posted November 4, 2009
The Chattanooga Mocs (5-3, 3-3 SoCon) hit the road for a match-up against No. 8 Appalachian State (6-2, 5-0 SoCon) in Boone, N.C., on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
The Mocs are traveling to a top-10 opponent for the second time in three weeks when they visit the Mountaineers.
Saturday's game marks the 33rd in the series with ASU that dates back to 1977. The Mountaineers hold a 22-10 advantage, including a 13-3 mark in Kidd Brewer Stadium. The Mocs have dropped 12-straight games in Boone with their last win coming in a 30-9 contest on Oct. 8, 1983. UTC's last win in the series was a 59-56 barn-burner in Finley Stadium on Oct. 30, 2004. Chattanooga has just three wins in the series since its last Southern Conference title in 1984.
The Mocs come into the game tied for fourth with Furman in the SoCon standings at 4-4. Appalachian State is tied with No. 6 Elon for the SoCon lead at 5-0. Georgia Southern is alone in third place at 3-2 while The Citadel is sixth at 2-3. Samford, Wofford and Western Carolina all have one win each in league action.
The game will broadcast on ESPN Radio 105.1 FM in Chattanooga with Jim Reynolds handling the play-by-play duties. Reynolds is joined on the broadcast by Todd Agne (color commentator) and Will Poindexter (sideline). Pregame begins one our prior to kick-off at 2:30 p.m.
There will also be a live video stream of the game and live stats available on GoMocs.com.
ASU TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE AT THE UTC TICKET OFFICE
There are still tickets available for the ASU game on Saturday in Boone, N.C. at the UTC Ticket Office. The ASU tickets are $27 each and must be purchased in person or by calling (423) 266-MOCS (6627).
NOTES TO KNOW BEFORE THE GAME
First-year head coach Russ Huesman has the Mocs off to a 5-3 start and 3-3 in the Southern Conference. A win would give Huesman the most by a UTC first-year head coach since Bill Oliver went 8-3 in 1980. Coincidentally, Huesman was a junior DB on that 1980 squad. Harold Wilkes (9-1 in 1968) and Scrappy Moore (9-2 in 1931) each had nine wins in their first seasons at UTC.
Sophomore QB B.J. Coleman created quite a stir in the Scenic City when he announced his decision to transfer from Tennessee to Chattanooga. The former high school standout at McCallie in Chattanooga won the Mocs' starting job over senior Jare Gault. He is currently fourth in the SoCon in total offense (209.1/game) and passing yards (213.8/game) and fifth in passing efficiency (125.1).
Coleman has 1,710 passing yards on the season and is the first Moc to top the 1000-yard mark since 2007...he needs 117 more yards to pass Steve Woods (1980) for the 9th highest single-season total in school history.
Coleman needs one more 200-yard passing game for seven this season...that would tie him for No. 6 on the Mocs' career list with Tim Couch (1984-86).
Coleman has 13 TD passes and is tied with four players (Antonio Miller (2007), Kenyon Earl (1991), Steve Woods (1981) and Ron Eisaman (1962)) for 10th on the Mocs' single-season list. He needs three more to pass Gary Bloodshaw (1981) for No. 9 on the single-season list.
Coleman was picked off for just the third time in 2009 against Western Carolina last weekend. He went four games and 186 pass attempts between his first two INTs this year.
Both the Mocs and Mountaineers have had just three passes intercepted all season. That ties for the third lowest number in the FCS. Only seven teams in the country have had three or fewer passes picked off in 2009.
Senior DE Josh Beard leads the nation with 10.5 sacks on the year. His sack total is already more than any Moc has had in a single year since 2001. He has recorded seven sacks in the last four games.
The Mocs' offensive line has only allowed nine sacks on the season, the third fewest in the SoCon and tied for 11th fewest in the nation.
Senior WR Blue Cooper is currently second in the SoCon and 8th in the nation with 7.5 receptions-per-game and is third in the league 73.5 receiving yards-per-game.
Senior linebacker Joseph Thornton has started in 35 consecutive games heading into the Samford contest. He leads the team and is No. 6 in the SoCon with 73 tackles on the year.
The Mocs' defense has held five of its eight opponents to 20 points or less. This is the first time since 2000 UTC has held five opponents to 20 points or less in a season. The Mocs have not held six teams to 20 or less in one year since accomplishing the feat nine times in 1987.
With a win Chattanooga would improve to 6-3 for the first time since the 2005 season.
The Mocs are currently second in the SoCon with a +5 turnover margin. UTC has picked off nine passes and recovered seven fumbles while only turning the ball over 11 times in 2009. Chattanooga is No. 30 in the nation in the turnover margin category.
UTC is second in the SoCon and 19th in the NCAA FCS in pass defense, allowing just 160.6 yards per game in the air. UTC is also second in the SoCon with nine interceptions.
Freshman Josh Williams has set a new UTC freshman record with six sacks on the season. He is tied for second in the SoCon and 21st in the FCS in sacks on the year.
SCOUTING ASU
The Mocs will have a tough time with a Mountaineer squad that leads the nation with 513 yards of total offense per game and is No. 2 in the country with 39.0 points-per-game. ASU has scored 44+ points in each of the last three games and is No. 3 in the nation with a 158.74 pass efficiency rating. Senior QB Armanti Edwards, the preseason SoCon Offensive Player of the Year, is second in the nation in pass efficiency (167.89) and total offense (361.9 yards/game).
JOSH & JOSH
The Mocs have a strong duo of defensive ends in freshman Joshua Williams and senior Josh Beard. Together they have 16.5 sacks on the year. Beard leads the NCAA with 10.5 and needs two more to break Tyler Unzicker's UTC season record of 12 set in 2001. Williams' six on the season is a new UTC freshman mark. Chattanooga is currently second in the SoCon and 12th in the nation with 23 sacks as a team.
CAMAY CLIMBS THE SCORING CHARTS
Senior kicker Craig Camay is climbing the Mocs' scoring charts, thanks in large part to a school-record tying four field goals against Western Carolina on Oct. 31. The fifth-year player from Marietta, Ga., has 117 points in his career and is tied with Gene Roberts (1944-45) for 10th all-time at UTC. He needs six more points to move into eighth place on the Mocs' all-time scoring list.
INJURY BUG STARTING TO BITE
The Mocs will be without two starters for the rest of the year. Senior RB Bryan Fitzgerald and sophomore DB J.D. Dothard both had season-ending surgeries. Fitzgerald suffered a sprained foot in the first quarter at Samford, an injury that has effectively ended his career. Fitzgerald was leading the SoCon with 109.3 rushing yards/game after Week 5. Dothard suffered a knee injury at Georgia Southern and will not return this season.
MOCS ARE STILL RECEIVING VOTES IN THE TOP-25
After a 24-20 come-from-behind-win against Western Carolina, the Mocs are receiving votes in the FCS Coaches Poll and the Sports Network Top-25. UTC got five votes in the coaches poll this week (pg. 9 of the Game Notes .pdf). That would make UTC No. 38 if the rankings were expanded. The Mocs also got 18 votes in The Sports Network Top-25, good enough for 44th in that poll. The last time the Mocs were ranked was Monday, Oct. 27, 1997, following a 6-1 start to the season. Chattanooga moved to No. 23 in the Sports Network's Top-25 on the heels of a 24-21 win against Western Carolina in the second game ever played in Finley Stadium. Chattanooga was ranked as high as No. 22 in the nation that year, after starting the season 2-0. Chattanooga's highest ever national ranking came in 1992 when they broke into the top-10 following a 2-0 start. The Mocs were No. 9 in the Street & Smith Top-25 after posting wins at Boise State and at home against UT-Martin.
SIX MOCS EARN SOCON PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS IN 2009
UTC had three different student-athletes earn Southern Conference Player of the Week honors for the first time in school history following Week 3. Senior Bryan Fitzgerald won the offensive award, sophomore Ryan Consiglio earned the defensive honor while sophomore Mike Hammons took home special teams recognition. The last time the Mocs won three Player of the Week honors was Sept. 23, 1989, when James Roberts was the Offensive and Freshman of the Week and Junior Jackson won the defensive honor. After not winning a single weekly honor in 2008, Chattanooga has won five awards handed out by the SoCon this season. The other winners were Craig Camay (ST - W2), Chris Awuah (Fr-W2) and Josh Beard (Def-W6).
LOSING STREAKS ENDING IN 2009
The Mocs snapped a 10-game losing streak with their win over Glenville State on Sept. 3. They also ended a 17-game losing streak against Division I opponents with their 29-13 win against Presbyterian. Chattanooga had lost nine straight road games overall before defeating Presbyterian. UTC also won its first non-conference game against a Division I opponent since a 31-7 victory at Tennessee Tech, on Aug. 31, 2006, with the PC win. The Wofford win snapped a 13-game SoCon losing streak. The Samford win stopped a six-game SoCon road losing streak.
COOPER'S CATCHES ADDING UP - CLOSING IN ON TO'S CAREER NUMBERS
Senior receiver Blue Cooper currently leads the Mocs with 588 yards on 60 catches. He has 1,554 career receiving yards and needs 130 yards to pass Emmanuel Hassell (2004-06) to get into the top-10 in the UTC record book. His 128 career receptions rank No. 7 at UTC. He needs 17 more to pass Terrell Owens (1992-95) and Jeremy Grier (2001-03) for fifth place all-time.
WOODS RECEPTIVE
Senior wideout Clint Woods led the Mocs with 512 yards on 49 catches in 2008. He also caught three touchdown passes averaging 10.4 yards per catch. With 119 career receptions, Woods needs 1 more to move into the Mocs' top-8 all time. He also has an outside chance of breaking into UTC's top-10 for receiving yards, sitting 446 yards out of the top-10.
MOCS IN THE TOP-40 IN THE FCS FOR 2009 HOME ATTENDANCE
Mocs fans have been spinning the turnstiles at Finley Stadium at a near-record pace in 2009. The Mocs had the third largest crowd at Finley Stadium against Glenville State (14,002) and the fifth highest attendance against Furman (11,201). UTC is now No. 27 in total attendance (42,975) and No. 27 in average attendance (10,744) in the FCS. Chattanooga is trying to average 10,000+ for a season for the first time in school history.
MOCS SET RECORD FOR SEASON TICKET SALES
The Chattanooga Mocs broke the all-time season ticket mark at Finley Stadium with 2,527 sold in 2009. The previous school record of 2,300 season tickets sold was set in the 1997 season, the first year of Finley Stadium. This is the third year UTC has topped the 2000-sold mark, including 2,003 sold in 1998. Chattanooga nearly doubled its sales from 2008 when 1,271 were sold. .
TWO TOP-5 CROWDS AT FINLEY STADIUM IN 2009
Ticket sales are booming for the Mocs in 2009. All three of the Mocs' home crowds have ranked in the top-15 all-time at Finley Stadium. UTC had 14,002 at the Glenville State game on Sept. 3, the third largest crowd in school history. UTC's record crowd is 22,642 set against Tennessee State in the first game at Finley Stadium on Oct. 18, 1997. The largest crowd to watch a football game at Finley is 23,010 when Appalachian State defeated Delaware 49-21 in the FCS National Championship game on Dec. 14, 2007.
Below are the Mocs' top-10 crowds at Finley Stadium:
1. 22,642 - Tennessee State - W - 28-7 - Oct. 18, 1997
2. 15,072 - Georgia Southern - L - 10-31 - Sept. 23, 2000
3. 14,002 - Glenville State - W - 30-13 - Sept. 3, 2009
4. 13,186 - Samford - W - 23-6 - Aug. 31, 2000
5. 11,201 - Furman - L - 20-38 - Sept. 12, 2009
6. 10,329 - VMI - W - 45-7 - Oct. 17, 1998
7. 10,102 - Furman - L - 21-43 - Nov. 22, 1997
8. 9,778 - Samford - W - 23-13 - Sept. 3, 1998
9. 9,499 - Savannah State - W - 49-0 - Sept. 18, 1999
10. 9,320 - Western Carolina - W - 24-20 - Oct. 31, 2009
SEASON NO. 102
The Chattanooga Mocs are in their 102nd season of collegiate football. The University of Chattanooga was founded in 1886 and football began play in 1904. No teams were fielded in 1917 and 1918 due to World War I. There was also a two-year hiatus from football action during World War II in 1943 and 1944. The Mocs have an all-time record of 454-467-32 (.493) and have won 10 conference titles.
ROSTER, DEPTH CHART AND BREAKDOWNS
A complete roster is located on pages 14-15 while a depth chart is found on pages 16-17 of the notes. A full roster breakdown is on page 18.
19 MOCS SEE FIRST COLLEGIATE ACTION IN FIRST FOUR GAMES
The Mocs had 16 players see their first collegiate action against Glenville State in the season opener. There were four first-timers in the starting line-up, including RT Dustin Tate, LG Will Hewitt, RB Bo Dyer and LB Ryan Consiglio. Two more, sophomore Thomas Green and freshman Arsenio Clemmons, got their feet wet against Furman for the first time against Furman. Adam Miller saw his first playing time at Presbyterian.
TEAM NOTES AGAINST WESTERN CAROLINA
- With the 24-20 win the Mocs improve to 5-3 on the season and even their SoCon record at 3-3. Western Carolina falls to 1-6 and 1-5 in the SoCon. UTC needs one more victory to secure its first winning season since going 6-5 in 2005.
- UTC turned the ball over twice (INT by Coleman and fumble by Camay) in the first quarter that led to two Catamount field goals. Those were the first points scored by WCU in the first quarter this season.
- UTC trailed 13-0 in the second quarter following Michael Johnson's one-yard TD run. The win marks UTC's biggest comeback since overcoming a 28-7 second quarter deficit in a 59-56 win against Appalachian State on Oct. 30, 2004.
- The Mocs trailed 20-15 entering the fourth quarter. Today's win was the first fourth quarter comeback since trailing 27-20 in a 30-27 win against Appalachian State on Oct. 20, 2000.
- After allowing 13 points and 140 yards of total offense, UTC only gave up seven points and 77 yards in the second half.
- The Mocs' offense line did not allow a sack for the second time this season.
- Chattanooga has a season-high 24 first downs.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES AGAINST WESTERN CAROLINA
Sophomore WR Sloan Allison
- Caught his second pass of the season for seven yards
Freshman RB Chris Awuah
- 29 yards rushing on 17 carries
- Scored his fourth rushing TD of the season...fifth overall
- Ties Tyrone Coleman (1995) for the third most rushing TDs by a freshman in UTC history
Senior DL Josh Beard
- Recorded six tackles and a sack
- Has 10.5 sacks on the season...came into the game leading the nation in sacks
- Needs two more sacks to break Tyler Unzicker's single-season school record of 12 set in 2001
Sophomore DB Joel Bradford
- Season-long 20 yard punt return
Senior K Craig Camay
- Connected on a career-high four field goals
- Hit from 27, 28, 30 and 37
- Scored a career-high 13 points
- Now has 118 career points, passing Gene Roberts (1944-45) for 10th place all-time at UTC
Sophomore QB B.J. Coleman
- 22-41 passing for 248 yards, one TD and one INT
- 13 TDs against 3 INTs on the season
- Has 1,710 yards passing on the season...10th highest total in a year in school history...that is the most yards in a season since Cedric Stevens had 2,708 in 2004
- Sixth 200+ passing game of the season...ties for seventh most in school history.
Senior WR Blue Cooper
- Career-high 16 catches in the game for a season-high 143 yards
- Third 100-yard receiving game of the season...fourth of his career.
- Now has 128 career receptions...moves into seventh place all-time at UTC
Freshman RB Bo Dyer
- 17 yards on 10 carries
- Most rushing attempts this season
- 15-yard run was a season-long
- Season-long 20-yard pass reception
Sophomore P Mike Hammons
- Career-long 54-yard punt in the first quarter
Junior Chris Pitchford
- Caught his fourth TD pass of the season...a 41-yard strike
- His only reception of the game was the second longest of his career
Junior DB Buster Skrine
- Season-high three PBUs to go with three tackles
Sophomore DB Jordan Tippit
- Fourth INT of the season
- Also recovered his second fumble of the year
Freshman DL Joshua Williams
- Recorded his sixth sack of the season
- Set a new freshman record in sacks
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