CHATTANOOGA---The 23rd-ranked Chattanooga Mocs look to make it a streak this weekend at Furman. The old adage is it takes three to make it a streak with the Mocs two-thirds of the way to a winning streak.
 
The Paladins stand in the way. Paladin Stadium has hardly been hospitable to Southern Conference visitors over the years, so the work is cut out for the boys in blue & gold.
 
Here's your last look at this weekend's matchup.
 
How many questions will there be before an obligatory Sam Phillips one?
Well, guess we start at a high mark. Phillips, a junior wide receiver from Cartersville, Ga., leads the nation in receiving yards per game (118.0). His 590 yards are just 21 shy over the overall lead but that pesky off week gives someone else the top billing for now.
 
Is it just me or was there all this talk about receivers before the season started?
There was and there still is. The junior trio of Phillips (134 rec-1,875 yds), Javin Whatley (105-1,711) and Chris Domercant (97-1,762) have a combined 336 career catches for 5,348 yards and 40 touchdowns. They're as productive as they ever were as a unit ranking tied for 19th in all of DI football with San Jose State per PFF Colleges and No. 1 among FCS programs.
 
What about defense, isn't that what this program is supposed to be built on?
Wow, sounding kind of aggressive this morning. The defense has given up these averages in Southern Conference play thus far:

• Scoring: 10.0 ppg
• Total: 256.0
• Rush: 150.5
• Pass: 105.5

 
Tell us more about these corners…where did they come from?
The Mocs graduated starters Kam Brown (All-American) and Telly Plummer (former communication intern) from last year's group. Junior transfers Taylor Smallwood (Lafayette) and D'Arco Perkins-McAllister (New Mexico) started the first three games. True freshman Beni Mwamba stepped in the last two weeks for an injured Smallwood. He's recorded interceptions in both starts on the final offensive drive ending opposition hopes for a comeback in the process. Mwamba is tied for the league lead in picks in the early going.
 
Have you ever gone this long not talking about a QB?
Still a little snarky in here. Well since you asked, Chase Artopoeus is fourth nationally in yards per completion (15.96) while the team is third (15.92). He has three straight games (a streak) with 250 yards or more passing. That's the longest since B.J. Coleman with four in a row in 2011. The record is seven by the original gunslinger Chris Sanders '00 to conclude his career in 2000.
 
When was the last time a Mocs QB led a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter like at ETSU last weekend?
Don't need a wayback machine for this one. He's on the roster & is one of the all-around best guys you'll ever meet. Backup Luke Schomburg. He and the 2023 offense marched down the field setting up Clayton Crile's 35-yard wall-off winner at Austin Peay last November for the Mocs first road FCS Playoff win.
 
Week 7: (23) Chattanooga (2-3/1-1) at Furman (2-3/1-0)
Game Time: 2 p.m. | Paladin Stadium (16,000) | Greenville, S.C..
Series: 21-33-0 (History) | Media: ESPN+; Mocs Sports Network; Live Stats
Game Notes: GoMocs.com | Captains: Chase Artopoeus, Jay Gibson, Reuben Lowery III, Quay Wiggles, Reid Williams
 
Daily Stories – Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday


Note Dump

• Defensive front recorded multiple sacks in 37 of Wright's 57 games to date. Offensive front allowed one or fewer sacks 38 times over that same span.
• DT Marlon Taylor is currently the lone Moc with 40+ career appearances (41) & 20+ starts (29). While he is likely to move to 40/30 this weekend, he should be joined in 40/20 by DB Reuben Lowery III (39/22) & DT Quay Wiggles (40/19) at Furman with DB Jordan Walker (37/25) coming soon.
• One more Phillips note. He needs 10 receiving yards to join Bryce Nunnelly (768-2018) & Joel Bradford (602-2010) as the only Mocs this century to record 600 or more yards in the first six contests.
• Reggie Davis' 362 yards rushing over the first five games is already four more than he had in eight career appearances before 2024.
• O-line play is why the Mocs offense is 19th nationally in TFLs allowed (4.00).
• TE Jay Gibson has multiple receptions in 10 games and at least one catch in 19 of his 31 appearances.
• Taylor needs 1.5 TFLs for 20 in his career and 2.0 sacks to reach double digits. Pretty impressive numbers for a nose tackle.
• LB Alex Mitchell leads the squad with 39 tackles and 5.0 tackles for loss.
• Eight games in last two seasons with five or more PBUs with a high of nine last year against ETSU (2023). 15 times in the Rusty Wright era. High of seven this came against...ETSU.

 
Tickets on Sale

• 3-game mini-plans | Link
• Single Game | Link
• A voucher for tickets is at each of the five branches of the Chattanooga Public Library.
• There is also a skybox available for rental each game | Link

 
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