2024 Chattanooga Football
Postgame Notes & Records
September 14, 2024 – Mercer – Finley Stadium
 
SETTING THE SCENE
- The Chattanooga Mocs fell 10-3 against Mercer Saturday night at Finley Stadium…it was the Southern Conference opener for both teams…Chattanooga is 0-3, 0-1 in the league, while the Bears move to 3-0, 1-0.
- Chattanooga entered the contest ranked No. 14 in the Stats Perform Top 25 & No. 16 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll…Mercer was No. 23 per Stats Perform as well as No. 24 per the AFCA voters.
- The Mocs are end a 7-game stretch where the opposition was 56-22 in 2023: Furman (2x), Alabama, Austin Peay, Tennessee, Georgia State and Mercer (FCS Playoffs 2nd round)…it dates back to the last home game, Nov. 4, 2023.
- 83-87-1 all-time as a ranked team...34-63-1 on the road…4-4 against Mercer when ranked…1-1 when both programs are in the top 25.
- 170-169-2 all-time in SoCon play…1st SoCon matchup was in 1977…won championships in 1977*, 1978*, 1979, 1984, 2013*, 2014, 2015* (*co-champs).
- 78-36-3 in home openers all-time…16-11 in Finley Stadium.
- 24-24 all-time beginning SoCon play…13-12 at home.
- 7-4 when the home opener doubles as first SoCon contest…last time? The trifecta! The 2022 season/home/SoCon opener, a 31-0 win over Wofford on Sept. 3.
- Snaps 10-game winning streak in SoCon openers…last loss was Sept. 28, 2013 at Georgia Southern (21-23) in the Eagles transition season to FBS.
- Game captains: Chase Artopoeus, Reuben Lowery III, Quay Wiggles & Reid Williams…0-2 when losing the toss.
 
COACH RUSTY WRIGHT
- 30-25 in his sixth season…15-9 all-time in Finley Stadium.
- 3-3 vs. Mercer…1-2 home.
- 24-14 vs. SoCon opponents…12-7 at home.
- 5-1 in SoCon openers.
 
SERIES
All-Time Meetings: 35
Record: 22-12-1 | Home: 17-5-1 | Away: 5-7 | SoCon: 5-5 | Streak +2

• Last 5: 2-3 | Last 10: 4-6 | Last 20: 12-7-1
• Series dates back to 1909…Mocs and Bears meat 24 times from 1909-41 before Mercer cut its program with UC holding a 17-6-1 advantage.
• Resumed in 2014 with the Bears move to the SoCon. 

MOST COACHING WINS (1st 6 seasons at UTC)
Russ Huesman (2009-16): 41-29
Joe Morrison (1973-79): 35-27-4
Rusty Wright (2019-present): 30-25
Buddy Nix (1984-92): 29-36-1
Buddy Green (1994-99): 27-43
Scrappy Moore (1931-67): 26-19-6
 
TEAM NOTES
- Three points scored are the fewest for the Mocs in Finley Stadium since three in a 31-3 loss on Sept. 20, 2008 to Jacksonville State.
- 10 points allowed in a loss at home are the fewest since Nov. 8, 1997…the Mocs lost 7-3 to The Citadel.
- 0-12 on third downs...first time shut out on conversions since 0-7 in a 20-14 home loss to The Citadel on Oct. 21, 2017...largest disparity without a first down since 0-16 in 57-2 loss at Oklahoma on August 30, 2008.
- 9-yard difference in total offense with 278 for the Mocs and 287 for the Bears.
- Fewest yards allowed in a loss since 244 in last Nov. 4's loss to Furman (17-14).
- 19 yards on the ground on 20 carries…fewest by the Mocs since seven yards on 17 totes in the 41-17 loss at home to Furman on Oct. 7, 2017....total was skewed by four sacks for 25 yards lost.
- Mercer held a 36:17 to 23:43 advantage in time of possession…most by an opponent since at VMI (36:22) last October (W, 24-23)…most by an opponent in Finley Stadium since 39:42 by The Citadel on Nov. 20, 2021 (L, 21-24)
- 2nd quarter field goal block for Mercer is the first against the Mocs since last November at Austin Peay…last one by an opponent in Finley Stadium was Nov. 12, 2022 by Fred Flavors of Samford.
 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- 330 receiving yards over the first three weeks for Sam Phillips…5th Moc with 300+ yards in first three games since 2000: 546-Bryce Nunnelly (2018), 415-Joel Bradford (2010), 332-Cos DeMatteo (2000) & 303-Jamoi Mayes (2023).
- Phillips had six catches for 81 yards…11th game with five or more catches with all three so far this season.
- 23rd consecutive game with a catch for Phillips…he has one in 25 of 27 appearances for the program, all starts.
- LB Kameron Brown's first quarter interception was the first of his career…it was the second of the season for the linebacker room (Kobe Joseph at Tennessee).
- LB Alex Mitchell recorded 11 tackles with 2.0 for loss and a sack…tied career high for tackles and set a new high for TFLs…second career sack.
- Nine solo stops for Mitchell are also a career high.
- WR Chris Domercant had five receptions for 115 yards…sixth career game with five or more receptions, first at Chattanooga
- Nine tackles for Reuben Lowery IIIt's nine tackles ties his career best…also had nine in the win at The Citadel on Nov. 5, 2021…1.5 TFLs is the third multiple TFL game for the senior captain.
- 25th straight game with a catch for Javin Whatley…ended up with three receptions for 24 yards.
- OL Bryce Goodner made his first start since Nov. 19, 2022 at Western Carolina…he missed the 2023 season and the first two contests this year.
 
RECORD WATCH
Pass Yards (Career):
1) Jacob Huesman (2012-15): 8,197
9) Tim Couch (1984-86): 4,133
10) Antonio Miller (2004-07): 3,832
Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 3,304
 
Pass TDs (Career):
1) Jacob Huesman (2012-15): 64
9) Brian Hampton (1995-98): 28
10) John Green (1955-58): 27
Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 22
 
300-yd Pass Games (Career):
1) Chris Sanders (1999-00): 12
2) B.J. Coleman (2009-11)L 6
3) Chase Artopoeus (2023-present): 3
tie. Preston Hutchinson (2022): 3
 
Receptions (Career)
1. Emmanuel Hassell (2004-06): 169
8. Jeremy Grier (2001-03): 144
tie. Terrell Owens (1992-95): 144
10. Joel Bradford (2008-11): 134
Sam Phillips (2022-present): 123
 
Receiving Yards (Career)
1. Stefpon Hawkins (1996-99): 2,375
9. Alonzo Nix (2003-04): 1,879
10. Rocky Turner (1968-71): 1,864
Sam Phillips (2022-present): 1,615
Javin Whatley (2022-present): 1,506
 
SOCON SCOREBOARD
at The Citadel 54, North Greenville 0
at Furman 48, Stetson 7
at Georgia Tech 59, VMI 7
(2) North Dakota St. 38, at ETSU 35
(13) William & Mary 28, at Wofford 21
Western Carolina 24, at (22) Elon 17
at Samford 12, Alabama State 7