Chattanooga Football Game Notes
Chattanooga Mocs (4-2, 2-2 SoCon) at Western Carolina Catamounts (3-2, 1-2 SoCon)
Whitmire Stadium (13,742) – Cullowhee, N.C.
Saturday – Oct. 13, 2018 – 3:35 p.m. (E.D.T.)
Radio:  Mocs Sports Network (Real 96.1 FM – Flagship) - Jim Reynolds (pxp), Todd Agne (color), Will Poindexter (sideline)
TV: ESPN+ Daniel Hooker (pxp), Dan Gibson (analyst) and Summer McMahan (sideline)
Online: Live audio, ESPN+ & live stats links on GoMocs.com
 
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team is back on the road this weekend, traveling to Cullowhee, N.C., for a Southern Conference showdown against Western Carolina.  Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. (E.D.T.) on Saturday, Oct. 13. 
 
The Mocs are trying to snap a two-game slide after opening the season 4-0.  UTC is in fourth place in the SoCon race with a 2-2 league tally and is receiving votes in both the AFCA Coaches Poll and the STATS FCS Top 25. 
 
Chattanooga's losses have been close ones to the top two teams in the league standings.  UTC was down 14-10 in the fourth quarter before falling to No. 6 Wofford (4-1, 3-0 SoCon) 21-10 last weekend.  The Mocs dropped a tough 17-14 loss at ETSU (5-1, 3-0 SoCon) on Sept. 29. 
 
Western Carolina is also trying to bounce back from consecutive losses after opening the year 3-0.  The Catamounts are 3-2 overall and 1-2 in league play.  They started the season with wins over Newberry (33-26), Gardner-Webb (28-10) and VMI (52-50), but dropped games to Furman (38-44) and Samford (28-66) in their last two outings. 
 
This game features the top scoring offense in the SoCon against one of the stingiest defenses in the league.  Western Carolina leads the league and is No. 19 in the FCS in scoring, averaging 35.8 ppg.  The Mocs are second in the SoCon and No. 20 in the FCS, allowing just 20 points per game.  The Catamounts are also No. 10 in the FCS in total yards, averaging 489.8 yards per game.
 
Western Carolina has scored 28 or more points in all five of its games this season.  Conversely, the most the Mocs have allowed in regulation this season is 24 at UT Martin.  
 
MOCS SPORTS NETWORK
The Mocs Sports Network broadcasts the game on Real 96.1 FM in Chattanooga.  Jim Reynolds has the play-by-play for his 39th season, 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 TuneIn Radio app through a link on the football schedule page on GoMocs.com.
 
ESPN+
Host schools produce games for the ESPN family of networks.  This week's contest is carried by ESPN+ and includes Daniel Hooker (pxp), Dan Gibson (analyst) and Summer McMahan (sideline)  on the call.  Subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year).  It is available as an integrated part of the ESPN App, the leading sports app and the premier all-in-one digital sports platform for fans, and is also be available through ESPN.com.
 
QUICK NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOCS
General
• Tom Arth is in his second season at Chattanooga ... 7-10 at UTC ... 5-7 in SoCon action ... came to the Scenic City from John Carroll University where he was the NCAA Division III National Coach of the Year in 2016 ... 40-8 record the previous four years at JCU.
• Mocs are 60-57 all-time at Finley Stadium ... 40-44 in SoCon home games.
• The Mocs are third in the league and No. 28 in the FCS in home attendance with a 9,166 average over three games.
• The Mocs have cut down on their penalties with just seven for 40 yards over the last two games ... however they are still seventh in the SoCon and No. 58 in the nation with 6.7 per game and fifth in the league and 45th in the nation with 52.8 penalty yards per game through six contests.
• The Mocs have won six of its last nine games dating back to last season ... only losses were in overtime to No. 8 Wofford (24-21 on 11/4/17), Sept. 29 at ETSU (17-14 on 9/29/18) and 21-10 last week to No. 6 Wofford.
• The Mocs are +5 in the turnover margin ... leads the SoCon and No. 19 in the FCS.
• UTC's average time of possession is 28:32 ... eighth in the SoCon and No. 83 in the FCS.
 
Offense
• Seventh in the league and 78th in the FCS in total offense (361.5) ... 8th/110th in rushing (91.8) and 3rd/30th in passing (269.7).
• 8th/84th in the SoCon in scoring offense (24.7 ppg).
• Fifth in the league and 44th in the FCS in team pass efficiency (138.9).
• Fourth in the SoCon and 38th in the FCS on third down (34/83 - 41.0%).
• UTC has four runs of 20+ yards in the first six games ... full list on page 34 of the .pdf of the notes ... only had three such runs of 20+ yards all of last year.
• Mocs have 11 passing plays of 30+ yards this season ... only had five all of last year ... full list on page 34 of the .pdf of the notes.
• Mocs have scored on 13 straight trips to the red zone ... 1-1 vs. Wofford ... 2-2 at ETSU ... 4-4 vs. Samford, 5-5 at UT Martin & the OT trip at The Citadel ... 14-16 for the season with eight TDs ... 17-19 in red zone offense (89.5%) with 11 TDs is third in the SoCon and No. 26 in the FCS.
• UTC offensive line has only given up eight sacks this season ... fourth in the SoCon and 31st in the FCS ... big improvement from last season when they were last in the SoCon and 109th in the FCS, allowing over three per game. 
 
Defense
• Fourth in the SoCon in total defense (401.0) ... 62nd in the FCS. 
• Second in the SoCon and No. 20 in the FCS in scoring defense (20.0).
• Second in the SoCon in passing yards allowed (198.5) ... 24th in the FCS and third in the SoCon in pass efficiency defense (113.34).
• Seventh in the league in rushing defense (202.5).
• UTC leads the SoCon and is No. 6 in the FCS in red zone defense (63.6% - 14/22) ... eight red zone stops for UTC this season … Mocs only had six all of last year and just five in 2016 ... last time with eight was 2014 when they allowed 25-33 (76%). 
• Eight INTs on the year leads the SoCon and is No. 11 in the FCS.
• Five fumble recoveries is third in the SoCon and No. 26 in the FCS.
• 13 turnovers forced is second in the SoCon and tied for No. 12 in the FCS.
• UTC is sixth in the league and 91st in the FCS in 3rd down defense (40/95 - 41.5%) ... fourth in the league and 91st in the nation in 4th down defense (10/17 - 58.8%).
• Senior Kareem Orr is tied for the SoCon lead with three INTs ... he is also tied for fifth in the FCS in that category. 
• Junior LB Marshall Cooper leads the team and is second in the SoCon with 9.2 tackles per game ... senior DL Derek Mahaffey is second on the team and seventh in the league with 7.8 tackles per game.
 
Special Teams
• Victor Ulmo is on the 2018 Fred Mitchell Award Watch List ... 7-10 (70.0%) this season and 16-22 (72.7%) for his career.
• Sixth in the SoCon in net punting (33.6).
• Ninth in the league in punt returns (0.8).
• Eighth in the SoCon in kickoff returns (17.1).  
 
NUNNELLY BY THE NUMBERS
Sophomore receiver Bryce Nunnelly set the school record with four straight 100-yard receiving games this season ... currently leads the SoCon and is third in the nation with 128.0 yards per game. 
- Has 46 catches for 768 yards in five games.
- Needs 57 receiving yards to pass Blue Cooper (2009) for 10th most in a season at UTC.  
- Receiving yards in first four games would have led the team in six of the last 10 years.
- Seven catches of 30 yards+ this season … Mocs only had five as a team all last year.
- Four 100-yard receiving games in a season is tied for fifth all-time at UTC ... needs one more to tie for second ... last one with five was Alonzo Nix who had a school-record six in 2003. 
- Second in the SoCon in all-purpose yards (128.0).
- 1st/3rd in receiving TDs (6).
- 3rd/8th in receptions/game (7.7).
- 429 yards in first two games are most in consecutive games in school history.
- Fourth in school history with two 75-yard TD catches in one season ... no one has three. 
- STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week, SoCon Student-Athlete of the Week, and repeated as SoCon Offensive Player of the Week after posting 10 catches for 268 yards and two TDs at The Citadel ... also threw the game-winning 2pt conversion in overtime ... most receiving yards in a game since Joel Bradford's school-record 274 (15) in a 36-28 win at No. 25 Furman on Oct. 23, 2010 ... most catches in a game since Xavier Borishade had 10 vs. Mars Hill on Sept. 10, 2015 ... 3rd-most yards in a league game in SoCon history ... 76-yard TD in the first quarter ties for 17th-longest in school history.
- SoCon Offensive Player of the Week honors after posting seven catches for 161 yards and an 89-yard TD score against Tennessee Tech ... fifth longest pass play in school history and longest since the school-record 94-yarder by Stepfon Hawkins in 1997. 
- Has a 3.85 GPA as a Mechanical Engineering major.
 
COOPER LEADS THE MOCS DEFENSE
Junior LB Marshall Cooper was the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week after posting eight tackles, a forced fumble and and interception in a 27-20 win over No. 17 Samford on Sept. 22.  His interception came as Samford was trailing by two scores but driving deep in Chattanooga territory in the fourth quarter.  The 41-yard return flipped the field for the Mocs. Cooper also added a pass breakup in the game.  Cooper is currently second in the SoCon and No. 36 in the FCS with 9.2 tackles per game. 
 
TURNOVER TURNAROUND
Through SIX games, the Mocs are +5 in turnover margin.  That leads the SoCon and is No. 19 in the FCS.  That is a dramatic difference than a year ago when UTC was -12 in that category, 8th in the SoCon and 113th in the FCS.  UTC is third in the SoCon (26th in the FCS) with five fumbles recovered.  The Mocs lead the league (11th in the FCS) with eight interceptions.  UTC is one of 26 teams in the FCS to throw three picks or less on the year.  The Mocs have also lost five fumbles, three at ETSU.  Chattanooga is second in the SoCon and No. 12 in the FCS in total takeaways with 13.
 
MACK & MAHAFFEY CONTROLING THE MIDDLE
Defensive linemen don't typically put up big numbers when it comes to making tackles.  However, that is not the case with UTC's senior duo of Derek Mahaffey and Isaiah Mack.  Mahaffey is currently
second on the team and seventh in the SoCon with 7.8 stops per game.  Mack is third on the team and No. 10 in the SoCon with 7.5 per outing.  They have each had 10+ tackles twice in a game, led by Mack's 16 at The Citadel.  Mahaffey set his career mark with 11 of his own against the Bulldogs.    
 
TIANO ALSO PUTTING UP IMPRESSIVE NUMBERs
Junior QB Nick Tiano is 15th in the FCS and second in the SoCon in total offense (294.5) through six games.  He is third in the league and No. 18 in the FCS in passing yards (269.7).  Other SoCon/FCS rankings include 3rd/25th with 10 passing TDs and 3rd/18th in completions per game (21.0).
 
Tiano was the first Moc to throw back-to-back 300-yard games since B.J. Coleman against Furman (432) and Elon (386) in 2010.  He also had the most passing yards in the first two games of the season since Chris Sanders threw for 358 at Samford and 367 at Louisville in 1999.  His 347 yards against The Citadel were the most in a game since Jacob Huesman had 359 against Mercer in a 38-31 win on Oct. 25, 2014.  His 318 passing against TTU were the most in a season opener since B.J. Coleman had 340 vs. No. 3 Appalachian State on Sept. 4, 2010. 
 
TYRELL PRICE GIVES THE MOCS A VERSATILE RUNNING ATTACK
Junior RB Tyrell Price is currently ninth in the SoCon with 64.7 rushing yards per game ... He is second in the SoCon and 17th in the FCS with six rushing TDs.  He fourth in the league in scoring (7.0) and second in total TDs (7 - 15th in FCS).
 
Price had season-highs with six catches and 61 receiving yards, including an 18-yard TD grab in the second quarter against Samford.  He is currently fourth on the team in receiving with 20 catches for 179 yards. 
 
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE WESTERN CAROLINA SERIES
• This is the 45th meeting in the series that dates back to 1973.
• UTC owns a 27-17 overall advantage.
• UTC has won 10 of the last 12.
• Western Carolina broke the Mocs eight-game winning streak in the series with last year's 45-7 win in Chattanooga. 
• UTC has not lost at WCU since a 27-7 setback on Nov. 1, 2008 ... four wins in a row ... 12-10 all-time in Cullowhee.
• UTC's last trip to Cullowhee was a 38-25 win on Oct. 29, 2016. 
 
SCOUTING WESTERN CAROLINA
• Head coach Mark Speir is in his seventh season ... 29-45 overall record. 
• Leads the league and 19th in the FCS with 35.8 ppg.
• Third in the league and No. 10 in the FCS in total offense (489.8). 
• Seventh in the SoCon and No. 101 in the FCS with 39.2 points allowed per game.
• Eighth in the SoCon and No. 108 in the FCS with 490.4 yards allowed per game.
• Second in the SoCon and No. 13 in the FCS on third down (47.3%).
• Second in the SoCon and No. 9 in the FCS on fourth down (80.0%).
• Two blocked kicks leads the SoCon and is 17th in the FCS.
• Second in the league and No. 18 in the FCS with seven INTs.
• Last in the SoCon and No. 121 in the FCS with 315.4 passing yards allowed per game.
• Second in the league and No. 6 in the FCS with 3.6 sacks per game.
• Catamounts are tied for sixth in the SoCon race with a 1-2 league record ... 3-2 overall. 
• WCU was picked fourth in the preseason SoCon Coaches Poll ... fifth by the media.
• QB Tyrie Adams is third in the SoCon and No. 25 in the FCS in completion % (64.8%) ... 159.9 pass efficiency leads the SoCon and is No. 12 in the nation ... 10 passing TDs is second in the SoCon.
• Solomon Clark is third in the SoCon with five sacks.
• Ronald Kent, Jr. leads the SoCon and is No. 16 in the nation with eight passes defended. 
• Daquan Patten is second in the SoCon in punt returns (7.6). 
• Owen Cosenek is second in the SoCon and No. 11 in the FCS with five receiving TDs. 
• Mitchell Chaney leads the SoCon and is No. 5 in the FCS in total tackles at 11.8 per game.          
• Catamounts lost three lost fumbles in the first quarter in last week's 66-28 loss to Samford.  
• WCU quarterback Tyrie Adams was limited to just four possessions in the Samford game due to lingering effects from an injury against Furman ... Adams finished 3-for-3 for a career-low 14 yards passing and rushed three times for a negative-9 yards on the ground before being lifted.
• Freshman backup Will Jones threw for a career-high 210 yards and two touchdowns, adding 46 yards rushing and a score on the ground in the loss.
 
LAST TIME VS. WCU - WESTERN CAROLINA 45 - UTC 7 - 9/30/17 - FINLEY STADIUM
• The Chattanooga Mocs dropped a 45-7 game to Western Carolina at Finley Stadium.  The Mocs fall to 1-4 overall and 1-1 in SoCon play while the Catamounts improved to 4-1 and 1-1 in league action.
• UTC lost both of its top two quarterbacks in the game.  Senior Alejandro Bennifield was knocked out in the first quarter, while sophomore Nick Tiano injured his shoulder in the fourth.  Freshman Dominic Caldwell played the remainder of the game, throwing UTC's only touchdown.
• UTC is 1-4 on the year for the first time since the 2008 season.
• The Mocs were down 10-0 after the first quarter … UTC has trailed after the first in four of the first five games of the season.
• UTC was shut out in the first half of a SoCon game for the first time since a 17-14 loss at Samford on Nov. 16, 2013.
• Western Carolina twice forced fumbles and recovered them in the endzone in the second quarter … UTC had not allowed a fumble recovery for a score since Pierre Warren's 75-yarder at No. 24 Jacksonville State on Sept. 8, 2012.
• The Mocs have lost two home games in a season for the first time since 2012.
• Western Carolina snapped an eight-game losing streak in the series.  It is the Catamounts' first win in Chattanooga since 2005 … Mocs are 27-17 all-time against WCU … 15-7 at home.   
• This is the Mocs worst loss at home and worst loss in SoCon action since a 49-7 defeat against No. 2 Appalachian State on Nov. 8, 2008.
• This is the Mocs' fewest points in a SoCon game since a 14-7 loss to Furman on Oct. 29, 2011.
• Alejandro Bennifield – Sr.-QB - 3-5 for 29 yards ... made his first start of the season after missing first four games due to a suspension ... Knocked out of the game in the first quarter and did not return.
• Darrell Bridges – Sr.-RB - Ran eight times for 16 yards ... caught a six-yard TD pass.
• Dominic Caldwell – Fr.-QB - TD pass on his first career attempt ... 1-2 for six yards and the score.
• Jerrell Lawson – Fr.-DB - Career-high and tied for team high with eight tackles.
• Tavon Lawson – Jr.-LB - Tied for team high with eight tackles.
• Bingo Morton – Jr.-WR - Career high six catches ... 49 receiving yards.
• Nick Tiano – So.-QB - Ran nine times for 52 yards … sacked four times to finish with 19 rushing yards ... 11-23 passing ... left the game with an injury in the fourth quarter.
 
POSTGAME NOTES VS. NO. 6 WOFFORD
• The Chattanooga Mocs dropped a 21-10 Southern Conference contest to No. 6 Wofford at Finley Stadium today … it is the second loss in a row for UTC, falling to 4-2 overall and 2-2 in SoCon action … Wofford improves to 4-1 and tied for first place with ETSU in the SoCon race at 3-0.
• Wofford out-gained UTC 511-186 … 442-21 rushing.
• 75 of UTC's 165 yards came on the opening drive.
• Mocs first TD was the first score allowed in the opening quarter by Wofford this season.
• Wofford's Andre Stoddard had a 35-yard run at the end of the first quarter … longest allowed by UTC this season … Joe Newman topped that with a 66-yard TD run in the fourth quarter … Newman's TD run is the longest allowed by UTC since Roc Thomas of Jacksonville State had a 76-yarder on Aug. 26, 2017 … Newman is the first with multiple TDs against UTC this season.     
• UTC only had two possessions in the third quarter … one first down and 28 total yards.
• Wofford was headed to the endzone early in the fourth quarter on a reverse when T.J. Luther fumbled the ball at the UTC eight … forced by Marshall Cooper … D.J. Jackson scooped it up and returned it to the UTC 20.
• Wofford's Joe Newman (16-155) and Andre Stoddard (19-111) both ran for 100 yards today … first time the Mocs have allowed two 100-yard rushers in a game since at No. 1 Jacksonville State on Dec. 5, 2015.
• Wofford ran 65 times for 442 yards … 6.8 yards per carry … most rushes since The Citadel had 65 last season … most rushing yards allowed by UTC since giving up 449 at No. 1 Jacksonville State on Dec. 5, 2015.
• Wofford posted 511 yards of total offense … most allowed by UTC since 640 at Jacksonville State on Dec. 5, 2015.
• UTC put up 186 yards of total offense in the game … lowest output since 172 vs. Western Carolina last season.
• Mocs did not have a play of 20+ yards for the first time this season.
• Michael Bean – Jr.-LB - Game-high and career-high 17 tackles ... most stops by a Moc since Nakevion Leslie had 19 at The Citadel on Oct. 15, 2016 ... ½-TFL ... 11 solo stops.
• Colin Brewer – Jr.-P - Five punts for 43.0 average ... season-long 54-yard punt in the third quarter.
• Marshall Cooper – Jr.-LB - Nine tackles ... forced a fumble … second this season.
• Brandon Dowdell – So.-DB - Career-high 12 tackles ... first game with 10+.
• D.J. Jackson – So.-DB - Tied a career-high with six tackles ... 12-yard fumble return.
• Isaiah Mack – Sr.-DL - 10 tackles … eight solo ... fourth career game with 10+ tackles … second this season.
• Bryce Nunnelly – So.-WR - Eight catches for 47 yards ... sixth TD reception of the year.
• Joseph Parker – Sr.-WR - Four catches for 43 yards.
• Nick Tiano – Jr.-QB - 21-33 for 165 yards, TD and INT ... 10th passing TD of the year ... second time this season started 10-10 ... just his third INT of the year.
• Victor Ulmo – So.-K - Season-long 42-yard FG in the first quarter ... 7-10 on the year ... 16-22 (72.7%) for his career … fifth all-time at UTC ... 2-6 from 40+ in his career … long is 44 at Mercer (10/14/17).
• Wil Young – Sr.-WR - Six catches for 55 yards.