Orlando Daniels
Photo by: Laura O'Dell
Postgame Notes at ETSU
10/3/2026 7:30:00 PM | Football
2026 Chattanooga Mocs Football
Postgame Notes
Oct. 3 – at ETSU – Greene Stadium
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SETTING THE SCENE
- The Chattanooga Mocs dropped a hard-hitting 14-3 decision at the ETSU Bucs in Greene Stadium Saturday afternoon…UTC is 3-3, 2-1 in the Southern Conference while ETSU moves to 4-2, 2-0 in the league.
- Chattanooga came into the game tied for the league lead at 2-0…2-0 record is behind the Bucs at 2-0 with Tennessee Tech's 2-0 mark on the line at Western Carolina tonight.
- 2-1 start in the SoCon for the third straight season…started either 3-0 (4 times) or 2-1 (4 times) in Rusty Wright's eight seasons.
- \Snaps 6-game series win streak including three in a row in Johnson City…6-2 in the "Rail Rivalry" series.
- The Rail Rivalry moniker was created by ETSU in 2018…the winner earns the Rail Trophy which is renowned as the most prestigious railroad tie in collegiate athletics.
- 3-2 in Greene Stadium ..ETSU played its first game in this facility in 2018.
- Rusty Wright is third on the Mocs coaching win list at 45…he is five wins shy of joining Scrappy Moore (170) & Russ Huesman (59) at the 50+ win level..
- 2-2 on the road this season. 23-16 (.590) vs FCS competition on the road under Wright…18-10 (.643) on the road in the SoCon.
- 119th season of football at Chattanooga…game number 1,188…584-569-35 (.506) all-time record…50th as a DI program.
- 50th season in SoCon for the Mocs...game number 359...181-176-2 (.507).
- Game captains: DB Nick Coates, DE Orlando Daniels, RB Kevin Lalin & OL Devin Lively.
- The Mocs won the toss & chose to defer…just the second time in six games winning the coin toss.
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COACH RUSTY WRIGHT
- 45-37 in his eighth season…45-29 vs. FCS opposition.
- 35-20 in SoCon matchups…6-1 vs ETSU…2-1 at Greene Stadium.
- Six wins vs ETSU is the most by a coach for either program in the series.
- Six wins vs the Bucs matches his most against any opponent (6-The Citadel).
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SERIES
Meeting: 49
Record: 28-20-1 | SoCon: 19-16
In Johnson City: 10-12-1 | SoCon: 8-10
Streak: -1 | in Johnson City: -1
Last 5: 4-1 | Last 10: 8-2 | 20: 11-9
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TEAM NOTES
- 17 combined points…fewest in the series since the Mocs 10-3 win on Nov. 18, 2017 in Finley Stadium.
- Held hosts to 345 yards of total offense…fewest against an FCS opponent this season.
- Fifth opponent held to less than 350 yards.
- Offense totaled 183 total yards…fewest yards this season…ran for 108 and threw for 75.
- Even on the turnover battle with one apiece…Mocs had an interception…Mocs lost first fumble of the season.
- ETSU scored off that turnover with a 90-yard drive after fumble was recovered at their own 10.
- 7.0 tackles for loss by the defense with four sacks…26.0 TFLs and 13.0 sacks over the last three weeks.
- 18th time in the Wright era with four or more sacks…49th with multiple.
- 29 points allowed in last three games…fewest in SoCon play since 2024: (10-at Furman, 5-Wofford & 10-VMI).
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PLAYER NOTES
- LB Kristian Ozane has a career-high 12 tackles and his second interception of the year…23 tackles over the last two weeks.
- LB Zion Rutledge posted a season-best 14 stops and had a forced fumble…third time in four games with double digits recording 46 tackles over that span.
- Starting DTs Montrell Henderson and Ky Tayo led an active d-line effort with two tackles for loss and a sack each.
- Starting DEs Orlando Daniels and Ryan Bell also had sacks…Daniels leads the Mocs with four, three over the last three games…Bell's was the first of his career…Bell added a career-high seven tackles.
- PK Jude Kelley made his lone effort of the game, a 47-yarder in the first quarter…long of the season.
- It was Kelley's 38th career field goal…one shy of fourth place on the Mocs all-time list behind Rodney Allen '92 with 39.
- Kelley has 227 career points…third among kickers and fifth overall…one point behind RB Ailym Ford '23 (228).
- RB Kevin Lalin ended up with 55 yards on 16 carries…he now has 2,792 rushing yards and 3,282 all-purpose in his career.
- QB Battle Alberson finished nine of 21 for 75 yards…he also had 16 yards on the ground in three carries.
- WR Ashton Schumann collected five passes for 54 yards including the long of 22 yards converting a key third down on the opening drive that resulted in Kelley's field goal.
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SOCON SCOREBOARD
Mercer 54, at VMI 3
The Citadel 34, at (12) S.C. State 31
Wofford 32, at Furman 25
at UAB 33, Samford 14
Tennessee Tech at Western Carolina, late
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Postgame Notes
Oct. 3 – at ETSU – Greene Stadium
Â
SETTING THE SCENE
- The Chattanooga Mocs dropped a hard-hitting 14-3 decision at the ETSU Bucs in Greene Stadium Saturday afternoon…UTC is 3-3, 2-1 in the Southern Conference while ETSU moves to 4-2, 2-0 in the league.
- Chattanooga came into the game tied for the league lead at 2-0…2-0 record is behind the Bucs at 2-0 with Tennessee Tech's 2-0 mark on the line at Western Carolina tonight.
- 2-1 start in the SoCon for the third straight season…started either 3-0 (4 times) or 2-1 (4 times) in Rusty Wright's eight seasons.
- \Snaps 6-game series win streak including three in a row in Johnson City…6-2 in the "Rail Rivalry" series.
- The Rail Rivalry moniker was created by ETSU in 2018…the winner earns the Rail Trophy which is renowned as the most prestigious railroad tie in collegiate athletics.
- 3-2 in Greene Stadium ..ETSU played its first game in this facility in 2018.
- Rusty Wright is third on the Mocs coaching win list at 45…he is five wins shy of joining Scrappy Moore (170) & Russ Huesman (59) at the 50+ win level..
- 2-2 on the road this season. 23-16 (.590) vs FCS competition on the road under Wright…18-10 (.643) on the road in the SoCon.
- 119th season of football at Chattanooga…game number 1,188…584-569-35 (.506) all-time record…50th as a DI program.
- 50th season in SoCon for the Mocs...game number 359...181-176-2 (.507).
- Game captains: DB Nick Coates, DE Orlando Daniels, RB Kevin Lalin & OL Devin Lively.
- The Mocs won the toss & chose to defer…just the second time in six games winning the coin toss.
Â
COACH RUSTY WRIGHT
- 45-37 in his eighth season…45-29 vs. FCS opposition.
- 35-20 in SoCon matchups…6-1 vs ETSU…2-1 at Greene Stadium.
- Six wins vs ETSU is the most by a coach for either program in the series.
- Six wins vs the Bucs matches his most against any opponent (6-The Citadel).
Â
SERIES
Meeting: 49
Record: 28-20-1 | SoCon: 19-16
In Johnson City: 10-12-1 | SoCon: 8-10
Streak: -1 | in Johnson City: -1
Last 5: 4-1 | Last 10: 8-2 | 20: 11-9
Â
TEAM NOTES
- 17 combined points…fewest in the series since the Mocs 10-3 win on Nov. 18, 2017 in Finley Stadium.
- Held hosts to 345 yards of total offense…fewest against an FCS opponent this season.
- Fifth opponent held to less than 350 yards.
- Offense totaled 183 total yards…fewest yards this season…ran for 108 and threw for 75.
- Even on the turnover battle with one apiece…Mocs had an interception…Mocs lost first fumble of the season.
- ETSU scored off that turnover with a 90-yard drive after fumble was recovered at their own 10.
- 7.0 tackles for loss by the defense with four sacks…26.0 TFLs and 13.0 sacks over the last three weeks.
- 18th time in the Wright era with four or more sacks…49th with multiple.
- 29 points allowed in last three games…fewest in SoCon play since 2024: (10-at Furman, 5-Wofford & 10-VMI).
Â
PLAYER NOTES
- LB Kristian Ozane has a career-high 12 tackles and his second interception of the year…23 tackles over the last two weeks.
- LB Zion Rutledge posted a season-best 14 stops and had a forced fumble…third time in four games with double digits recording 46 tackles over that span.
- Starting DTs Montrell Henderson and Ky Tayo led an active d-line effort with two tackles for loss and a sack each.
- Starting DEs Orlando Daniels and Ryan Bell also had sacks…Daniels leads the Mocs with four, three over the last three games…Bell's was the first of his career…Bell added a career-high seven tackles.
- PK Jude Kelley made his lone effort of the game, a 47-yarder in the first quarter…long of the season.
- It was Kelley's 38th career field goal…one shy of fourth place on the Mocs all-time list behind Rodney Allen '92 with 39.
- Kelley has 227 career points…third among kickers and fifth overall…one point behind RB Ailym Ford '23 (228).
- RB Kevin Lalin ended up with 55 yards on 16 carries…he now has 2,792 rushing yards and 3,282 all-purpose in his career.
- QB Battle Alberson finished nine of 21 for 75 yards…he also had 16 yards on the ground in three carries.
- WR Ashton Schumann collected five passes for 54 yards including the long of 22 yards converting a key third down on the opening drive that resulted in Kelley's field goal.
Â
SOCON SCOREBOARD
Mercer 54, at VMI 3
The Citadel 34, at (12) S.C. State 31
Wofford 32, at Furman 25
at UAB 33, Samford 14
Tennessee Tech at Western Carolina, late
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Players Mentioned
QB
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DL
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DB
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DE
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DT
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K
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RB
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OL
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LB
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LB
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WR
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DT
/ FootballTuesday, October 06
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Tuesday, September 22
Sunday, September 20
