2022 Chattanooga Mocs Football
at Western Carolina – Nov. 19 – Whitmire Stadium
Postgame Notes
 
GENERAL
- The 15th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs lost a 32-29 nailbiter at Western Carolina in Whitmire Stadium Saturday afternoon…Mocs are 7-4 overall, 5-3 in the SoCon…the Catamounts move to 6-5, 4-4 in league play.
- Entered the game ranked No. 15 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and No. 17 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Rankings.
- 5-3 in the SoCon standings…finish tied for third with Mercer behind Samford (8-0) and Furman (7-1).
- 5 wins in SoCon play for the 16th time (46 seasons)…nine of those came this century with three under Coach Rusty Wright in his three full seasons (2019, 2021, 2022).
- All-time record of 561-549-35 (.505) in 1,145th game…115th season.
- 164-166-2 (.497) in 332 SoCon games…46th campaign in the league.
- First trip to Cullowhee since 26-6 win on Oct. 13, 2018.
- Loss snapped a 6-game win streak in Cullowhee.11-2 in last 13 meetings.
 
SERIES
All-Time Meetings: 48
Overall Record: 30-18 | Home: 16-7 | Away: 14-11-0
SoCon Meetings: 27-17 | Home: 15-7 | Away: 12-10
Streak: -1 | Last 5: 3-2 | Last 10: 8-2
 
COACH
Rusty Wright (Chattanooga '96)

• Record: 22-17 | Home: 12-6 | Away: 10-11
• SoCon: 18-10 | Home: 10-4 | Away: 8-6
• Western Carolina: 2-1 | Home: 2-0 | Away: 0-1

 
TEAM
- Rusty Wright is the first head coach since Brother Bill Oliver to have .500 or better seasons in his first four years: 2019 (6-6), 2020-21 (3-2), 2021 (6-5) & 2022 (7-4); 22-17. Rusty, Brother, CFB Hall of Famer Frank Thomas (1925-28) & Leslie Stauffer (1910-13) are the only ones to accomplish that in school history.
- 25th season with seven or more triumphs and first since 2016 (9-4). There are four since 1997 all coming 2013-16. Rusty Wright was an assistant coach for all four.
- Western scored 11 of their 32 points in the fourth quarter today…Mocs allowed just 28 points all season in the final period.
- Season-high 29 first downs…allowed only 13, third fewest on the season…six of those came in the final quarter for the Cats.
- Most first downs for the Mocs since 30 in a 35-27 win at Samford on Nov. 9, 2019.
- 316 yards total offense for Western is the second lowest number of 2022 overall and worst at home (249 at Mercer)…196 of the 316 came over the final 20+ minutes.
- Mocs ran a season-high 92 plays…most since 102 in the comeback win at Furman on Oct. 23, 2010…sixth most plays run by a Mocs offense in a game.
- 446 yards total offense with 123 on the ground and 323 by air…six times with 440+…323 is the highest passing total.
- Season-high five pass breakups…most since six in the home win over Western Carolina on Oct. 2, 2021…four or more in four games this season.
 
INDIVIDUAL
- Senior DT Devonnsha Maxwell set the program and conference record for career sacks with his first coming in the second quarter…got him to 37.5, 0.5 ahead of former Moc Davis Tull '14.
- Maxwell ended with 2.0 TFLs including his second quarter sack…55.5 career is second all-time, 4.5 behind Tull's 60.0.
- Redshirt freshman wide receiver Sam Phillips caught nine passes for 106 yards…has 20 catches for 269 yards over last two games.
- Phillips set the freshman record for season receptions with his second of the first quarter…passed the 36 first set by Darryl Streeter in 1984 and matched in 2001 by Jeremy Grier…Phillips now has 44 receptions for 661 yards
- Phillips' back-to-back 100-yards efforts are the first by a Mocs receiver since Bryce Nunnelly opened the 2018 campaign with four in a row.
- Junior defensive back Kameron Brown made his SoCon-leading sixth interception of the season…tied for sixth for most in a season seven others with the most recent being Lucas Webb in 2014…record of eight was first recorded by Phillip Aldridge in 1985 and matched two seasons later by Reggie Solomon.
- RB Ailym Ford had 102 yards on 29 carries…1,199 yards on the season is a career high as is 12 rushing touchdowns…53 yards shy of Derrick Craine's season mark of 1,252 in 2015.
- 18th career 100-yard day adds to his school record..sixth straight is a new school record for consecutive 100-yard performances…tied the season mark with his seventh (Tyrone Coleman/Eldra Buckley).
- 15 of the 18 have come against SoCon opponents including two against the Cats.
- QB Preston Hutchinson threw for a season-high 323 yards completing 29 of 48 with four touchdowns and one interception…last quarterback to throw four TD passes in a game? St. Louis (XFL) QB Nick Tiano '19 at VMI on Sept. 23, 2017.
- Four TD passes went to four different receivers – Javin Whatley (18), KeShawn Toney (3), Jamoi Mayes (15) & Camden Overton (26).
- 11 tackles for LB Ty Boeck with six solo and five assists…entered today leading the SoCon and was 22nd nationally averaging 5.2 solo stops per game.
- Boeck also had 2.0 TFLs and a sack which resulted in a safety…last safety for the Mocs? Jerrell Lawson sack at … Western Carolina on Oct. 13, 2018.
 
SOCON SCOREBOARD
The Citadel 26, at VMI 22
at Furman 63, Wofford 28
at Mississippi State 56, ETSU 7
at Samford 50, Mercer 44 (2OT)