The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team is on the road this weekend at Samford.  The Mocs face the Bulldogs on Saturday, Nov. 9, at Seibert Stadium in Birmingham, Ala. Game time is set for 3:00 p.m. (E.S.T.).
 
The Mocs are looking to snap a two-game slide after taking on the top two teams in the Southern Conference the last two weeks.  UTC is 4-5 overall and 3-2 in league play under first-year head coach Rusty Wright.
 
Samford is 4-5 overall and 3-3 in SoCon action.  The Bulldogs have played in four overtime games this season, winning one.  They have also beaten two ranked opponents, but have lost three of their last four. 
 
This is the final home game of 2019 for the Bulldogs, who are celebrating Senior Day and Homecoming on Saturday.  The winner of this game will secure at least a .500 record in conference play for the year. 
 
MORE ON THE SOCON RACE
No. 9/10 Furman took over the top spot in the Southern Conference with Saturday's 35-20 win over the Mocs at Finley Stadium.  The Paladins are 6-3 overall and 5-1 in league action.  No. 23/24 Wofford is right behind in second place with a 5-3 overall record and 4-1 tally in conference play.  The Citadel (6-4, 4-2 SoCon) is third, followed by Chattanooga.  The Bulldogs are tied with Mercer (4-5, 3-3 SoCon) and VMI (4-5, 3-3 SoCon) for fifth.  Western Carolina (2-7, 1-5 SoCon), who got their first league win of the year over VMI last weekend, is eighth.  ETSU (2-7, 0-6 SoCon) is still looking for its SoCon victory. 
 
MOCS SPORTS NETWORK
The Mocs Sports Network broadcasts the game on the radio on WFLI 1070 AM / 97.7 FM in Chattanooga.  Jim Reynolds has the play-by-play for his 40th 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.
 
ESPN3
Host institutions produce SoCon games for the ESPN family of networks.  This week's contest is carried by ESPN3, with Curt Bloom (pxp) and Chad Picher (analyst) and Blake Gardner (sideline) on the call.  

2020 FOOTBALL SEASON TICKET DEPOSITS
Chattanooga Athletics is now taking deposits on 2020 football season tickets, for just $25 per ticket.  The  first 150 fans to make a deposit receive free access to a pregame tailgate when the Mocs close out the 2019 season at home against The Citadel on November 16.  Check the "Tickets" tab on GoMocs.com to make the commitment for the 2020 season.
 
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," not Moccasins.  Chattanooga is pronounced chat-uh-NEW-guh, commonly mistaken as CHATT-nooga.
 
SEASON NO. 112
As a part of the year-long celebration of 150 years of college football, the Mocs are competing in their 112th season.  The University of Chattanooga was founded in 1886 and football officially 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 543-537-35 (.503) and have won 13 conference titles.
 
QUICK NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE MOCS
General
• Former Moc and former UTC assistant coach Rusty Wright was hired on Dec. 19 as head coach.
• Mocs are 64-60 all-time at Finley Stadium ... 43-46 in SoCon home games.
• UTC drew 8,254 fans for the home opener, 15th-best home crowd that weekend in the FCS ... Mocs are averaging 7,848 fans over four games this season .... fifth in the SoCon and No. 46 in the FCS.
• UTC is coming off its seventh winning season since 2009 ... 54th in the 111 years of football.
• Picked to finish fourth in the Southern Conference by the league's coaches and fifth by the media.
• 2019 strength of schedule is ranked No. 2 in the FCS, according to HeroSports.
• 16 first-time starters in the first 10 games, including Ty Boeck (So.-LB), Kameron Brown (Fr.-DB), Zay Brown (So.-LB), McClendon Curtis (So.-OL), Ailym Ford (Fr.-RB), Chris James (Sr.-TE), Kam Jones (So.-LB), Telvin Jones (Sr.-DL), Kanore McKinnon (Jr.-WR), Kyle Miskelley (Jr.-OL), Kayne Roberts (So.-LB), Jay Person (Fr.-LB), Colin Truett (Fr.-OL), Lameric Tucker (Fr.-WR), Cameron Turner (Sr.-DB), Juwan Tyus (So.-WR), C.J. Winston (So.-LB).
 
Offense
• 24 letter winners and nine starters back ... all five starters return to the offensive line to start the year.
• Mocs have only allowed eight sacks in nine games ... second in the SoCon to triple-option Wofford ... seventh in the FCS.  
• 371.1 yards of total offense is No. 6 in the SoCon and No. 73 in the FCS. 
• 4th/29th in rushing offense (192.0).
• Sixth in the SoCon and No. 96 in the FCS in passing offense (179.1).
• Seventh in the SoCon and No. 81 in the FCS in scoring offense (24.7).
• 54/129 (41.9%) on third down ... 4th in the SoCon and 35th in the FCS.
• Junior receiver Bryce Nunnelly is a preseason All-American, All-SoCon and on the Walter Payton Award Watch list.  He was second in the conference and No. 6 in the FCS with 112.5 receiving yards per game in 2018.  He was also third in the league and No. 8 in the FCS with 7.2 receptions per game.  He battled injuries that limited him against Mercer and ETSU, but is still third in the SoCon with 4.7 receptions per game and third in the league with 59.4 receiving yards per game in 2019.
• True freshman Ailym Ford leads the Mocs and all freshmen in the FCS and FBS with 119.1 yards per game ... he is second in the SoCon and No. 6 in the FCS in rushing yards per game.
• Junior OL Cole Strange is a preseason second team All-SoCon selection ... started 26 consecutive games at left guard.
• Senior TE Chris James is a converted QB who has thrown for a TD pass and caught four others in his first year at the position ... he is third on the team with 12 catches for 131 yards overall. 
 
Defense
• 17 letter winners and six starters back.
• Fifth in the SoCon and No. 76 in the FCS in scoring defense (29.9).
• No. 6 in the SoCon and No. 107 in the FCS in rushing defense (213.7).
• No. 4 in the SoCon and No. 23 in the FCS in passing yards allowed (189.8).
• No. 5 in the SoCon and No. 75 in the FCS in total defense (403.4).
• Third in the SoCon and No. 55 in the FCS with 14 total takeaways (7 FRs & 7 INTs). 
• Senior linebacker Marshall Cooper and junior defensive backs Brandon Dowdell and Jerrell Lawson made the preseason All-SoCon first team defense.
• Cooper was the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week after posting 10 tackles and two PBUs in the win over Eastern Illinois ... T8th in the SoCon with 69 total tackles.
• Sophomore LB Ty Boeck was the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week after posting 12 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, two forced fumbles and one recovery at Mercer ... he leads the team and is No. 5 in the SoCon with 77 tackles in nine games.
• UTC's seven interceptions are second in the SoCon.
• The Mocs are seventh in the league with 11 sacks on the year.
 
Special Teams
• Victor Ulmo is on the 2019 Fred Mitchell Award Watch List ... 10-15 (.667) in 2019 ... 13-19 (68.4%) in 2018 and 30-44 (68.2%) for his career ... 1-2 vs. EIU with a make from 37 and a miss from 36 ... made from 36 and 33 at Jacksonville State ... made from 34 and 38 yards against Western Carolina ... made from 31 and 36 and missed from 38 at Mercer ... had the game-winner from 30 yards against ETSU ... had missed three FGs and an extra point before his game-winning kick ... 2-2 vs. Furman.   
• Senior Colin Brewer is second in the SoCon with a 42.3 punting average. 
• Fifth in the SoCon and No. 47 in the FCS in net punting (36.1).
• 22.7 average on KOR is fourth in the SoCon and 28th in the FCS ... only had nine attempts.
• Junior Brandon Dowdell had punt returns of 18 and 38 yards at JSU.
• 9.8 average on PR is third in the SoCon and No. 42 in the FCS ... only had eight attempts. 
 
NOTES TO KNOW ABOUT THE SAMFORD SERIES
• This is the 45th meeting between these two teams in a series that dates back to 1906.
• UTC is 31-10-3 overall ... 9-2 since Samford joined the SoCon in 2008.
• UTC is 9-5 in Birmingham ... 8-1 in Seibert Stadium (opened in 1958) ... lone loss at Seibert Stadium was 17-14 in overtime on Nov. 16 ,2013.
• Mocs have won five in a row and nine of the last 10. 
• Samford has been heavily favored in the last two games.
 
LAST TWO GAMES IN THE SERIES HAVE BEEN UTC UPSETS
Despite riding a five-game winning streak against the Bulldogs, the Mocs were not the favorite to win the previous two meetings.  The 2018 game on Sept. 23 in Chattanooga saw UTC pull off a 27-20 win over the 17th-ranked Bulldogs.  The Mocs picked off Walter Payton Award winner Devlin Hodges three times in that win.  It was an even bigger upset in 2017 when Victor Ulmo hit a 39-yard field goal with 19 seconds left to give the Mocs a 23-21 win over the eighth-ranked Bulldogs. 
 
SCOUTING SAMFORD
• The Bulldogs are 4-5 overall and 3-3 in SoCon action ... lost three of last four. 
• 3-1 at home this season ... 7-2 last two years ... 37-11 (.771) last eight seasons ... Mocs gave them three of those 11 losses.
• Head coach Chris Hatcher is in his fifth season at Samford ... 20th season overall as a head coach ... 31-24 at Samford ... 152-81 overall.
• Played in four overtime games this season ... lost at Tennessee Tech (58-59 - 2OT) on Aug. 31 ... beat No. 25 The Citadel (61-55 - 4OT) on Sept. 28 ... lost at VMI (41-48 - OT) on Oct. 12 ... lost at Mercer (33-36 - 2OT) on Nov. 2.
• Beat two ranked teams this season in No. 21 Wofford (21-14) on Sept. 14 and No. 25 The Citadel (61-55 - 4OT) on Sept. 28.
• Leads the SoCon and No. 15 in the FCS in scoring at 36.6 point per game.
• Last in the SoCon and No. 119 in the FCS in scoring defense.
• Junior QB Chris Oladokun is second in the SoCon in passing yards (221.0) ... he is 158-253 (52.5%) with 17 TDs and six INTs.  
• Junior LB John Stanton leads the nation with 111 total tackles ... second in the FCS in tackles per game at 12.3. 
• Freshman running back Jay Stanton leads the team in rushing with 542 yards, including a career-high 141 last week at Mercer.
• The Bulldogs have 15 scoring drives of two minutes or less this season, including six that took less than a minute. 
 
MOCS & BULLDOGS IN SOCON ONLY GAMES
• Samford leads the SoCon in first downs (24.8).
• Samford is second in the SoCon in fewest penatly yards per game (40.5).
• Samford is eighth in the league in redzone offense (26-32 - 81.2%).
• Samford is second in the league in passing offense (245.2). 
• Chattanooga is third in the SoCon in total offense (443.0).
• Chattanooga leads the SoCon in passing defense (139.0).
• Chattanooga is second in the SoCon in interceptions (5).
• Chattanooga is last in the league in FG% (7-11 - 63.6) and PATs (15-18 - 83.3%).
• Chattanooga is second in the SoCon in first down defense (19.2).
• Chattanooga leads the league in fewest penalty yards (37.6).
• Chattanooga is second in the league with nine turnovers gained (4 FR, 5 INTs).
 
FORD ON THE NATIONAL RADAR
Freshman RB Ailym Ford has been recognized among the top freshmen in the country six times this season.  Five times he has been on the Honorable Mention list for the STATS FCS National Freshman of the Week, including his 179-yard on 21 carries performance against No. 13 Furman last week.  He was the pick for STATS FCS National Freshman of the Week after posting 200 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries in a 16-13 win over ETSU on Oct. 17. 
 
30 CARRIES THREE STRAIGHT GAMES ... ALMOST FOUR.
Freshman RB Ailym Ford carried the ball 30+ times in each three consecutive games against Western Carolina, Mercer and ETSU.  The only other Moc to handle that much of the rushing load in three straight games was Tyrone Coleman in 1998.  He almost made it four in a row with 29 carries for 136 yards and two TDs at Wofford.  He had 31 carries for 200 yards and two scores against ETSU, 32 carries for 116 yards and a score at Mercer and 195 yards and two scores on 30 attempts against Western Carolina.  Coleman's run included 31 carries for 210 yards at The Citadel on 11/7/98, a school-record 37 carries for 142 yards against ETSU on 11/14/98 and 31 carries for 150 yards and three TDs at Furman on 11/21/98.
 
200 CARRIES AND 1,000 YARDS
Ailym Ford became the ninth in school history to post 200 rushing attempts in a season.  The last to do it was Jacob Huesman and Derrick Craine in 2015.  Huesman had 220 that season, while Craine had a school-record 230.  He is the 13th Moc to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.  Craine was the last to do it in 2016.  So far this season, Ford had 1,072 yards on 203 carries. 
 
FORD LEADS ALL FRESHMEN IN RUSHING YARDS PER GAME
True freshman Ailym Ford is averaging 119.1 yards per game this season, tops among all freshmen at the FCS and FBA level.  He is second in the SoCon and No. 6 overall in the FCS in rushing yards per game.  His 1,072 yards are No. 4 overall in the FCS. 
 
FORD CLOSING IN ON UTC FRESHMAN RECORDS
Ford is second in freshman rushing yards at UTC with 1,072 this season.  He needs 19 to pass Mike Smith's 42-year old record of 1,090 set in 1977.  Ford already holds the school freshman record with nine rushing TDs.  His 203 rushing attempts is second in freshman history at UTC.  He needs 13 more to pass James Roberts' school freshman mark of 215 set in 1989.  Ford has six 100-yard rusing games, tying with Smith for the freshman record.
 
FORD CLOSING IN ON UTC RECORDS
One more 100-yard rushing game for freshman running back Ailym Ford and he ties Eldra Buckley (2006) and Tyrone Coleman (1998) for the Mocs' single-season record of seven.  He is currently in ninth palce on the Mocs' single-season rushing list, but is only 170 yards of Derrick Craine's school record 1,251 set in 2015.  Ford is also ninth in rushing attempts, and 27 short of Craine's school record 230, also set in 2015. 
 
FORD ON THE SOCON FRESHMAN LIST
Freshman running back Ailym Ford's 1,072 yards is the sixth-most by a freshman in SoCon history.  He needs 19 more to pass UTC's Mike Smith (1,090 - 1977) for fifth, 36 to pass Mercer's Alex Lakes (1,107 - 2014) for fifth and 82 to pass Appalachian State's Armanti Edwards (1,153 - 2006) for fourth.  The SoCon freshman record is also the FCS mark, set by Georgia Southern's Adrian Peterson (1,932 - 1998). 
 
EIGHT SACKS ALLOWED IN NINE GAMES
Not only is UTC running the ball effectively, but the Mocs offensive line is also doing an outstanding job of protecting QB Nick Tiano.  Despite allowing six sacks in the last three games, the Mocs have only given up seven all year, ranking second in the SoCon and seventh in the FCS in sacks allowed. 
 
This continues a streak of improvement up front.  UTC's offensive line gave up 17 sacks in 2018, which was third in the SoCon and 33rd in the FCS.  That was much better from 2017 when they were last in the SoCon and 109th in the FCS, allowing over three per game.
 
MOCS IN THE TOP 20 FOR FEWEST PENALTIES
After only being flagged a season-low two times for 20 yards at Wofford and four times for 35 yards against Furman, the Mocs are among the FCS leaders for fewest penalties per game.  UTC is averaging 5.0 per outing, third fewest in the SoCon and No. 18 in the FCS. 
 
BREWER SECOND IN THE SOCON IN PUNTING
Senior Colin Brewer is having an outstanding season punting for the Mocs.  He is currently second the SoCon with a 42.3 average on 27 attempts.  That number would be No. 20 in the FCS if he had the 3.6/game to qualify for the rankings.  He has hit a season-long 56-yarder in two of the last three games.  He has 174 career punts, which is fifth all-time at UTC.
 
HENDERSON SECOND IN THE SOCON IN YARDS PER CATCH
Junior WR Reginald Henderson had a season-high 86 receiving yards on three catches at Wofford.  He also had a season-long 37-yard haul in the fourth quarter.  He is currently second on the team with 18 catches for 339 yards.  His 18.8 yards per catch is second in the SoCon and is No. 30 in the FCS. 
 
NUNNELLY ON THE WALTER PAYTON AWARD WATCH LIST
Junior receiver Bryce Nunnelly is on the 2019 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List. He is also on the preseason All-SoCon first team and a consensus preseason All-American.  He is currently third in the SoCon with 4.7 receptions per game and third with 59.4 receiving yards per game.  Injuries limited his time on the field against Mercer and ETSU, but he still leads the team with 42 catches for 535 yards and four TDs, including 100-yard games against Eastern Illinois and Western Carolina.  He has 5+ catches in 15 of the last 20 games and has caught a pass in 22-straight games.  Over the last two years, he has 14 catches of 40+ yards.
 
NUNNELLY MOVING INTO THE CAREER CHARTS AT UTC
• Eight career 100-yard receiving games is third all-time at UTC ... two shy of the school record set by Joe Burks (1977-80) ... Cos Dematteo (1999-02) is second with nine 100-yard games ... all in the last 18 games.
• 1,861 career yards with 11 TDs and 128 catches
• 10th all-time at UTC in receptions ... needs seven to pass Joel Bradford (2008-11) for ninth.
• Ninth in career receiving yards ... set to pass Rocky Turner (1,864 - 1968-71), Alonzo Nix (1,879 - 2003-04) and Joel Bradford (1,944 - 2008-11) for sixth
• Needs two receiving TDs to break into the top-10 all-time at UTC.
 
TIANO-NUNNELLY CONNECTION AMONG TOPS IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Senior QB Nick Tiano and junior WR Bryce Nunnelly have hooked up for 13 touchdowns over the last two years. It would be 14 if the trick play against South Carolina in 2018 was included where Nunnelly threw a two-yard TD pass to Tiano. Regardless of how it is scored, this is one of the top throw-and-catch tandems in school history.  Six of their 13 touchdown strikes have been for 50+ yards.  Below is where they rank all-time at UTC in touchdowns between a QB and receiver.
1. 22 – Chris Sanders (QB) to Cos DeMatteo (WR) – 1999-00
2. 15 - Jacob Huesman (QB) to Faysal Shafaat (TE) - 2012-14
3. 13 – Nick Tiano (QB) to Bryce Nunnelly (WR) – 2018-19
    13 - Steve Woods (QB) to Joe Burke (WR) - 1979-80
 
TIANO CLIMBING UTC'S RECORD BOOKS
With 25 games at UTC under his belt, senior QB Nick Tiano is climbing the following lists in UTC's record book:
• 11-13 as a starter ... tied for ninth in all-time wins at UTC with Mickey Brokas (1970-73) ... needs three more wins to tie B.J. Coleman (2009-11) for eighth.
• 447-769 (.581) career passing.
• 5,131 career passing yards is seventh all-time at UTC ... needs 739 to pass Mickey Brokas (1970-73) for seventh.
• Sixth in career attempts ... needs 12 to pass Brian Hampton (1996-98) for fifth.
• Fifth in career completions ... needs two to pass Kenyon Earl (1991-94) for fourth.
• Seventh in career completion percentage.
• 29 career TD passes is tied for seventh all-time at UTC with Alejandro Bennifield (2013-16) ... needs seven more to pass Mickey Brokas (1970-73) for sixth.
• 11 200-yard passing games is seventh all-time at UTC ... needs two more to pass Kenyon Earl for sixth.
• 5,707 yards of total offense is seventh all-time at UTC ... needs 293 yards to pass Brian Hampton (1995-98) for sixth.
 
BOECK AMONG LEAGUE LEADERS IN TACKLES
Sophomore LB Ty Boeck was the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week after the 34-17 win at Mercer on Oct. 5.  Boeck collected a team-high 12 tackles. It was his third straight week with double-digit stops. Two of those tackles were for loss while he forced two fumbles recovering one.  He is currently fifth in the SoCon with 77 tackles. 
 
DOWDELL BACK RETURNING PUNTS
Junior DB Brandon Dowdell was No. 6 in the FCS with a 12.6 punt return average on 13 attempts as a freshman in 2017, but only had three attempts for nine yards in 2018.  He did not return any punts on 2018, but returned to the job at Jacksonville State.  He quickly made an impact with returns of 18 and 38 yards.  The second was a career-long and set up the Mocs' second field goal.  He also had a return of 27 yards at Tennessee negated by a penalty. 
 
So far this season, Dowdell is averaging 8.9 yards on seven returns. That would be 28th in the FCS if he had enough to qualify for the ranking.  His 10.2 career average (23 attempts) is the fourth-highest mark in school history.
 
ULMO ON MITCHELL AWARD WATCH LIST
Junior kicker Victor Ulmo is on the Fred Mitchell Award Watch List for the second year in a row.  The Mitchell Award recognizes place-kickers for their excellence on the football field and for continued community service during their off-season. The Mitchell Award goes to the top place-kicker among FCS, NCAA Division II, Division II, NAIA and NJCAA programs.  Ulmo is currently 32-46 (69.6%) for his career.  He is 10-15 on field goals this season with a long of 38 yards.  For his career, Ulmo is 30-36 (83.3%) from inside 40 yards.
 
COOPER PLAYING WITH BROKEN BONES IN BOTH HANDS
Senior LB Marshall Cooper was a second team All-SoCon pick last season and was on the preseason first team heading into 2019. Despite breaking bones in both hands during the season, he is still one of the leaders on defense.  He is currently second on the team and tied for eighth in the SoCon with 69 tackles.  He was named the SoCon Defensive Player of the Week after posting 10 tackles to lead the Mocs to a 24-10 season-opening win over Eastern Illinois on Aug. 29.  It was the third career weekly honor from the SoCon for Cooper, a native of Hixson, Tenn.  Seven of his 10 tackles against the Panthers were solo stops.  He also broke up two passes in the win.
 
JAMES ADJUSTING TO TE ROLE
Senior Chris James converted from quarterback to tight end during preseason camp and has adjusted well to the new position.  He has played in every game and started the last seven in a row.  He is tied for the team lead with four touchdown catches and is third on the team with 134 receiving yards.  He is also tied for team high with 12 receptions. 
 
POSTGAME NOTES VS. NO. 13 FURMAN (11/2/19) - LOST 20-35
• The Chattanooga Mocs dropped a 35-20 Southern Conference game against No. 13 Furman at Finley Stadium. The loss moves the Mocs to 4-5 overall and 3-2 in league action.  The Paladins take over sole possession of first place at 5-1 in the league and 6-3 overall.
• Mocs jumped out to a 9-0 lead
• Mocs forced a fumble on Furman's opening drive and picked off a pass on the Paladins' second drive … UTC had not forced a turnover in the previous two games.
• Nick Tiano lost a fumble in the first quarter … first lost fumble by the offense since Jeffrey Wood at Jacksonville State … those are the only two by the offense this year … other two by UTC were on special teams.
• Furman put up 271 rushing yards … Mocs held them to under their 282 average which was No. 5 in FCS coming into the game.
• UTC was just 4-13 on third down today … 2-3 in the first quarter … 2-10 the rest of the way … the Paladins were 7-15 on third down and 2-2 on fourth down.
• Furman averaged 48.8 yards on four punts … UTC averaged 31.6 yards on five attempts.
• The Mocs won the turnover battles (2/1) for the first time since the Mercer game … UTC is -1 (14/15) on the year.
• Ty Boeck – So.-LB - Game-high 13 tackles ... fourth game with 10+ tackles this season ... recovered a fumble. 
• Marshall Cooper – Sr.-LB - Eight tackles and a fumble recovery ... assisted on a TFL.
• Brandon Dowdell – Jr.-DB - INT in the first quarter is his second of the season … fifth of his career.
• Ailym Ford – Fr.-RB - - 179 yards on 21 carries … 8.5 yards per carry ... 203 carries for 1,072 yards and nine touchdowns ... became the 13th at UTC to rush for 1,000 yards in a season ... passes Jacob Huesman (904 – 2012), Gwain Durden (1,045 – 1977) and James Roberts (1,067 – 1989) for second on the Mocs' freshman rushing list … UTC freshman record is 1,090 by Mike Smith in 1977.
- Ninth-most rushing yards overall in a season at UTC ... sixth-most rushing yards by a freshman in SoCon history ... passed Huesman (195 – 2012) for second in rushing attempts by a UTC freshman ... ninth-most rushes in a season at UTC ... sixth 100-yard rushing game ties the Mocs' freshman record set by Mike Smith in 1977 ... caught two passes in a game for the first time … 16 yards.
• Jay Gibson – Fr.-TE - First career catch in the fourth quarter.
• D.J. Jackson – Jr.-DB - Career-high seven tackles ... first start of the season for injured Jerrell Lawson.
• Chris James – Sr.-TE - Two catches for seven yards and a score ... TD catch was from four yards out in the fourth quarter ... tied for team-high with four receiving yards this season ... also caught the pass on the 2-point conversion in the fourth quarter.
• Kanore McKinnon – Jr.-WR - Season-long 40-yard catch in the second quarter.
• Devonnsha Maxwell – So.-DL - 1.5 sacks ties a career-high for the third time. 
• Bryce Nunnelly – Jr.-WR - Game-high and season-high-tying eight catches for 58 yards.
- Caught a pass in 22-straight games … tied with Ronnie Strickland (1999-00) for sixth longest streak in UTC history ... 42 catches for 535 yards and four scores this season ... 128 catches for 1,861 yards and 11 scores in his career ... passes Larry Stokes (1973-76) for ninth all-time in receiving yards at UTC ... passes Faysal Shafaat (2011-14) for 10th all-time in receptions at UTC.
• Jay Person – Fr.-LB - First career start ... four tackles.
• Nick Tiano – Sr.-QB - 19-30 passing for 164 yards and a TD ... ran seven times for 32 yards and a TD … one eight-yard sack left him with 24 rushing yards ... six rushing TDs this season is a career-high ... 127-233 passing with eights TDs and nine INTs on the year ... 447-769 for 5,131 yards, 29 TDs and 21 INTs in his career ... passes Mickey Brokas (1970-73) for fifth all-time in completions at UTC ... ties Alejandro Bennifield for seventh all-time in passing TDs at UTC ... passes Steve Woods (1978-81) for seventh all-time in passing yards at UTC.
• Victor Ulmo – Jr.-K - 23-yard FG in the first quarter ... 32-yard FG in the second quarter ... 10-15 (66.7%) on the year ... 32-46 (69.6) for his career … passes Jack Teichman (1980-83) for fifth-most makes in a career at UTC.
• C.J. Winston – So.-LB - First career sack.
 
LAST TIME VS. SAMFORD - WON 27-20 AT FINLEY STADIUM - SEPT. 22, 2018
• The Mocs scored a 27-20 win over No. 17 Samford.
• Mocs forced four turnovers in the game (FR & 3 INT) … improved to +7 in the turnover margin for the season … came into the game second in the SoCon and No. 18 in the FCS in turnover margin … leads the SoCon with four fumble recoveries … second in the league with seven INTs.
• Two more red zone stops … Marshall Cooper forced a fumble that was recovered by Hawk Schrider on the Samford 1-yard line in the first quarter … fourth-down stop of the last play of the game … six red zone stops for UTC this season … Mocs only had six all of last year and just five in 2016.  Chattanooga came into today's game leading the SoCon and No. 10 in the FCS in redzone defense at 60% (6/10).
• The Mocs drive that started at 5:40 in the first quarter went 13 plays for 99 yards, capped by an 18-yard pass from Nick Tiano to Tyrell Price.  It took 5:50 to complete.  Longest drive on record … there was a 13-play, 98-yard drive at Western Carolina on Nov. 3, 2012.
• Samford had only given up two sacks and five hurries coming into the game … Schrider got one sack tonight, while the Mocs posted eight hurries … Isaiah Mack led the team with three QBH.
• Samford QB Delvin Hodges was 44-64 for 437 yards, one TD and three INTs … tied a Samford record for completions … most attempts and completions ever against UTC.
• UTC offensive line did not allow a sack for the third game in a row … first time with a streak that long since 2014.
• Mocs ran a season-high 63 plays … had a season-low 5.8 yards per play.
• Marshall Cooper – Jr.-LB - Eight tackles ... first career INT ... also force a fumble on a goal-line stand.
• D.J. Jackson – So.-DB - INT in the first quarter ... second of the season ... tied a career-high with six tackles.
• Jordan Jones – So.-DB - Career-high eight tackles ... also forced a fumble.
• Jerrell Lawson – So.-DB - Tied for game-high with nine tackles ... tied a career-high.
• Isaiah Mack – Sr.-DL - Tied a career-high with three QBHs.
• Bryce Nunnelly – So.-WR - Five catches for 108 yards and a TD ... 55-yard TD catch in the first quarter.
• Kareem Orr – Sr.-DB - Career-high nine tackles ... tied for game-high ... third INT of the season.
• Tyrell Price – Jr.-RB - 23 carries for 45 yards ... six catches and 61 receiving yards.
• Nick Tiano – Jr.-QB - 16-35 passing for 278 yards, two TDs and no INTs ... five-yard TD run in the third quarter
• Victor Ulmo – So.-K - 23-yard FG in the first quarter ... 30-yarder in the fourth quarter.
 
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE NO. 2 in the FCS
UTC's 2019 strength of schedule is ranked No. 2 in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), according to HeroSports.com.  Written by Senior FCS Analyst Sam Herder (@SamHerderFCS), the listing is based on the number of Top 25 opponents in the HERO Sports' Preseason Poll, FBS opponents, games against 2018 playoff teams, non-counter games and the strength of the conference schedule.