2024 Chattanooga Football
Postgame Notes & Records
Nov. 16, 2024 – Samford – Finley Stadium
 
SETTING THE SCENE
- The Chattanooga Mocs dropped a 36-13 decision to Samford on Senior Day in Finley Stadium…Chattanooga is 6-5, 5-3 in the Southern Conference, while the Bulldogs move to 4-6. 3-3 in conference play.
- Chattanooga entered the contest No. 19 in the Stats Perform Top 25 and tied for 25th in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.
- Winning Southern Conference ledger for the sixth straight season (every year under Rusty Wright)…only program in the league over that span to NOT have a losing mark in at least one campaign.
- Six consecutive winning SoCon marks for just the second time in school history...did it nine times to open play in the league from 1977-85.
- 87-90-1 when ranked...50-27 home...72-49-1 when ranked vs. unranked (41-17 home).
- 6-5 when ranked #19: 6-3 at home. 6-4 as #19 vs. unranked opponent (6-3 home).
- 5-3 vs. Samford when ranked (3-2 home). 5-1 when ranked vs unranked Bulldogs (3-1 home).
- 117th season…575-559-35 (.507) all-time record.
- 46th year in the SoCon…175-171-2 (.506) all-time record.
- Game captains: Chase Artopoeus, Reuben Lowery III, Quay Wiggles & Reid Williams…2-2 when winning the toss.
 
COACH RUSTY WRIGHT
- 36-27 in his sixth season…29-15 in SoCon play.
- 3-2 against Samford…0-2 in Finley Stadium.
- 18-10 in SoCon home games.
 
SERIES
All-Time Meetings: 49
Record: 34-12-3 | Home: 22-7-2 | Away: 12-5-0 | Neutral: 0-0-1 | SoCon: 12-4 | Streak -1

• Last 5: 3-2 | Last 10: 8-2 | 20: 15-5

 
TEAM NOTES
- The 13 points scored snapped a streak of five straight games with 31 or more points.
- Held to 177 yards total offense – 29 rushing and 149 passing…fewest since 142 at Illinois on Sept. 22, 2022…fewest against an FCS opponent since 172 against Western Carolina on Sept. 30, 2017.
- 36 points allowed is the second most by an FCS team this season…had allowed 55 points (13.8/game) at home in previous four contests in Finley.
- 465 yards total offense for the Bulldogs is the third-highest total against the Mocs in 2024.
- The Bulldogs 18-yard fake field goal return for touchdown by holder Will Thorley is the first on record against the Mocs.
- -1 turnover margin…entered the game +12 on the season…captured one interception but threw one and gave up a fumble.
- The one turnover gained ties season low: at Tennessee (1 INT/0 FR), at Georgia State (0 INT/1 FR), Mercer (1 INT/0 FR) and at ETSU (1 INT/0 FR).
- Season-high 12 tackles for loss allowed with four sacks tying that mark…entered the game 11th in the nation in TFLs allowed (3.9) and 20th in sacks (1.2).
- Season high 10 tackles for loss for the Mocs…zero sacks.
- Eight pass breakups is a season high…17th time in the Rusty Wright era with five or more in a game.
 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- 99-yard kickoff return for touchdown by Javin Whatley in the second quarter is the first by a Moc in 14 years…the last was a 98 yarder by Brian Sutherland at No. 2 Auburn on Nov. 6, 2010…2nd longest KO return in school history behind 100 yards by Steve Baker vs. Appalachian State on Oct. 8, 1983.
- Whatley had 231 all-purpose yards…second most in his career behind 353 against Western Carolina in 2023…his 201 kickoff returns yards are the second-highest total in school history behind 212 by Michael Gilmore against App State in 2004.
- WR Sam Phillips had eight catches for 66 yards today…career vs. Samford: 30 catches for 327 yards.
- His last catch was No. 150 in his career…tied for fifth all-time at Chattanooga with Alonso Nix (2003-04)…19 shy of Emmanuel Hassell's (2004-06) school record…went from 10th to fifth passing the now seventh-place duo of Bryce Nunnelly (2017-20) and C.J. Board (2013-16) with 146 apiece and Terrell Owens (1992-95) and Jeremy Grier (2001-03) now in ninth at 144.
- Phillips is seventh in career yards with 2,075…he's just behind Whatley's total of 2,077.
- Consecutive games with a reception: Whatley (33) & Phillips (29).
- QB Luke Schomburg was 18 of 35 for 148 yards and an interception…he was sacked four times.
- Career-high 13 tackles for Ale Mitchell…also had an interception and pass breakup.
- Second quarter interception by Mitchell was the second of his career…both have come against Samford…he's the 10th different Moc to record an interception this season.
- DB Reuben Lowery III tied his career high with nine tackles including eight solo stops which are a new high…broke up two passes.
- Three pass breakups for Jeremiah Batiste is a personal best and ties D'Arco Perkins-McAllister (at ETSU) for most by a Moc this season.
- DE Chris Victor had eight tackles and 2.0 TFLs…now has 11.0 TFLs for the campaign.
- Second quarter 49-yard field goal by Jude Kelley is his career long…previous long of 48 yards was done three times but the first came at Samford in 2022.
 
RECORD WATCH
Pass Yards (Career):
1. Jacob Huesman (2012-15): 8,197
8. Steve Woods (1978-81): 5,026
9. Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 4,472
 
Pass TDs (Career):
1. Jacob Huesman (2012-15): 64
6. Nick Tiano (2017-19): 35
tie. Mickey Brokas (1970-73): 35
8. Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 29
tie. Alejandro Bennifield (2014-17): 29
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
 
Total Offense (Career)  
1. Jacob Huesman (2012-15): 12,248
8. Steve Woods (1978-81): 5,228
9. Antonio Miller (2004-07): 4,717
10. Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 4,702
 
Receptions (Career)
1. Emmanuel Hassell (2004-06): 169
2. Cos DeMatteo (1998-2001): 166
3. Stefpon Hawkins (1996-99): 163
4. Blue Cooper (2006-09): 152
5. Sam Phillips (2022-present): 150
tie. Alonzo Nix (2003-04): 150
7. Bryce Nunnelly (2017-20): 146
tie. C.J. Board (2013-16): 146
9. Jeremy Grier (2001-03): 144
tie. Terrell Owens (1992-95): 144
Javin Whatley (2022-present): 134
 
Receiving Yards (Career)
1. Stefpon Hawkins (1996-99): 2,375
2. Terrell Owens (1992-95): 2,320
3. Bryce Nunnelly (2017-20): 2,148
4. Joe Burke (1977-80): 2,145
5. Cos DeMatteo (1998-01): 2,092
6. Javin Whatley (2022-present): 2,077
7. Sam Phillips (2022-present): 2,075
 
CAREER TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS
1. Joe Burke (1977-80): 25
2. Cos DeMatteo (1998-01): 23
3. Terrell Owens (1992-95): 19
4. Faysal Shafaat (2011-14): 18
5. Javin Whatley (2021-present): 17
tie. Derek Hall (1992-95): 17
 
CAREER 100-YARD GAMES
1. Joe Burke (1977-80): 10
2. Bryce Nunnelly (2017-20): 9
tie. Cos DeMatteo (1998-01): 9
4. Alonzo Nix (2003-04): 7
5. Jamoi Mayes (2020-23): 6
tie. Emmanuel Hassell (2004-06): 6
tie. Terrell Owens (1992-95): 6
8. Sam Phillips (2022-present): 5
tie. Javin Whatley (2022-present): 5
tie. Stefpon Hawkins (1996-99): 5
tie. Joel Bradford (2008-11): 5
tie. Richmond Flowers (2000): 5
Chris Domercant (Current): 3
 
SOCON SCOREBOARD
Furman 24, at ETSU 21
at Western Carolina 58, VMI 28
The Citadel 30, at Wofford 17
at Alabama 52, Mercer 7