Journey Wyche
Photo by: Ray Soldano
11/7/2026 5:01:00 PM | Football
2026 Chattanooga Mocs Football
Postgame Notes vs Mercer
Nov. 7 – Chattanooga, Tenn. – Finley Stadium
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SETTING THE SCENE
- The Chattanooga Mocs dropped a hard-fought 14-7 decision in overtime to the Mercer Bears Saturday afternoon in Finley Stadium…UTC is 6-4, 5-2 in the Southern Conference while Mercer moves to 8-2, 5-1 in the league.
- First overtime game since Oct. 9, 2021, a 37-34 loss at VMI…first OT game at home since 26-23 loss to Jacksonville State on Sept. 6, 2014.
- The Mocs entered the game at No. 25 in the Stats Perform and receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches Top 25 polls…Bears are 11th in the coaches list and 14th on Stats Perform.
- Third straight meeting with both teams ranked at Finley Stadium…No. 10 Chattanooga beat No. 11 Mercer 41-21 in 2022 and the 14th-ranked Mocs lost 10-3 to No. 23 Mercer in 2024.
- UTC equipment staff pulled a shock move for the team pregame…new gray uniforms with Chattanooga blue trim awaited the unknowing roster as it arrived in the home locker room…first non-white or blue jersey since 2008 (gold)…for social post click the link here.
- 98th Homecoming game…62-32-4 (.660) record all-time…3-3-1 (.500) vs Mercer.
- First OT at Homecoming since a 20-17 double OT loss to The Citadel on Nov. 3, 2001…1-2 in OT at Homecoming.
- 6-win season so far. Seventh under Coach Rusty Wright with six plus. Third Mocs ball coach with 7+: Scrappy Moore (9) & Russ Huesman (7).
- Snaps a 3-game win streak…Wright teams have had at least one in all eight seasons…longest run by a coach in school history…the team record is nine years in a row (1977-85).
- Came into the game tied for first at 5-1 in the league…now one game out of first at 5-2 and in third, a half-game behind Mercer (5-1) and ahead ETSU (4-2)…the Bears go to Tennessee Tech next weekend and hosts ETSU In the finale, while the Mocs go to Furman next Saturday.
- 3-2 in Finley Stadium in 2026…24-14 (.632) under Wright…19-11 (.633) in the SoCon.
- 85-71 (.545) all-time in Finley Stadium…3-4 (.429) vs Mercer.
- 119th season of football at Chattanooga…game number 1,192…587-570-35 (.507) all-time record…50th as a DI program.
- 50th season in SoCon for the Mocs...game number 363...184-177-2 (.510).
- Game captains: DB Nick Coates, DE Orlando Daniels, RB Kevin Lalin & OL Devin Lively.
- Mercer won the toss & chose to defer…Mocs are 4-6 on the coin toss.
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COACH RUSTY WRIGHT
Season: 8 | Game: 86
Overall Record: 48-38…48-30 vs. FCS opposition.
SoCon Record: 38-21…3-5 vs Mercer…1-3 at Finley Stadium.
SERIES
Meeting: 37
Record: 22-14-1 | SoCon: 5-8
In Chattanooga: 17-6-1 | SoCon: 3-4
Streak: -3 | in Chattanooga: -2
Last 5: 2-3 | Last 10: 3-7 | 20: 12-8
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TEAM NOTES
- Ran for 223 yards rushing today…sixth time in last seven games topping 200…first loss in eight games when topping 200-yard mark.
- Mercer had a 20-play advantage with 72 snaps to 52 for the good guys.
- The Bears got 187 on the ground and 340 total yards on offense…just the fourth time this season an opponent exceeded 300 yards.
- Mercer entered the day with the fourth-best rush offense in the nation…Mocs held them 44.6 yards below their average.
- Mocs pass defense was third nationally and allowed one-plus yard less than its average (154.7).
- Seven tackles for loss and three sacks for the Mocs…4th time with seven or more TFLs and five with three or more sacks in 2026.
- Did not allow a sack and allowed just five TFLs for the Bears…Mercer entered the game leading the SoCon in both categories.
- Mercer was eight of 16 (50%) on third down…average distance was 6.1 yards…Chattanooga was five of 14 (35.7%) with an average length of 7.6 yards.
- 27 runs of 10+ yards the last three weeks with 15 going for 15+.
- 130 points (13.0 ppg) allowed through 10 games…fewest over the first nine games since 127 in 1985…school record for a season is just 9.1 points per game in 1951…modern era? 2021 (17.1 ppg)
- 74 points allowed in last seven games (10.6 ppg)…fewest in a 7-game stretch since 1982.
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PLAYER NOTES
- RB Journey Wyche ran for 106 yards on 17 carries…had the game's long run of 50 yards that set up the Mocs first-half score…now has 706 yards on the season.
- RB Kevin Lalin churned out 70 yards on 22 rushes…now up to 983 yards for the season to lead the team…career total is 3,241 career rushing yards and 3,741 career all-purpose yards
- QB Battle Alberson scored his fourth rushing TD in the last three games…got it on a 4-yard dash first quarter dash to open the scoring…ended with 47 yards rushing on four carries and threw for 41 on five of nine passing with one interception.
- LB Kristian Ozane tied for the team lead in tackles with 11 and added a pass breakup…one of three Mocs with 6+ passes defensed this season (3 INT/3 PBU).
- LB Zion Rutledge also had 11 stops…5th time this season with double-digit stops (8th career).
- DTs Ky Tayo and Montrell Henderson both had six tackles and tied for the team lead with Orlando Daniels for TFLs (1.5).
- Henderson had 13 tackles and 3.5 TFLs over last two games in the interior of the d-line.
- Corner DJ Adams had a career-high three pass breakups…leads the team with 11 passes defensed including nine PBUs.
- P Heath Jehu averaged 48.5 yards on six punts with a long of 61…one downed inside the 20…best average of the season…6th time average 48+ yards in his career.
- Jehu had three punts of 50+ yards…14 for the season which ties his career high set in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons…42 total.
- FS Kam Baah-Slay recorded eight tackles…now has 151 career stops…forced a fumble.
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SOCON SCOREBOARD
Samford 37, at ETSU 35
at Western Carolina 26, Wofford 10
Furman at The Citadel, late
VMI at Tennessee Tech, late
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For late scores that were unavailable at press time, please click this link,
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Postgame Notes vs Mercer
Nov. 7 – Chattanooga, Tenn. – Finley Stadium
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SETTING THE SCENE
- The Chattanooga Mocs dropped a hard-fought 14-7 decision in overtime to the Mercer Bears Saturday afternoon in Finley Stadium…UTC is 6-4, 5-2 in the Southern Conference while Mercer moves to 8-2, 5-1 in the league.
- First overtime game since Oct. 9, 2021, a 37-34 loss at VMI…first OT game at home since 26-23 loss to Jacksonville State on Sept. 6, 2014.
- The Mocs entered the game at No. 25 in the Stats Perform and receiving votes in the AFCA Coaches Top 25 polls…Bears are 11th in the coaches list and 14th on Stats Perform.
- Third straight meeting with both teams ranked at Finley Stadium…No. 10 Chattanooga beat No. 11 Mercer 41-21 in 2022 and the 14th-ranked Mocs lost 10-3 to No. 23 Mercer in 2024.
- UTC equipment staff pulled a shock move for the team pregame…new gray uniforms with Chattanooga blue trim awaited the unknowing roster as it arrived in the home locker room…first non-white or blue jersey since 2008 (gold)…for social post click the link here.
- 98th Homecoming game…62-32-4 (.660) record all-time…3-3-1 (.500) vs Mercer.
- First OT at Homecoming since a 20-17 double OT loss to The Citadel on Nov. 3, 2001…1-2 in OT at Homecoming.
- 6-win season so far. Seventh under Coach Rusty Wright with six plus. Third Mocs ball coach with 7+: Scrappy Moore (9) & Russ Huesman (7).
- Snaps a 3-game win streak…Wright teams have had at least one in all eight seasons…longest run by a coach in school history…the team record is nine years in a row (1977-85).
- Came into the game tied for first at 5-1 in the league…now one game out of first at 5-2 and in third, a half-game behind Mercer (5-1) and ahead ETSU (4-2)…the Bears go to Tennessee Tech next weekend and hosts ETSU In the finale, while the Mocs go to Furman next Saturday.
- 3-2 in Finley Stadium in 2026…24-14 (.632) under Wright…19-11 (.633) in the SoCon.
- 85-71 (.545) all-time in Finley Stadium…3-4 (.429) vs Mercer.
- 119th season of football at Chattanooga…game number 1,192…587-570-35 (.507) all-time record…50th as a DI program.
- 50th season in SoCon for the Mocs...game number 363...184-177-2 (.510).
- Game captains: DB Nick Coates, DE Orlando Daniels, RB Kevin Lalin & OL Devin Lively.
- Mercer won the toss & chose to defer…Mocs are 4-6 on the coin toss.
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COACH RUSTY WRIGHT
Season: 8 | Game: 86
Overall Record: 48-38…48-30 vs. FCS opposition.
SoCon Record: 38-21…3-5 vs Mercer…1-3 at Finley Stadium.
- Third on the Mocs coaching win list at 48…two wins shy of joining Scrappy Moore (170) & Russ Huesman (59) at the 50+ win level.
- Second on the Mocs coaching win list at 38 SoCon victories…two wins shy of joining Huesman (42) at the 40+ win level.
- Fourth on the Mocs games coached list trailing Scrappy Moore (332), Buddy Nix (99) & Russ Huesman (96).
SERIES
Meeting: 37
Record: 22-14-1 | SoCon: 5-8
In Chattanooga: 17-6-1 | SoCon: 3-4
Streak: -3 | in Chattanooga: -2
Last 5: 2-3 | Last 10: 3-7 | 20: 12-8
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TEAM NOTES
- Ran for 223 yards rushing today…sixth time in last seven games topping 200…first loss in eight games when topping 200-yard mark.
- Mercer had a 20-play advantage with 72 snaps to 52 for the good guys.
- The Bears got 187 on the ground and 340 total yards on offense…just the fourth time this season an opponent exceeded 300 yards.
- Mercer entered the day with the fourth-best rush offense in the nation…Mocs held them 44.6 yards below their average.
- Mocs pass defense was third nationally and allowed one-plus yard less than its average (154.7).
- Seven tackles for loss and three sacks for the Mocs…4th time with seven or more TFLs and five with three or more sacks in 2026.
- Did not allow a sack and allowed just five TFLs for the Bears…Mercer entered the game leading the SoCon in both categories.
- Mercer was eight of 16 (50%) on third down…average distance was 6.1 yards…Chattanooga was five of 14 (35.7%) with an average length of 7.6 yards.
- 27 runs of 10+ yards the last three weeks with 15 going for 15+.
- 130 points (13.0 ppg) allowed through 10 games…fewest over the first nine games since 127 in 1985…school record for a season is just 9.1 points per game in 1951…modern era? 2021 (17.1 ppg)
- 74 points allowed in last seven games (10.6 ppg)…fewest in a 7-game stretch since 1982.
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PLAYER NOTES
- RB Journey Wyche ran for 106 yards on 17 carries…had the game's long run of 50 yards that set up the Mocs first-half score…now has 706 yards on the season.
- RB Kevin Lalin churned out 70 yards on 22 rushes…now up to 983 yards for the season to lead the team…career total is 3,241 career rushing yards and 3,741 career all-purpose yards
- QB Battle Alberson scored his fourth rushing TD in the last three games…got it on a 4-yard dash first quarter dash to open the scoring…ended with 47 yards rushing on four carries and threw for 41 on five of nine passing with one interception.
- LB Kristian Ozane tied for the team lead in tackles with 11 and added a pass breakup…one of three Mocs with 6+ passes defensed this season (3 INT/3 PBU).
- LB Zion Rutledge also had 11 stops…5th time this season with double-digit stops (8th career).
- DTs Ky Tayo and Montrell Henderson both had six tackles and tied for the team lead with Orlando Daniels for TFLs (1.5).
- Henderson had 13 tackles and 3.5 TFLs over last two games in the interior of the d-line.
- Corner DJ Adams had a career-high three pass breakups…leads the team with 11 passes defensed including nine PBUs.
- P Heath Jehu averaged 48.5 yards on six punts with a long of 61…one downed inside the 20…best average of the season…6th time average 48+ yards in his career.
- Jehu had three punts of 50+ yards…14 for the season which ties his career high set in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons…42 total.
- FS Kam Baah-Slay recorded eight tackles…now has 151 career stops…forced a fumble.
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SOCON SCOREBOARD
Samford 37, at ETSU 35
at Western Carolina 26, Wofford 10
Furman at The Citadel, late
VMI at Tennessee Tech, late
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For late scores that were unavailable at press time, please click this link,
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Players Mentioned
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Tuesday, October 27
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