2024 Chattanooga Football
Postgame Notes & Records
Oct. 12, 2024 – at Furman – Paladin Stadium
 
SETTING THE SCENE
- The Chattanooga Mocs rolled to a 41-10 triumph at Furman Saturday afternoon…Chattanooga is 3-3, 2-1 in the Southern Conference, while the Paladins move to 2-4, 1-1 in conference play.
- Chattanooga entered the contest No. 23 in the Stats Perform Top 25 and receiving votes AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.
- 84-87-1 when ranked all-time…35-62-1 on the road.
- 69-47-1 when ranked and facing an unranked opponent…31-31-1 on the road.
- 9-3 vs. Furman when the Mocs are ranked (5-2 in Greenville)…6-0 when ranked and Furman is not (3-0 in Greenville).
- The Mocs have two student-athletes who came home to South Carolina this weekend: DT Ky Tayo (Columbia) & WR Josh Williams (Anderson).
- 117th season…572-557-35 (.506) all-time record.
- 46th year in the SoCon…172-169-2 (.504) all-time record.
- Game captains: Chase Artopoeus, Reuben Lowery III, Quay Wiggles & Reid Williams…1-1 when winning the toss.
 
COACH RUSTY WRIGHT
- 33-25 in his sixth season…26-13 in SoCon play.
- 3-4 against Furman…2-2 in Paladin Stadium.
- 14-6 in SoCon road games.
 
SERIES
All-Time Meetings: 55
Record: 22-33 | Home: 9-19 | Away: 13-14 | SoCon: 17-31 | Streak +1

• Last 5: 2-3 | Last 10: 4-6 | Last 20: 9-11
• 3rd meeting in last 344 days dating back to narrow 17-14 loss in Finley Stadium last Nov. 4. Also met in the second round of the FCS Playoffs in December in Greenville.
• Two members of the coaching staff have history at Furman…Head Coach Rusty Wright was an assistant in 2010, while wide receivers coach Ricky Spradling was an assistant from 2013-16 in Greenville.

 
STREAKS
- 3-game winning streak…8th time in Rusty Wright era with a winning streak of three or more games…tied for second-most in school history with Russ Huesman (8 seasons)…Scrappy Moore has the record with 16 over his 35-year Chattanooga career..
- 27th game in a row with a catch by Javin "Nunu" Whatley.
- 26th straight game with a reception for Sam Phillips.
- 4th straight game with a TFL from Alex Mitchell getting a half…5.5 over that span…entered this stretch with 3.5 in his career.
 
MILESTONES
- 4,000 career yards passing for Chase Artopoeus…happened in first quarter on a 10-yard pass to Javin Whatley, their second connection of the early going...10th Moc to reach the milestone...2nd fastest to do it (17 games) behind Chris Sanders '00 (13).
 
TEAM NOTES
- 31-point win ties the largest margin of victory in the series by the Mocs...previous high was +31 done on Sept. 22, 1979 in Greenville (45-14).
- 41 is the highest point total in the series for the Mocs since the 45-19 win in 2014 in Greenville.
- Four interceptions...most interceptions since four in the 41-21 win over Mercer on Oct. 22, 2022.
- Five takeaways with a fumble recovery…last time with five or more takeaways was six in the 2022 Mercer win.
- Balanced attack with 443 yards averaging 6.2 yards per play...ran 72 plays to just 52 for Furman …had 244 in the air and 199 on the ground.
- 22 first downs today…73 over the 3-game win streak.
- Dominated time of possession with 37:19 to Paladins 22:41. .converted 9 of 16 third downs while limiting Furman to 3 of 11…36:43 time of possession in the three wins.
- Allowed 12 first downs to Furman…ties ETSU with fewest by an opponent this season.
- 233 yards total offense allowed with 130 rushing and 103 passing…defense is allowing 10.0 points and 248.3 yards per game offense – 143.7 rushing and 104.7 passing – in SoCon play.
- Offensive line did not allow a sack and there was just one play resulting in a loss (-3) rush…line entered the game 19th nationally in TFLs allowed (4.00).
- Fifth straight game not allowing a score on opening drive…fourth time limiting the opponent to three plays although this one ended with Josh Battle's interception.
 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- DE Chris Victor had four tackles, all for loss…included one sack…most TFLs since Jay Person's four in last October's win at Mercer.
- WR Javin Whatley had his best game of the season with 10 receptions for 168 yards and a touchdown…now has 115 career catches for 1,877 yards and 16 TDs.
- Whatley is now tied for 6th all-time in the Mocs history books in career TD receptions with Xavier Borishade (2013-16).
- QB Chase Artopoeus was an efficient 17 of 25 for 232 yards and a touchdown…also ran in for a score (1 yard)…career numbers: 286-469-12 for 4,213 and 28 TDs.
- Artopoeus is now ninth in career passing yards moving by Tim Couch (1984-86) who had 4,133…also passed Couch in total offense into 10th (4,325).
- Artopoeus is tied in ninth with Brian Hampton (1995-98) with 28 TD passes.
- RB Reggie Davis led a potent rush attack with 93 yards on 22 carries…had a touchdown (2 yds).
- RB Justus Durant also had a score (14 yds) posting new Moc high of 52 yards on eight carries.
- RB Solomon Locke saw his first career action…ran three times for 21 yards including a 16-yarder in the fourth quarter.
- LB Alex Mitchell once again led the team in tackles with nine…48 now on the season.
- DE Marquise Freeman had a 47-yard pick six in third quarter…1st pick 6 by a defensive lineman since Toyvian Brand's 44-yarder at Presbyterian on Sept. 26, 2015.,,,1st career interception.
- Second career interception for Josh Battle…first in SoCon play.
- First career interceptions by Jeremiah Batiste and D'Arco Perkins-McAllister.
- Three catches for 39 yards for Sam Phillips…played just the first half…one of three Mocs with 600+ yards in first six games this century: 768-Bryce Nunnelly (2018), 629-Phillips & 602-Joel Bradford (2010).
- K/P Jude Kelley recorded 11 points with five PATs and 2-2 performance on field goals…tied for second-most points in a game in his career with 2023 effort at Samford…high of 12 was the week prior against The Citadel.
- Secondary has six interceptions over 3-game win streak: Beni Mwamba (2), Reuben Lowery III (1), Battle (1), Perkins-McAllister (1) and Batiste (1).
 
RECORD WATCH
Pass Yards (Career):
1. Jacob Huesman (2012-15): 8,197
9. Tim Couch (1984-86): 4,133
10. Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 4,213
 
Pass TDs (Career):
1. Jacob Huesman (2012-15): 64
6. Nick Tiano (2017-19): 35
tie. Mickey Brokas (1970-73): 35
8. Alejandro Bennifield (2014-17): 29
9. Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 28
tie. Brian Hampton (1995-98): 28
 
300-yd Pass Games (Career):
1. Chris Sanders (1999-00): 12
2. B.J. Coleman (2009-11): 6
3. Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 4
 
Receptions (Career)
1. Emmanuel Hassell (2004-06): 169
8. Jeremy Grier (2001-03): 144
tie. Terrell Owens (1992-95): 144
10. Sam Phillips (2022-present): 137
tie. Joel Bradford (2008-11): 134
 
Receiving Yards (Career)
1. Stefpon Hawkins (1996-99): 2,375
8. Joel Bradford (2008-11): 1,944
9. Sam Phillips (2022-present): 1,914
10. Alonzo Nix (2003-04): 1,879
11. Rocky Turner (1968-71): 1,864
Javin Whatley (2022-present): 1,709
 
SOCON SCOREBOARD
at Wofford 31, VMI 16
at Western Carolina 30, The Citadel 16
Samford at ETSU, 3:30 p.m
Princeton at Mercer, 3:30 p.m