RECAP: Mocs “Battle” Their Way to Win in Home Finale

Saturday, November 8

Chattanooga, Tenn.

Noon

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

5-5 , 4-2

Furman

5-5 , 3-4

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Furman	7	14	7	0	28
Chattanooga	0	21	10	14	45

Battle Alberson

Photo by: Laura O'Dell

11/8/2025 5:18:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Battle Alberson and the Chattanooga Mocs rolled to a win against Furman Saturday afternoon at Finley Stadium.

First Look
The Chattanooga Mocs rolled to a 45-28 win over the Furman Paladins Saturday afternoon at Finley Stadium. The Mocs used a fantastic freshman debut from Battle Alberson who set the school freshman record for total offense and controlled an offense that controlled the game in the win.

First Word
"Our offensive staff did a great job of putting Battle in really good situations, and the kid responded. I think the guys around him played well. He made some really nice throws out there and made some really good decisions. We tried to limit those for him and put him in the best position we could, but I thought they had a great plan for that young man to go be successful today. He took advantage of his opportunity." – Coach Rusty Wright

Resources: Stats | Notes | Quotes | History

Breakdown

The Mocs trailed 14-7 midway through the second quarter but had set a standard. Their opening drive stalled at the Furman 9 on a fourth-and-1 stop but the ball control nature did not fade. The Mocs scored 31 points on five of the next six drives to blow past the Paladins.
The big sequence came to send the game into halftime tied at 21-all. Chattanooga scored on 66 and 47 yard passes from Alberson to Josh Williams and Markell Quick, respectively, sandwiching a 9-yard Trey Hedden to Kerry King pass.
The Paladins answered with a drive to the Mocs four before settling for a field goal it would appear at the buzzer. DT CJ Smith had other plans with the block for the 21-all tally.
DT Ky Tayo then made the play of the game to start the second with Furman beginning of the third quarter on offense. He picked off a screen and scooted 51 yards for the touchdown and a lead the Mocs would not relinquish.
The offensive line went to work ahead of Alberson and a stout rushing attack to dominate the second half. The Mocs had possession of the ball for 22:02 of the next 28:08 of clock time.

Series: 23-33 | In SoCon Matchups: 18-31 | In Chattanooga: 10-19

Stats

Alberson was impressive in his first career start setting the school's freshman record for total offense with 362 yards. The prior high was Jacob Huesman's 347 yards at Jacksonville State on Sept. 9, 2012. Alberson three for 277 and ran for another 85.
He connected on four TD passes of 25 yards (Landon Strickland), the two to Williams and Quick and a fourth quarter connection to RB Journey Wyche (25).
The Mocs ran for 252 yards and threw for 277 for a total of 529. That's the third time this season over 500 (539-Stetson/519-at Samford).
Converted eight of 16 on third down and another three of four on fourth.
Defense allowed 368 yards to the Paladins but shut down the run with 72 rush yards (3.0 per carry).
Defense forced a season-high three turnovers (2 interceptions/1 fumble).
Offensive line allowed a single tackle for loss and zero sacks. Zeroes on both for Furman defensive lineman Joshua Stoneking who entered the game leading the nation in TFL and second in sacks.

3 Notes to Know

45 points ties for the Mocs highest total in the series also done in the 1979, 1993 and 2014 seasons. 86 points over the last two seasons against the Paladins (86-38)…most in a 2-year period…prior high was 79 done first when Rusty Wright was a player over the 1993 and 1994 matchups and then again in 1999 and 2000.
Career-high 115 yards receiving for Josh Williams on six receptions with one TD.
Alberson is the 28th Mocs QB with four or more TD passes…second time this year with Camden Orth turning the trick in the win over ETSU.

Quotable
"That was a good win. We have a bunch fighting with everything they've got. We must find a way to keep growing, keep getting better, fighting for each other and growing up. I don't have a lot of seniors playing, but there's a lot of guys that are giving us everything they have. Next week's going to be all we want and then some, but I'm enjoying this one tonight because this group is trying to grow up and trying to play a little better." – Coach Rusty Wright

"Getting ready for the game wasn't much different than a normal week. Coach (Joe) Pizzo preaches to us to always be ready, so all year I've been doing the same thing – I've been in the film room and preparing like I was going to play. So when it was my time, it was just like a regular week." – Redshirt freshman QB Battle Alberson

"That play was drilled into my head this week by our coaches. We watched a lot of film this week, and Coach kept telling us to watch the screen and feel them out, and that opportunity came during the game. I knew their guys were chasing me down, but I have good teammates blocking for me. It was an amazing feeling to get that touchdown and knowing I had my teammates right behind me, celebrating with me." – Junior DT Ky Tayo

Next Up
The Mocs start the season's final stretch on the road at Mercer next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

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