SATURDAY'S GAME | TICKETS
 
CHATTANOOGA---The 8th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs and No. 11 Mercer Bears tangle Saturday at Finley Stadium at 1:30 p.m. First place atop the Southern Conference standings is on the line.
 
The Mocs are coming off a 41-13 win over VMI, while the Bears ran away from ETSU by a 55-33 margin. It's a pivotal game in the standings with the winner getting a leg up in what's developing into a 4-team race.
 
The Bears lead at 4-0, a half-game ahead of Chattanooga and Samford at 3-0. Furman is a game back in fourth at 3-1. There's a 3-way tie in fifth at 1-3 between Western Carolina, The Citadel and Wofford. While Finley Stadium sets the scene for the early advantage, the Bulldogs (ETSU) and Paladins (VMI) both hit the road.
 
It's an exciting setup to be sure. It's the first highly rated matchup of this kind since the narrow 41-36 loss as the No. 9 team in the country at No. 1 Sam Houston in the 2016 FCS Playoffs. It's Finley's highest ranked duo since the No. 6 Mocs and No. 7 Jacksonville State Gamecocks went down to the wire in the 2015 season opener.
 
All that said, it's the biggest game on the schedule because it's the next one.
 
"This week's no different than any other week. You've got to go prepare yourself Monday through Friday to give yourself an opportunity to go play well on Saturday, and knock on wood, that's what we've done for the most part. If we continue to do that, we'll be just fine.
 
"We hope to see a good crowd on Saturday to watch these guys. That's the biggest thing. Our guys put in a lot of work to this point to get there."
 
The contest is a "White Out" with all fans encouraged to don as much white clothing as possible. It's also Academic Day with the athletics department celebrating its continued success in the classroom honoring the lengthy list of 3.0 or better student-athletes.
 
Add in Hall of Fame weekend with six new members honored at the game. Read more about the group here with five different sports represented: cross country/track & field, men's golf, softball, women's tennis and wrestling.
 
Coach Wright joins "Voice of the Mocs" Jim Reynolds on Chat with the Mocs tonight at Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux on Broad Street in Chattanooga's Aquarium District. The show airs from 7-8 p.m., on 96.1 FM/1070 AM in the Scenic City area or access it online here if you can't make it.
 
Quarterback Preston Hutchinson joins them as well. The senior from Mason, Ohio is coming off his best game as a Moc throwing for 295 yards while completing 16 of 20 passes (80%) in Saturday's triumph.
 
TICKETS
Home tickets can be purchased at the link above or by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627). Single-game sales start at $15.
 
3 NOTES TO KNOW

• Chattanooga is now No. 8 in AFCA Coaches Poll and 10th in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25.
• 3-0 start for the Mocs in league has happened three times in Coach Rusty Wright's four campaigns. Last time 4-0? 2016 opening with wins at Furman (21-14), Samford (41-21) at ETSU (37-7) and Mercer (52-31).
• Defense allowed just 156 yards total offense on Saturday with -2 on the ground and 158 by air. That's fewest by an opponent this season and lowest since 136 at Wofford last November. It marked the 5th time in last 11 games the Mocs limited opponent to 200 or fewer including 163 at Mercer, 151 to Furman and 200 at Samford. The average total offense over that span? 247.3.

 
MEDIA
TV – ESPN+: Chris Goforth (pbp), Scott McMahen (analysis) & Dave Keylon (sideline)
 
Radio – Mocs Sports Network: 96.1 FM, 100.3 FM & 1070 AM – Jim Reynolds (PxP), Todd Agne (Analysis) & Will Poindexter (Sideline). Also available online at GoMocs.com.
 
Listen Live – Radio broadcast is available for free online at GoMocs.com & on the Varsity Network App
 
2022 WEEKLY HONORS
Week 1
Reuben Lowery III, SoCon Defensive Player of the Week
Reuben Lowery III, TSWA Tennessee Defensive Player of the Week
Ailym Ford, TSWA Tennessee Offensive Player of the Week
 
Week 2
Preston Hutchinson, SoCon Offensive Player of the Week
Preston Hutchinson, TSWA Tennessee Offensive Player of the Week
 
Week 3
Preston Hutchinson, SoCon Offensive Player of the Week
Preston Hutchinson, TSWA Tennessee Offensive Player of the Week
Ty Boeck, TSWA Tennessee Defensive Player of the Week
 
Week 5
Ailym Ford, TSWA Tennessee Offensive Player of the Week
Reuben Lowery III, SoCon September Defensive Player of the Month
Jay Person, TSWA Tennessee Defensive Player of the Week
 
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