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CHATTANOOGA---The 11th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs are in action this Saturday in another FBS matchup. The Mocs make the short trip south to Georgia State in Atlanta for a 7 p.m., kickoff at Center Parc Stadium (formerly Turner Field).
The squad looks to bounce back from a tough start at Tennessee, while the Panthers are also coming off a loss, 35-12 at Georgia Tech. For 14 Mocs, it's Homecoming Week.
"It's always a great feeling to play in front of people who have watched you for your entire life and are bought into you," defensive back
Reuben Lowery III commented. "You know, they've just been there for you through the ups and downs. It's always a great feeling playing in your home city, playing in your hometown.
"You want to play well there because that's where your football dreams, your sports dreams, started. So, it's an exhilarating feeling for our squad because we have a lot of people who are from Georgia, from the Atlanta area, so we're excited, but we're just excited to come back and play another game this week."
The list includes LB
Kameron Brown (Sugar Hill), DE
Jaden Gaines (Alpharetta), DT
Montrell Henderson (Riverdale), RB
Lance Jackson (Norcross), RB
Malachi Jeffries (Cartersville), K
Jude Kelley (Acworth), K
Gray Kelley (Acworth), DB
Reuben Lowery III (Powder Springs), OL
Nick Paul (Decatur), WR
Sam Phillips (Cartersville), LB
Zion Rutledge (Powder Springs), DB
Taylor Smallwood (Lawrenceville), WR
Zaire Thornton (Atlanta) & DT
Quay Wiggles (Atlanta).
Wiggles will get his chance to discuss this trip further this evening on the Chat with the Mocs Radio Show at Miller's Ale House at Northgate. Coach
Rusty Wright begins the show with "Voice of the Mocs" Jim Reynolds before Wiggles anchors the second half of the show.
The Atlanta native prepped at Mays High School. That's just over eight miles away from Center Parc Stadium. Wiggles is in his fifth year in the program and is one of two returning starters at defensive tackle (
Marlon Taylor).
The 1-hour show can be heard on the Mocs Flagship station, WFLI, at 96.1 and 100.3 FM as well as 1070 AM. It can be heard online
via GoMocs.com here.
Lowery and Phillips are joining Wright at the weekly press conference on Tuesday. The game's preview story drops Wednesday with a special look at offensive lineman
Tyrell Ragland's journey to health and competition on Thursday. Friday's FAQs close out the week of prep for gameday.
Notes
- First time facing two FBS/I-A squads to open a season since 1988 with the second game also played in Atlanta: at Tulane (19-33) & at Georgia Tech (10-24). Last time facing two in one season? 2014: at Central Michigan (16-20) & at Tennessee (10-45).
- Last time defeating an FBS team? Sept. 7, 2013 at Georgia State (42-14) in the Panthers first season as an FBS program. Last time defeating an FBS school eligible for the postseason? Sept. 1, 1984, a 9-7 triumph over Louisiana on Chamberlain Field. Last one won on the road? Sept. 17, 1983 in Lafayette, La., a 38-14 win again over the Ragin' Cajuns.
- Last time beating a FBS Bowl winner from the previous season? 1958's 14-6 win at Tennessee. The Vols won the 1957 Gator Bowl 3-0 over Texas A&M on 3-run double by Bobby Gordon in the sixth inning. Ish.
Tickets on Sale
Season Tickets are the best option for Mocs fans. Prices start at $60 for general admission. Mocs Club members have the option for reserved seats beginning at the $250 donation level which includes a season parking pass to go with the season ticket. Other choices:
SoCon Favorites
The Mocs claimed five first-place votes for a total of 61 points in a preseason poll of Southern Conference head coaches. A maximum of 80 was available as the Mocs were either one or two on every ballot. Furman was second including three top votes with Western Carolina in third with the other. Mercer was next followed by Samford, ETSU, VMI, Wofford and The Citadel. Ten student-athletes made the preseason all-league squad with four on the first team: DT
Marlon Taylor (Preseason DPOTY), OL
Reid Williams, DB
Jordan Walker and WR
Javin Whatley.
Preseason All-America Teams
Stats Perform: DT
Marlon Taylor (2nd), WR
Javin Whatley (2nd)
FCS Football Central: DT
Marlon Taylor (1st), WR
Javin Whatley (1st), OL
Reid Williams (2nd)
Phil Steele: DT
Marlon Taylor (1st), WR
Javin Whatley (2nd), OL
Reid Williams (2nd)
Watch Lists
Walter Payton Award: QB
Chase Artopoeus, WR
Javin Whatley
Senior Bowl: DT
Marlon Taylor, DB
Reuben Lowery III
Shrine Bowl 1000: DT
Marlon Taylor, WR
Javin Whatley
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