2026 Chattanooga Mocs Football
Postgame Notes & Records
Aug. 27 – at West Georgia – University Stadium
 
SETTING THE SCENE
- The Chattanooga Mocs earned a 24-10 win at the West Georgia Wolves at University Stadium Thursday night…season opener for both teams…Mocs are 1-0, Wolves start 0-1.
- Both teams entered the game receiving votes in an FCS preseason poll…the Mocs in the AFCA Coaches Top 25 and Wolves from Stats Perform.
- Since the start of FCS Football in 1982, the Mocs are 17-8 (.680) beginning the season against FCS competition…7-1 (.875) on the road.
- Second earliest opening game in school history (Aug. 27)…previous was Aug. 26, 2017 in Montgomery, Ala., against Jacksonville State.
- First of two United Athletic Conference opponents this season…also face Eastern Kentucky in Richmond on Sept. 12…3-2 (.600) against the league all-time which started in 2023…all five matchups have come on the road: Austin Peay (2-0), North Alabama (0-1) & Tarleton State (0-1).
- West Georgia is 10-1 (.909) in its last 11 Thursday night contests…that includes 5-1 (.833) in season openers over the last seven season.
- 119th season of football at Chattanooga…582-566-35 (.507) all-time record…50th as a DI program.
- 62-56-1 (.525) all-time in season openers…16-34-1 (.324) when opening on the road.
- Game captains: DT Montrell Henderson, RB Kevin Lalin, OL Devin Lively, LB Zion Rutledge.
- West Georgia won the toss and chose to receive.
 
COACH RUSTY WRIGHT
- 43-34 in his eighth season.
- 22-22 on the road…22-14 at FCS competition.
- 1-0 against UWG…1-0 in Carrollton.
 
SERIES
Meeting: First
Record: 1-0
In Carrollton: 1-0
Last 5: 1-0 | Streak: +1 | Road: +1
 
TEAM NOTES
- Chattanooga gained 329 yards of total offense tonight…215 of that came in the second half.
- West Georgia was limited ti 219 yards of total offense with just 38 on the ground and 181 by air.
- The Mocs scored on their first two possessions of the third quarter…the tallies came in the first 7:38 after halftime…it flipped a 7-3 deficit to a 17-10 advantage.
- The Mocs were 10 of 17 on third down conversions for the game…held their hosts to just two of 11 with both coming in the fourth quarter.
- Chattanooga had a huge edge in time of possession holding the ball for 36:43.
- UTC earned at least one first down on their first nine possessions and 10 of 11 on the evening.
- The defense forced five three-and-outs in 10 Wolves drives.
- West Georgia's touchdown drive in the second quarter went 78 yards in seven plays…it gained 141 yards on the other 43 plays run (3.3 yds/play).
- Neither team turned the ball over.
 
PLAYER NOTES
- RB Kevin Lalin had the first 100-yard debut since March 2021…30 carries for 128 yards and a touchdown...Lance Jackson had the last with 135 yards on 19 carries against Mercer.
- Of Lalin's 30 runs, he was stopped for a loss just once (1 yd).
- The 72-yard catch-and-run from Battle Alberson to Ashton Schumann is the longest TD connection since a 78-yard hook up to Sam Phillips from Chase Artopoeus vs. Portland State on Sept. 28, 2024.
- Schumann ended up with 100 yards on four catches with the score…the last receiver with 100 yards in a debut? Current defensive ends coach Tyrus Ward...he collected four passes for 107 yards and a touchdown at Memphis on Sept. 11, 2004.
- Alberson threw for 180 yards completing nine of 17 attempts…his nine completions were to five different receivers.
- Freshman Boobie Leavell's first career catch was a 20-yard TD strike from Alberson.
- Safety Kam Baah-Slay led the defense with eight tackles...seven of the stops were solos.
- Defensive tackles Ky Tayo (1.0) and Myles Mays (1.0) had two of the Mocs three sacks…the third came from DE CJ Smith.
- Starting corners Keyshawn Jackson (3) and DJ Adams (2) had all five pass breakups on the night.
 
SOCON SCOREBOARD
at Furman 20, Anderson 3