The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wraps up the 2017 football season with a visit from in-state rival ETSU on Saturday, Nov. 18. Game time is set for 2:04 p.m. (E.S.T.) at Finley Stadium.
The Mocs have shown great improvement in their last three outings, including a 23-21 road win at No. 8 Samford on Oct. 28. UTC almost knocked off No. 8 Wofford on Nov. 4, falling in overtime to the Terriers 24-21.
The Mocs are 2-8 overall and 2-5 in Southern Conference action under first-year head coach Tom Arth. The Buccaneers bring a 4-6 overall mark and are tied with the Mocs for seventh place in the league race under third-year head coach Carl Torbush.
ETSU has one win in its last four games, a 24-6 victory at VMI on Nov.
4. The Bucs lost 42-7 last week at No. 14 Samford.
The Mocs come into the game No. 16 in the FCS in passing yards allowed. UTC is giving up 170.3 yards through the air, which is also No. 5 in the SoCon. Overall, UTC is third in the league in total defense (374.4) after holding Wofford to a season-low 233 yards in their last game.
ETSU is third in the SoCon in passing, averaging 212.4 yards per game. The Bucs are fourth in the league in total defense (356.6) and seventh in total offense (288.1). Junior AB Austin Herink, a native of Cleveland, Tenn., is second in the SoCon in passing yards.
Saturday is Senior Day for 20 Mocs who are playing in their final game. The Class of 2017 won two SoCon titles and made three appearances in the FCS Playoffs. They have a 30-20 overall record, the sixth-most wins by a class in school history. A victory today would move them into a tie for fourth all-time with the 1981 and 1982 classes.
This group includes quarterback Alejandro Bennifield, running backs Darrell Bridges and Richardre Bagley, receivers James Stovall, Alphonso Stewart and Dy’Kari Hickey, fullback Chris Jones, tight end Malcolm Colvin, offensive linemen Josh Cardiello and Alex Hooper, defensive linemen D.J. Prather, Taylor Reynolds and Brandon Bourk, linebackers Tae Davis, Dale Warren, Joshua Phillips and T.J. Jenkins, defensive backs Trevor Wright and Lucas Webb and long snapper Emory Norred.
Tickets are available now at the UTC Ticket Office by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627) or online on GoMocs.com. In addition to the regular business hours of the UTC Ticket Office (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) at McKenzie Arena, the First Tennessee Pavilion ticket window at Finley Stadium opens on Saturday, Nov. 18 at 10:00 a.m. All other ticket windows open at 11:00 a.m. on gameday.