Despite a career night from Jare Gault, the Mocs were unable to slow down a potent Georgia Southern (3-3, 1-2) offense Saturday night, as the Eagles defeated Chattanooga (1-5, 0-2) 52-28.
Georgia Southern cracked the scoreboard first as the Eagles scored on a six-yard touchdown pass from Antonio Henton to Michael McIntosh to put GSU up 7-0. It would only take the Eagles 1:13 to find the endzone again as Georgia Southern as David Arnold returned a blocked punt 24 yards for the score.
The blocked punt marked the sixth straight game in which a kick has been blocked by either Chattanooga or its opponent.
The Mocs got on the scoreboard a mere four minutes later as Jare Gault connected with Patrick Wilkinson from 14 yards out for the touchdown to cut the Georgia Southern lead in half. The touchdown was the first in both Gault’s and Wilkinson’s UTC careers. The score finished off a three-play, 22-yard drive for Chattanooga resulting from a Joseph Thornton recovery of an Eagle fumble on a punt return.
After a Georgia Southern field goal put the score at 17-7, the Mocs would strike again with a five-yard run by Gault to put Chattanooga within three, 17-14. Gault’s run capped off an 11-play, 72-yard drive for the Mocs that spanned 5:30.
Georgia Southern claimed a 31-14 halftime advantage via a three-yard run by Adam Urbano and an interception returned for a touchdown by Damon Suggs.
The Eagles scored quickly to open the second half with two scores to go up 45-14. The Mocs answered as Gault took a vicious shot delivering a 76-yard touchdown pass from Gault to Jordan Hazard to pull the Mocs within three scores. The score marked the longest pass of the season for Chattanooga and the careers of Gault and Hazard.
After another Georgia Southern touchdown, the Mocs would add on one more score thanks to a Brent Hayes one-yard touchdown run, the first rushing touchdown of his career.
Gault had his best performance of the season completing 17 of 32 for 205 yards and two touchdowns before departing with cramps in the fourth quarter. Gault’s 32 attempts were a season-high for a Mocs signal caller this season. The quarterback also added a score on the ground.
Errol Wynn was the Mocs leading rusher on the night with 54 yards on 16 carries, while Jordan Hazard paced the team in receiving with a season-high 94 receiving yards and a touchdown, as well as 259 all-purpose yards.
Antonio Henton led the Georgia Southern offense with 177 yards passing and 88 yards rushing. The quarterback also accounted for two Eagles’ touchdowns. Demarcus Watts was GSU’s leading receiver with 51 yards on three receptions.
Next up for the Mocs will be No. 9 Wofford in Spartanburg, S.C., next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Gibbs Stadium. The game will be televised regionally by SportSouth.