First Look
It's time to start the second half of the season. Six games down, six to go for the Chattanooga Mocs as they host the ETSU Bucs Saturday afternoon at Finley Stadium.
 
Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m., on ESPN+.
 
Week 8: ETSU (3-4/1-2) at Chattanooga (2-4/1-1)
Game Time: 1:30 p.m. | Finley Stadium (20,660) | Chattanooga, Tenn.
Series: 27-19-1 | Media: ESPN+; Mocs Sports Network; Live Stats
 
Basics
TV: ESPN+ - Chris Goforth (PxP), Scott McMahon (Analysis) & Mackenzie Johnson (Sideline)
 
Radio: WFLI Chattanooga (96.1 FM, 100.3 FM & 1070 AM) - Jim Reynolds (PxP), Todd Agne (Analysis) & Will Poindexter (Sideline). Also available online at GoMocs.com.
 
App: Go Mocs & Varsity Network
 
Resources: Game Notes | Stats | Roster | History
 
BYE-ING IN
This year's bye week came right in the middle of the schedule. A far cry from 2023 when it came in November before the finale at Alabama or last year's September date after week three. Here's a few notes on the subject:

• Coach Rusty Wright is 5-1 coming off a bye week. Lone loss was at No. 8 Alabama in 2023. 4-0 against coming out of the bye into SoCon play.
• 7-game win streak (vs FCS) coming off the bye. The last loss was a 36-28 defeat to Wofford on Nov. 12, 2016.
• Wright's squads are 13-2 (.867) coming out of the last three midseason byes: 5-0 (2024), 3-1 (2022) & 5-1 (2021).
• The Mocs have come back from the bye at home in 11 of the last 12 seasons (2023 at Alabama).
• Chattanooga is 9-1 coming off the last 10 bye weeks vs FCS opponents, 8-1 coming back into SoCon play:
  2024: 45-30 win over Portland State
  2022: 41-13 win over VMI
  2021: 45-17 win over Western Carolina
  2020-21: 20-18 win at #11 Furman
  2019: 16-13 win over ETSU
  2018: 34-27 win over VMI
  2017: 10-3 win over ETSU
  2016: 28-36 loss to Wofford
  2015: 31-3 win over Furman
  2014: 38-24 win over Samford

 
3 Notes to Know

• It's the SoCon opener for VMI
• The Mocs have won seven of the last eight and is 15-7 overall under Coach Rusty Wright in SoCon road games.
• Mocs have 15 runs of 20+ yards. Orth and Durant lead the team in 20+-yard rushes with five apiece.

 
SoCon/NCAA Rankings
Leading the SoCon in...Stat (Nat'l Rank)

• Punt Returns: 17.20 (4)
• Red Zone Offense: 93.3% (10)
• Rush Yards: 448, Justus Durant (42)
• Rush Yards/Game: 74.7, Durant (37)
• Rush Yards/Carry: 5.8, Durant (24)
• Solo Tackles: 5.2, Kam Baah-Slay (20)
• Kick Return TDs: 1, Markell Quick (T2)
• Punt Return TDs: 1, AJ Little (T1)

 
Leading the SoCon in...Stat (Nat'l Rank)

• KO Returns, 12th (24.83)
• Kick Returns: 14th, Quick (27.5)
• Rush Offense, 18th (204.0)

 
Milestone Watch

• QB Camden Orth is 96 completions shy of 400 for his career (304).
• Orth is one TD pass away from 25 (24).
• RB Justus Durant (2,089) is 419 rushing yards from 2,500 for his career.
• Durant is five rush TDs from 25 (20).
• Durant has needs 493 all-purpose yards for 3,000 (2,507).
• RB Ryan Ingram needs 28 carries for 500 in his career.
• Ingram needs 203 rushing yards for 2,500 (2,297).
• Ingram needs two rush TDs to reach 25 (23). His next score rush or receiving is No. 25 overall.
• WR Markell Quick needs 157 receiving yards to reach 1,000 (843).
• S Kaelin Drakeford needs 16 tackles to reach 200.
• Drakeford is four games & Ingram six games shy of 50 for their career.
• CB KJ Sejour needs three PBUs for 10 on the season. He needs four to crack the top 10 all-time last done by Jordan Jones (11) in 2019.

 
Tickets (Home Games)
Game tickets are available on GoMocs.com. It's important to buy ahead with a $2 discount for online purchases prior to gameday. Ticket breakdown: Saturday | 2-game Mini-Plan | 3-game Mini-Plan
 
Call the ticket office for more information at (423) 266-MOCS (6627).
 
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