2024 Chattanooga Football
Postgame Notes & Records
Oct. 5, 2024 – at ETSU – Greene Stadium
 
SETTING THE SCENE
- The Chattanooga Mocs took a hard-fought 17-10 triumph at ETSU Saturday afternoon…Chattanooga is 2-3, 1-1 in the Southern Conference, while the Bucs move to 3-3, 1-1 in conference play.
- Chattanooga entered the contest receiving votes in both the Stats Perform Top 25 AFCA FCS Coaches Poll…ETSU was 23rd in the Stats Perform listing and receiving votes per the coaches.
- The Mocs and Bucs teamed up with donation centers during the week as well as at the stadium to aid in disaster relief efforts in east Tennessee from the effects of Hurricane Helene…on the Mocs end, a student drive started with on and off-campus sites with delivery from a local construction group.
- First ranked win of the season…1-1 against ranked FCS programs…went 2-3 last year.
- 5-1 in the Rail Rivalry started in 2018…2-1 at Greene Stadium…more on the series below.
- 117th season…571-557-35 (.506) all-time record.
- 46th year in the SoCon…171-169-2 (.506) all-time record.
- Game captains: Chase Artopoeus, Reuben Lowery III, Quay Wiggles & Reid Williams…2-2 when losing the toss.
 
COACH RUSTY WRIGHT
- 32-25 in his sixth season…25-13 in SoCon play.
- 5-0 against ETSU…2-0 in Greene Stadium.
- 13-6 in SoCon road games.
 
SERIES
All-Time Meetings: 47
Record: 27-19-1 | Home: 17-8 | Away: 10-11-1 | SoCon: 18-15 | Streak +5

• Last 5: 5-0 | Last 10: 8-2 | Last 20: 10-10
• 5-game series win streak with the longest in school history…it matches the Bucs 5-year run from 1992-96.
• 7-1 vs. ETSU since it re-entered the SoCon in 2016.
• 3-3 vs. ranked ETSU teams…2-1 in Johnson City.

 
TEAM NOTES
- Strong defensive effort allowing just 225 yards of total offense…limited the Bucs to 117 yards rushing and 108 passing…that's 137.2 yards below rushing average and 88 shy of its usual passing output.
- 10 points ties ETSU season low…also had 10 in the season opening loss at App State…24.8 points below season average.
- Offense amassed 397 yards with 281 by air and 116 on the ground.
- 22 first downs…51 over last two weeks…34 in the first three games.
- Dominated the ball with 37:06 time of possession compared to 22:54 for the home team…best since 41:07 in the shootout against Western Carolina almost a year to the day.
- Defense gave up 86 yards in first half (57 rush/29 pass) and 137 after intermission (60 rush/79 pass).
- 211 passing yards allowed in two SoCon games…105.5 yards per games.
- Seven pass breakups…8th time in last two seasons with five or more…15th time in Rusty Wright Era.
- Defense has given up just 20 points in conference games.
- Mocs were 5 of 16 on third down but 2-for-2 on their final drive to take the lead…held Bucs to 4 of 15.
- Held ETSU to a 3-and-out on first drive…third time in five contests opening with an quick drive…first of those three that didn't start with negative yardage with the Bucs netting four yards…four straight games holding opponent to punt in first drive with just Tennessee opening their offensive day with a score.
 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- WR Sam Phillips continues his fantastic start to 2024 with six catches for 110 yards and a touchdown…590 yards on 30 catches for the season…most yards in first five games since Bryce Nunnelly's 721 in 2018…one of four this season 500+ in first five contests.
- Phillips moved into the top 10 in career receptions and yards…134 catches matches Joel Bradford's (2008-11) in 10th…1,875 yards is now 10th as well passing Rocky Turner's (1968-71) 1,864.
- 13th career game with five or more catches for Phillips including all five games in 2024.
- QB Chase Artopoeus overcame a slow start with 281 yards on 17 of 34 passing with a touchdown and an interception…competed nine of his final 11 attempts.
- Artopoeus is 19 yards from 4,000 career yards…his 3,981 is now 10th all-time at Chattanooga passing Antonio Miller (2004-07) who had 3,832.
- Second straight 100-yard effort in a row for Reggie Davis…Davis rushed 24 times for 103 yards and a touchdown.
- WR Javin Whatley had five catches for 95 yards…has 13 catches for 203 yards over the last two weekends.
- Consecutive games with a receptions: Whatley (27) & Phillips (25).
- K/P Jude Kelley's 48-yard first quarter field goal tied his career long set at Samford last September.
- Back-to-back weeks with an interception for Beni Mwamba…true freshman also had back-to-back starts.
- D'Arco Perkins-McAllister had a team-high seven tackles and three pass breakups…also had a tackle for loss…all seven stops were solo.
- Another strong effort for DE Chris Victor…four tackles with a half-sack shared with fellow starting end Joseph Bakhole.
- Three sacks with Marlon Taylor and Kobe Joseph also recording one…multiple sacks in 57 games under Rusty Wright.
 
RECORD WATCH
Pass Yards (Career):
1) Jacob Huesman (2012-15): 8,197
9) Tim Couch (1984-86): 4,133
10) Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 3,981
 
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) Brian Hampton (1995-98): 28
10) Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 27
tie) John Green (1955-58): 27
 
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): 134
tie. Joel Bradford (2008-11): 134
 
Receiving Yards (Career)
1. Stefpon Hawkins (1996-99): 2,375
9. Alonzo Nix (2003-04): 1,879
10) Sam Phillips (2022-present): 1,875
11. Rocky Turner (1968-71): 1,864
Javin Whatley (2022-present): 1,709
 
SOCON SCOREBOARD
Furman 17, at The Citadel 16
at Western Carolina 21, Wofford 17
at Samford 27, VMI 3