The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team is back on the road this weekend, traveling to Cullowhee, N.C., for a Southern Conference showdown against Western Carolina. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. (E.D.T.) on Saturday, Oct. 13.
The Mocs are trying to snap a two-game slide after opening the season 4-0. UTC is in fourth place in the SoCon race with a 2-2 league tally and is receiving votes in both the AFCA Coaches Poll and the STATS FCS Top 25.
Chattanooga’s losses have been close ones to the top two teams in the league standings. UTC was down 14-10 in the fourth quarter before falling to No.
6 Wofford (4-1, 3-0 SoCon) 21-10 last weekend. The Mocs dropped a tough 17-14 loss at ETSU (5-1, 3-0 SoCon) on Sept. 29.
Western Carolina is also trying to bounce back from consecutive losses after opening the year 3-0. The Catamounts are 3-2 overall and 1-2 in league play. They started the season with wins over Newberry (33-26), Gardner-Webb (28-10) and VMI (52-50), but dropped games to Furman (38-44) and Samford (28-66) in their last two outings.
This game features the top scoring offense in the SoCon against one of the stingiest defenses in the league. Western Carolina leads the league and is No. 19 in the FCS in scoring, averaging 35.8 ppg. The Mocs are second in the SoCon and No. 20 in the FCS, allowing just 20 points per game. The Catamounts are also No. 10 in the FCS in total yards, averaging 489.8 yards per game.
Western Carolina has scored 28 or more points in all five of its games this season. Conversely, the most the Mocs have allowed in regulation this season is 24 at UT Martin.