STATS | BRACKET

CHATTANOOGA---The 18th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs return to the FCS Playoffs in Clarksville, Tenn., against No. 13 Austin Peay. It's the first postseason matchup between the two programs.
 
While they are in-state "rivals", there are only seven meetings in the record books. The next was set for the end of 2024 but why wait?
 
"It's a huge challenge in front of us with a very good Austin Peay team," Coach Rusty Wright noted. "They've won nine games in a row to get here. They have talent all over on offense and defense, and it will all we want up there Saturday.
 
"Our guys are excited and looking forward to the opportunity. It's huge thing for our program to have an opportunity to keep playing at this time of year."
 
This is one of three between top 20 teams in the first round. The others are #15 Sacramento State at #12 North Dakota and No. 20 Lafayette at No. 11 Delaware. All the signs are there for quite a battle at Fortera Stadium.
 
Kickoff is at 3 p.m., Eastern time, on ESPN+. It also airs on Mocs Sports Network (radio).
 
Week 13: #18 Chattanooga (7-4) at #13 Austin Peay (9-2)
Game Time: 3 p.m. (ET) | Location: Fortera Stadium; Clarksville, Tenn.
Series: 6-1 (History) | Media: ESPN+ | Mocs Sports Network | Live Stats
Game Notes: UTC Media Center 
 
ICYMI
The week's stories leading into Gameday Saturday: Sunday | Tuesday | Wednesday
 
COACHES
Chattanooga: Rusty Wright (UTC '96) | UTC: 29-21 (5th) | Career: Same | vs. AP: 0-1
Austin Peay: Scotty Walden (Sul Ross St. '12) | AP: 26-13 (4th) | Career: 34-19 (5th) | vs. UTC: 1-0
 
MEDIA
TV: ESPN+ - Dan Gutowsky (PxP) & Patrick Murray (Analysis)
 
Radio: 96.1 FM, 100.3 FM & 1070 AM - Jim Reynolds (PxP), Todd Agne (Analysis) & Will Poindexter (Sideline). Also available online at GoMocs.com.
 
App: Go Mocs & Varsity Network
 
SERIES
Game: 8th | Record: 6-1 | H: 4-1 | A: 2-0 | Last 5: 4-1 | Streak: -1
 
VS. AUSTIN PEAY
- 1st meeting was Oct. 10, 1958. Last was Sept. 2, 2021.
- The Mocs won the first six meetings before losing the 2021 season opener 30-20.
- First Govs opponent in Fortera Stadium? Chattanooga on Sept. 13, 2014, a 42-6 Mocs win.
- Austin Peay is tied for 2nd-longest win streak in FCS (9 games) with Florida A&M behind defending national champion South Dakota State (25).
- Former Mocs assistant coach Will Healy (2009-15) also served as Austin Peay's head coach (2016-18).
- Current Mocs OL JD Broussard and WR Brody Swafford started their careers at Austin Peay.
 
QUOTABLE
"Just knowing with the work you've put in and give yourself the opportunity to keep playing, it's special. There are just 24 teams out of what, 133? That's special. I joked the other day we've been bowl eligible for about a month now. But it doesn't work like that at our level. Now we have the opportunity to go fight for something that is tangible and real. It's why we do it at our level." – Coach Rusty Wright
 
"We're not just happy to be in the playoffs. We're happy to keep showing who we are and getting the opportunity to keep playing. We've been in a playoff game since Western Carolina essentially." – Offensive Tackle Griffin McDowell
 
"We understand the challenge ahead. They have talented players, so we have to match up with them especially upfront." – Edge Jay Person
 
NOTES TO KNOW…

• 2-1 all-time in first round playoff games, 0-1 on the road (1984).
• 167th ranked game week (84-81-1), 29th under Wright (16-12). Huesman has the most ranked weeks (52) as a head coach ahead of Moore (44). Neither came close to Wright's 29 in first five seasons. Other coaches: Buddy Nix (19), Harold Wilkes (9), Bill Oliver (8), Tom Arth (4) & Buddy Green (2).
• O-Line (89.0) is graded by PFF College as 3rd-best pass blocking unit in DI right behind Oregon & ahead of Howard. Gave up zero sacks & just 2.0 TFLs at Alabama.
• RB Gino Appleberry's 104 yards on 22 carries with a TD at Alabama was the 2nd straight SEC opponent the Mocs have produced a 100-yard rusher against. Ailym Ford ran for 128 at Kentucky in 2021.
• Since 2009, the Mocs won the league's DPOTY Award nine times, all along the defensive line: 2009: Josh Beard; 2012: Davis Tull; 2013: Davis Tull; 2014: Davis Tull; 2016: Keionta Davis; 2018: Isaiah Mack; 2021: Devonnsha Maxwell, 2022: Jay Person & 2023: Person.
• P/K Clayton Crile handled all the kicking duties the last seven weeks with 14-18 on FGs scoring 59 points & averaging 44.9 yards per punt on 33 attempts with 10 downed inside the 20.

 
PLAYOFF HISTORY
Record: 3-4 | Years Seeded: 2014 (8)
 
Year-by-Year Results
Date: Round | (Opp Rank) Opponent (UTC Rank) | Result
11/24/1984: 1st | (10) @Arkansas State (17) | L, 10-37
12/6/2014: 2nd | (21) Indiana State (8) | W, 35-14
12/11/2014: Quarters | (1) @New Hampshire (8) | L, 30-35
11/28/2015: 1st | (14) Fordham (7) | W, 50-20
12/5/2015: 2nd | (1) @Jacksonville State (7) | L, 35-41 (ot)
11/26/2016: 1st | (23) Weber State (9) | W, 45-14
12/3/2016: 2nd | (1) @Sam Houston (9) | L, 36-41
 
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