2024 Chattanooga Football
Postgame Notes & Records
September 7, 2024 – at Georgia State – Center Parc Stadium
 
SETTING THE SCENE
- The Chattanooga Mocs dropped a 24-21 decision at Georgia State Saturday night at Center Parc Stadium…Chattanooga is 0-2, while the Panthers improve to 1-1.
- Chattanooga entered the contest ranked No. 10 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and No. 11 per Stats Perform.
- 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).
- The Mocs are nearing the end of 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).
- One of two Georgia schools on the schedule this year coming in back-to-back games…Mercer heads to the Scenic City for the Daily Double: Home and Southern Conference opener.
- 83-86-1 all-time as a ranked team...34-62-1 on the road.
- Game captains: Chase Artopoeus, Reuben Lowery III, Quay Wiggles & Reid Williams…0-1 when losing the toss.
 
COACH RUSTY WRIGHT
- 30-24 in his sixth season…15-16 all-time on the road.
- 0-1 vs. Georgia State…0-1 on the road.
- 0-1 vs. Sun Belt opponents.
- Wright was an assistant to Shawn Elliott in 2017 and 2018 at GSU.
 
SERIES
- 1-1 vs. Georgia State…1-1 in Atlanta…first meeting was exactly 11 years ago on Sept. 7, 2013.
- That contest was played in the Georgia Dome…Mocs scored the first 42 points in a 42-14 triumph.
- 1-1 in games against the Sun Belt Conference (membership at the time of kickoff)…all at Georgia State…Chattanooga has a long history with SBC members Appalachian State, Georgia Southern and Marshall but all in SoCon play.
 
TEAM NOTES
- The early 7-3 lead was the first against an FBS program since going up 16-14 with 13:27 left in the fourth quarter at Kentucky on Sept. 18, 2021.
- Seven lead changes as the two teams traded the lead throughout after the opening kickoff.
- -2 turnover margin with three for UTC and one by Georgia State…Mocs threw two interceptions and had a fumble lost…recovered a Panthers fumble…despite the turnover deficit, UTC had a 7-3 advantage in points off turnovers.
- 98-yard scoring drive in fourth quarter was longest since September 22, 2018 against Samford...Mocs went 99 yards in 13 plays (5:50 time of possession) resulting in an 18-yard TD pass from Nick Tiano to Tyrell Price...this was four plays to go 98 yards in 2:36.
- Six pass breakups on the evening – Jordan Walker (2), Taylor Smallwood, Josh Battle, Kobe Joseph & Jamarr Jones…sixth time in the last two seasons with five or more with a high of nine in the runaway win over ETSU last year…13th time in the Rusty Wright era.
- Eight penalties for 50 yards compared to GSU's 5-45…17 penalties on the season for 115 yards.
- 3 of 11 on third down conversions (27.3%) but converted lone fourth down (1yd TD pass to Dalton Restelli)…allowed 7 of 16 to the Panthers (43.8%) on third down.
- Scored on both red zone chances while the Panthers went 2-3.
- 307 yards total offense for the Mocs with 232 in the air and 76 on the ground...averaged 6.0 yards per play but ran only 51.
- GSU accumulated 391 yards of offense but ran 22 more plays (73)...threw for 238 and ran for 153.
 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Sam Phillips 84-yard TD reception is the longest scoring play since Ailym Ford's 86-yard run against Wofford on Sept. 3, 2022...longest pass play since the 89-yard TD from Nick Tiano to Bryce Nunnelly in the win over Tennessee Tech 0n Aug. 30, 2018.
- Phillips' score is tied for the 9th longest reception in school history with Mike Smith vs. The Citadel on Oct. 29, 1977.
- Career-high 195 yards on eight catches for Phillips…averaged 24.4 yards per catch…101 of those yards came after the catch…that 101 YAC was more than any other receiver had total tonight.
- 10th time with five or more catches in a game during Phillips' career…caught eight of nine targets to him in the contest.
- Career-best 210 all-purpose yards adding a 15-yard punt return.
- Redshirt freshman Dalton Restelli's first quarter 1-yard touchdown reception was the first catch of his career as well as first TD.
- Third quarter strip sack by senior defensive tackle E.J. Thomas was his first solo sack…had a half-sack in 2023…freshman Leroy Harris III scooped it up and returned it to the GSU 10…Reggie Davis scored three plays later.
- Davis' score was the first rushing TD of the season for the Mocs…registered 19 carries for 68 yards and one score.
- Ten tackles for Alex Mitchell…one off his career high of 11 at North Alabama and at Wofford last year…fourth double-digit tackle game with three coming on the road.
- QB Chase Artopoeus was 13-23 for 232 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions...1st pass completion was the 200th of his career (212)...topped 3,000 career passing yards (3,045) & total offense (3,184).
- Career long 62-yard punt in the first half for Heath Jehu…averaging 44.6 yard per kick (8-357) in the early going of the season.
- Jehu and Jude Kelley combined for a 47.7 yard average tonight – Jehu-51.7 & Kelley-43.7.
 
PHILLIPS NIGHT
Phillips' 195 receiving yards are the most in a single game by an FCS player this season (heading into today). He ranks fifth compared to ALL Division I players for single game receiving this season (heading into today):
 

1. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona - 304
2. Damon Ward Jr., North Texas - 230
3. Jimmy Horn Jr., Colorado - 198
4. Jamaal Pritchett, South Alabama - 197
5. Sam Phillips, Chattanooga - 195

 
SOCON SCOREBOARD
S.C. State 23, at The Citadel 20
Campbell 24, at Western Carolina 16
Bucknell 35, at VMI 28
Mercer 31, at Bethune-Cookman 2
Wofford 26, at Richmond 19
at ETSU 61, UVA Wise 0
Charleston Southern 24, at Furman 20
at Florida 45, Samford 7