) ... second in the SoCon and No. 21 in the FCS in passing yards (275.3).
• No. 1 in the SoCon and No. 5 in the FCS in first downs (24.8). 
• No. 1 in the SoCon and No. 5 in the FCS in net punting (41.5) ... sophomore Ian Berryman leads the SoCon and is No. 7 in the nation in punting at 45.1 yards per kick. 
 
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE WESTERN CAROLINA SERIES
• This is the 44th meeting in the series that dates back to 1973.
• UTC owns a 27-16 overall advantage.
• UTC has won 10 of the last 11 and eight in a row.
• Western Carolina has not won at Finley Stadium since 2005 ... Mocs are 15-6 at home and 8-2 at Finley Stadium. 
• The Mocs have scored at least 38 points in each of the last six.
• The Mocs have outscored WCU a combined 118-16 in the first half of the last four meetings between these two teams. 
• WCU's last trip to Chattanooga was a 41-13 Homecoming win for the Mocs on Oct. 31, 2015.   
 
UTC-WESTERN CAROLINA CONNECTIONS
• UTC sophomore OL Malcolm White, freshman DL Quintin Alibocas and WCU junior DB JerMichael White are all from Science Hill HS in Johnson City, Tenn. 
• WCU junior WR Jordan Mathis and UTC sophomore OL Brian Marshall are both from Marietta (Ga.) High School. 
• UTC senior OL Josh Cardiello and junior DB Terrance Wilson are both from Buford (Ga.) HS. 
 
NOTES FROM LAST YEAR'S 38-25 WIN OVER WESTERN CAROLINA
• The No. 8 Chattanooga Mocs scored a 38-25 win at Western Carolina on Oct. 29, 2016.  UTC improved to 8-1 overall and 6-1 in SoCon action.  The Catamounts dropped to 1-7 overall and 0-6 in SoCon action.
• UTC led 31-10 at the break … Mocs put up four TDs and 30 points in the first half in each of the last three games against Western Carolina.
• Was the eighth consecutive win over the Catamounts … Mocs own a 27-16 advantage in the series … 12-10 lead in Cullowhee.  
• Was the fourth consecutive eight-win season for UTC … ninth in school history.
• Chattanooga rushed for a season-high 328 yards on 44 attempts … 7.3 yards per carry.
• Mocs finished with 515 yards of total offense … second straight game over 500 yards and fourth time this season.
• Richardre Bagley (126) and Tyler Roberson (121) both posted 100-yard games … last time UTC had two 100-yard rushers in a game was Derrick Craine (154) and Jacob Huesman (129) against No. 14 Fordham in the FCS Playoffs on Nov. 28, 2015.
• UTC had two 100-yard rushers (Tyler Roberson 121, Richardre Bagley 126) and a 100-yard receiver (C.J. Board  107) in the same game for the fifth time in school history … first since Mississippi Valley State in 2000 (Charles McNeill 10-125, Jason Ball 12-114, Cos DeMatteo 9rec-203).
• WCU's Detrez Newsome posted 277 rushing yards … most ever allowed by UTC … his 95-yard TD run is the longest allowed by UTC … previous long was 92 yards by The Citadel's Nehemiah Broughton in 2004 … his 75-yard TD run in the first quarter was the longest allowed this season … prior to that run the longest rush UTC had allowed all season was an 18-yarder to Mercer's Alex Lakes.
• UTC turned the ball over twice in the game, an INT by Bennifield and a fumble by Roberson … first TOs since the Mercer game.
• Richardre Bagley – 126 yards and two TDs on 19 carries ... six-yard TD run in the first quarter … one-yard TD run in the second quarter ... also caught an eight-yard TD pass … second of the season and third of his career.
• Alejandro Bennifield – 11-16 passing for 192 yards, two TDs and an INT ... 19 TDs passing TDs this season is tied with Mickey Brokas (1971) for No. 6 in a season at UTC ... 60-yard TD pass to C.J. Board on the Mocs' first possession … 10th TD pass of the year 30 yards or longer for Bennifield.
• Colin Brewer – Career-long 60-yard punt downed on the four-yard line in the third quarter ... 51.0 average on two kicks … both downed inside the 20.
• Isaiah Mack – Career-high 2.0 sacks ... finished with four tackles and a hurry.
• Alex Trotter – Career-high 53 rushing yards ... tied a career-high with eight carries.
• Dale Warren – Team-high 13 tackles ... third time this season with 10 tackles ... added a sack and two TFLs.
 
NOTES FROM WESTERN CAROLINA'S LAST TRIP TO CHATTANOOGA ON OCT. 31, 2015
• The No. 4 Chattanooga Mocs won their seventh game in a row with a 41-13 win over Western Carolina today … UTC improved to 7-1 overall and 5-0 in SoCon play with today's Homecoming win … the Catamounts dropped to 5-3 overall and 3-2 in league play.
• UTC held a 35-6 lead at the break … most points in the first half since scoring 38 at Western Carolina last season.
• The Mocs put up a season-high 547 yards of total offense … that's the most since 566 at No. 1 New Hampshire last season … most allowed by Western Carolina this season ... there was only one negative yardage play on the day (-3 rush).
• UTC had a season-high 374 yards rushing … most since 386 at Western Carolina last season ... that's the most allowed by Western Carolina this season … also had season-highs with 58 carries and 6.1 yards per rush ... now have the top two rushers in the league - Derrick Craine (97.8) and Jacob Huesman (95.9).  
• Mocs held the Catamounts to 283 yards … fewest this season against an FCS opponent.
• This was the 100th game at Finley Stadium … UTC is 49-51 all time in this building.
• Mocs had a season-high 31 first downs … most since 31 against Glenville State on Sept. 13, 2012.
• UTC held the ball for a season-high 39:25 … Mocs came into the game No. 15 in the FCS in TOP at 32:56.
• Jacob Huesman's 168 and Derrick Craine's 103 rushing yards give the Mocs two 100-yard runners in a game for the first time since Huesman (130) and Kendrix Huitt (137) did it at Western Carolina on Nov. 3, 2012.
• Richardre Bagley – 4 catches for 48 yards … all in the first half ... tied a career-high for catches and one shy of mark for receiving yards ... 10 carries for 40 yards.
• James Stovall – three catches for 63 yards ... then-career-high for yards and tied for receptions ... then-career-long 49-yard catch in the first quarter.
• Trevor Wright – First career INT ... added four tackles … including a ½ sack.
 
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 530-522-35 (.504) 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".