GAME WEEK PRIMER | TICKETS
 
CHATTANOOGA---The 19th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs have a big week ahead. The Mocs lead the Southern Conference at 5-1 with No. 11 ETSU and this week's opponent, Mercer. The game is Saturday afternoon in Macon, a place where they've won just four times and only once since the Bears joined the SoCon in 2014.

Mercer's offense poses a big threat ranking second in the league in scoring (34.0 ppg) and rushing yards per game (234.4). That rushing attack is seventh nationally with the unit ranking in the top 15 in scoring. Defensively, they are No. 1 against the pass (169.8 ypg) in the league and ninth in the country.
 
The Mocs strengths portend a mano a mano matchup. The defense is the conference leader in scoring (17.1), rushing (105.7) and total defense (314.0), while ranking second (170.4) to Mercer by less than a yard by air. The offense is averaging 33.4 points per game on the road this season. That groups has been consistent churning 214 yards per road game on the ground, but also seeing it's most efficient passing games.
 
Cole Copeland and Drayton Arnold completed 75.7 percent of their throws in the last two road wins at Samford and Wofford. They combined for 28 or 37 with three touchdowns and 499 yards in the two game with Copeland going 25 of 34 for 461 yards and three scores.
 
Coach Rusty Wright opened today's press conference. He was joined by running back Ailym Ford and safety Brandon Dowdell. Game time is 3 p.m., Saturday on ESPN+.  
3 NOTES TO KNOW

• Mocs are on a 4-game win streak. Since giving up 37 points in the OT loss at VMI, the Mocs have yielded only 42 (16-ETSU, 13-at Samford, 3-Furman & 10-at Wofford) during the win streak. The defense has allowed just 35 of those scores (8.8/game). Mercer has won its last two and five of the last six. It's 3-1 in Five Star Stadium in 2021.
• Ailym Ford is 66 yards away from 1,000 for the season. It would be the 14th time in school history and second by the Florence, S.C., native. He'd join Derrick Craine (2015, 2016), Jacob Huesman (2014, 2015) & Eldra Buckley (2005, 2006) with more than one. He's 317 yards shy of Craine's record of 1,251 in 2015 which was just seven more than Huesman that year.
• Brandon Dowdell and Jerrell Lawson lead the SoCon and are tied for fifth in interceptions this season with five. Dowdell is the 13th Moc to reach double digits INTs for his career. Currently tied for sixth with 11: Lucas Webb '17 (13), Phillip Aldridge '85 (13), Bucky Wolford '68 (13), Mike Lowman '88 (12), Stan Eller '76 (12), Kadeem Wise '13 (11) & David McCrary '85 (11).

 
TICKETS
Mercer tickets can be found here or on the GoMocs.com football schedule page. Home tickets are available by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627) or online here at GoMocs.com. Fans also can go through the GoMocs app available on Android and Apple IOS devices in their respective app stores.
 
MEDIA
TV - ESPN+: Frank Malloy (PxP), Jason Patterson (Analyst) & Kristin Banks (Sideline)
 
Radio - WFLI 97.7 FM/1070 AM: Jim Reynolds (PxP), Todd Agne (Analysis) & Will Poindexter (Sideline)
 
Listen Live - Radio broadcast is available for free online at GoMocs.com & on the Varsity Network App
 
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