2024 Chattanooga Football
Postgame Notes & Records
Nov. 23, 2024 – at Austin Peay – Fortera Stadium
 
SETTING THE SCENE
- The Chattanooga Mocs captured a 24-17 win at Austin Peay in Fortera Stadium…Chattanooga is 7-5 overall, while the Governors move to 4-8.
- 27th 7-win season in school history. It would be the third straight. That would be just the fifth time for the program with three or more in a row: 7 (1977-83), 4 (2013-16) & 3 (1927-29 & 1940-42).
- Chattanooga entered the contest receiving votes in the Stats Perform Top 25 and AFCA FCS Coaches Poll.
- Rematch from the 2023 FCS Playoffs First Round 364 days ago…Mocs won 24-21 on a 35-yard Clayton Crile wall-off field goal…1st road Playoff win in school history.
- Out of the prospective starters for both teams, 12 from Chattanooga played a year ago...six on offense: QB Luke Schomburg, WRs Sam Phillips & Javin Whatley, OL Dave Monnot III, Almarion Crim & Reid Williams...six on defense: DTs Quay Wiggles & Marlon Taylor, LBs Kobe Joseph & Alex Mitchell, Ss Jordan Walker & Josh Battle...just two are back for Austin Peay – Offense: 1 (C Chandler Kirton) | Defense: 2 (LB Hosea Knifeley, Jr.).
- Mocs opened Fortera Stadium on Sept. 13, 2014 with a 42-6 win.
- 117th season…576-559-35 (.507) all-time record.
- Game captains: Chase Artopoeus, Reuben Lowery III, Quay Wiggles & Reid Williams…4-3 when losing the toss.
 
COACH RUSTY WRIGHT
- 37-27 in his sixth season…8-11 in non-conference play…8-5 vs FCS non-conference.
- 2-1 against Austin Peay…2-0 in Fortera Stadium.
- 4-10 in non-conference road games (4-3 vs FCS opponents).
 
SERIES
All-Time Meetings: 9
Record: 8-1 | Home: 4-1 | Away: 4-0 | Streak +2

• Last 5: 4-1 | Last 10: 8-1 | 20: 8-1

 
TEAM NOTES
- Won nine of last 11 FCS road games.
- Most takeaways (25) in a season since 26 in 2011.
- 288 yards total offense today in an efficient performance…81 on the ground, 207 in the air.
- Ran just 55 plays averaging 4.5 yards per snap…time of possession was 29:11…fewest yards and possession time in a win this season.
- Allowed 314 yards to the Governors…136 of those yards came in the fourth quarter in a frantic comeback effort.
- -1 in turnover margin with one interception gained against two lost…even 7-7 in points off turnovers.
- Defense held Peay to punts on five straight drives from 4:39 of the second quarter to 13:24 of the fourth…42 yards on 20 plays (2.1 yds/play) over that span.
- Season-high five sacks...six total tackles for loss…16 TFLs over the last two games…40th time in 64 games under Wright with multiple sacks.
- One sack allowed which came on a stumble under pressure…44th time under Wright with one or fewer allowed.
- Four pass breakups…secondary (and friends) recorded four or more in seven games during the regular season.
- 4-4 in the red zone with three TDs.
- Limited the Govs to 3-14 on third down.
 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- LB Kobe Joseph had 11 tackles with a sack.
- DB Martez Cooksey, Jr., made his first career start for an injured Reuben Lowery III…career-high 10 tackles including one for loss.
- QB Chase Artopoeus came off the bench for an injured Luke Schomburg to throw for 161 yards and two touchdowns completing 15 of 21 passes with an interception…also ran six times for 17 yards and another score….6th career game with three or more TD involvements.
- Artopoeus became the eighth Mocs QB with 30 or more TD passes with his first attempt hooking up with Javin Whatley…31 for his career now.
- Schomburg was seven of nine for 46 yards in his quarter of action…also had a run for 23 yards prior to going out late in the first quarter.
- WR Chris Domercant tied UTC high for receptions with six for 93 yards…six catches on six targets.
- Domercant now has 2,164 career receiving yards on 121 receptions.
- TE Jay Gibson had a career-high four receptions with 28 yards…13th career game with multiple catches.
- LB Alex Mitchell added nine tackles including a sack, interception, forced fumble and two pass breakups.
- DT E.J. Thomas recorded three tackles with a half-sack and QB hurry on the Govs final play which was a forced pass into the end zone broken up by Josh Battle.
- RB Solomon Locke led the Mocs ground game with 31 yards on 13 carries…career highs on both ends.
- TE John McIntyre caught two balls for 21 yards with his first career TD.
- Whatley had five catches for 28 yards…now has 2,105 yards which passes Cos DeMatteo (1998-01-2,092) into sixth place all-time in the Mocs record book.
- Whatley's TD was No. 18 which is tied for fourth with Faysal Shafaat (2011-14):
- He's in sixth place in yards because Sam Phillips leapfrogged Nunu and DeMatteo into fifth…four catches for 33 yards before leaving with an injury…now has 2,108 yards to go with 154 catches which is fourth bypassing Blue Cooper's (2006-09) 152.
 
RECORD WATCH
Pass Yards (Career):
1. Jacob Huesman (2012-15): 8,197
8. Steve Woods (1978-81): 5,026
9. Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 4,633
 
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): 31
 
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. Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 4,880
 
Receptions (Career)
1. Emmanuel Hassell (2004-06): 169
2. Cos DeMatteo (1998-2001): 166
3. Stefpon Hawkins (1996-99): 163
4. Sam Phillips (2022-present): 154
5. Blue Cooper (2006-09): 152
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): 139
 
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. Sam Phillips (2022-present): 2,108
6. Javin Whatley (2022-present): 2,105
 
CAREER TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS
1. Joe Burke (1977-80): 25
2. Cos DeMatteo (1998-01): 23
3. Terrell Owens (1992-95): 19
4. Javin Whatley (2021-present): 18
tie. Faysal Shafaat (2011-14): 18
 
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
ETSU 16, at VMI 9
at Mercer 49, Furman 23
Western Carolina 47, at Samford 42
The Citadel at Clemson, late
Wofford at South Carolina, late