TICKETS (Home)

CHATTANOOGA---The 15th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs are working their way through preparation for this weekend's trip to the Shenandoah Valley. The Mocs face a key Southern Conference test at VMI Saturday afternoon.
 
Chattanooga is in a virtual tie with Furman atop the SoCon standings. The Paladins are 4-0 with the good guys 5-1, a game up in the win column but one down in the loss as well. Western Carolina lurks in third at 3-1 with Mercer right behind at 3-2 and the Keydets in fifth at 2-2.
 
The Mocs are posting impressive offensive numbers while supplementing with a still dangerous defense. The Keydets are a disciplined, dangerous foe. It has all the makings of an interesting SoCon matchup in the final road test Chattanooga faces in the league.
 
Kickoff Saturday is at 1:30 p.m., on ESPN+. It's also available on Mocs Sports Network (radio).
 
Week 9: #15 Chattanooga (6-2/5-1) at VMI (3-4/2-2)
Game Time: 1:30 p.m. | Location: Foster Stadium; Lexington, Va. (Tickets)
Series: 18-9-1 (History) | Media: ESPN+ | Mocs Sports Network | Live Stats
Game Notes: GoMocs.com
 
ICYMI
This week's stories: Monday | Tuesday
 
Coaches
Chattanooga: Rusty Wright (Chattanooga '96) | UTC: 28-19 (5th) | Career: Same | vs. VMI: 1-2
VMI: Danny Rocco (Wake Forest '83) | VMI: 3-4 (1st) | Career: 124-69 (17th) | vs. UTC: 0-0
 
vs. VMI
- The 29 meetings overall are the fewest against current SoCon members. One behind Wofford's 30. 27th SoCon matchups is tied for 5th-most (Wofford).
- First contest was a 31-8 win in Lexington on Nov. 20, 1971. All but the first two matchups have come in SoCon play.
- Won last year's meeting 41-13 after dropping two in a row in the series - 2019 (24-31) & 2021 (34-37 OT) in Lexington. There hasn't been a single-game series streak since the Mocs 1994 triumph at home (49-14).
- Held the Keydets to -2 yards rushing on 27 carries last year. Gained 52 yards but lost 54 on the Mocs 12 tackles for loss including sacks. Tied for 6th-fewest rushing yards allowed (ETSU on Oct. 1, 1988) & fewest allowed since -16 at VMI on Oct. 27, 2018.
 
Openers

• FIRST in the NATION in first downs gained (195/24.38). Record is 266 (24.2) in 2000.
• Best Red Zone team in FCS. The Mocs are 4th in defense (66.7%) and 12th on offense (92.1%). ONLY team ranked in top 13 in both categories.
• Sixth win clinched winning season. 59th in school history and fourth under Coach Rusty Wright. Wright is .500 or better in each of his five seasons, only Mocs head coach to start career .500 or better for five campaigns.
• SoCon leading offense: First Downs (195), Time of Possession (34:04), Yds/Comp (14.07), Red Zone Offense (92.1),
• SoCon leading defense: Scoring Defense (20.8), Sacks (3.00), Turnovers Gained (15), Red Zone Defense (66.7), Fewest First Downs (123), Defensive TDs (2), 3rd down Conv (32.4%),
• SoCon leaders in penalties per game (4.25) & yards per game (36.62). 2nd to VMI in fewest total (34/30) and yards (293/289) in one more game played.
• Chasing Time of Possession school record. Currently 34:04. Record is 34:50 in 1987. Current number ranks 15th nationally.
• Javin Whatley (83.2) and Jamoi Mayes (79.7) are the 18th & 39th-ranked WR in DI (FBS/FCS) on PFF Colleges, respectively.
• Jay Person got his 20th career sack (5th Moc to do it) in the win at Mercer & 50th TFL (3rd) in victory over ETSU. Ben Brewton became the 6th with 20 sacks in win over ETSU.

 
What We're Hearing
"Gino Appleberry is probably the hardest worker on this football team. He's put in the effort for a long time to be a good player and has taken advantage of his opportunities." – Coach Rusty Wright on Gino Appleberry who got the start Saturday with Ailym Ford's season-ending injury
 
"It's good that we're improving every week. It's something our offensive coordinator Coach Joe Pizzo stresses a lot. Every Friday in our team meeting, he stresses on getting better every week. There so much room for improvement especially in finishing drives with touchdowns. We're glad to have Clayton (Crile) here. He has our back, but we really need to put more touchdowns on the board." – Tight End Camden Overton on the offensive rhythm
 
"We're rotated in and out all season. Some of that comes with the other two linebackers Bo (Spearman) and Alex (Mitchell) playing really well. Alex was hurt the last two games, and I got to step up and fill the role. He was the player of the month (Sept.) so it was a big role. We have good depth on this defense. You saw it last week with Jordan Walker out for the first half and Clay Fields stepping up." – Linebacker Kobe Joseph on his starting opportunities the last 2 weeks
 
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Buy officially licensed gear in our online store. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook page or on Twitter. Find out how to join the Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here.