Cole Copeland made his debut for the Mocs. Copeland was 30 for 42 with four interceptions and two touchdowns.
photo by Greg Davick
The Chattanooga Mocs could not withstand a second quarter onslaught in a 41-17 Homecoming loss to Furman Saturday afternoon at Finley Stadium. The loss spoiled the debut of true freshman Cole Copeland.
The Cleveland, Tenn., native completed his first eight passes. He ended up throwing for 317 yards, which is the most yards on record by a true freshman, connecting on 30 of his 42 attempts.
The play of the game came early in the second quarter. After a third-down conversion kept the drive alive at the Furman 40, Cole Copeland lofted a pass down the right sideline.
Alphonso Stewart collected the ball over the defensive back at the 10 and ran the final yards for the score and a 10-7 lead.
But the Mocs did not have an answer for the ground game. The Paladins gained 137 of its 290 total rushing yards in the second quarter. Antonio Wilcox's four-yard and Darius Morehead's 12-yard scampers sandwiched a 15-yard pass from P.J. Blazejowski to Andy Schumpert for a 27-10 halftime advantage.
A 20-yard strike from Copeland to James Stovall cut the lead to 34-17 early in the fourth quarter. It would get no closer. A late pick-6 from Dillon Vann cemented the Paladins victory.
Stewart was his favorite targets with seven catches for 138 yards and a TD. Richardre Bagley added six receptions and is now just four shy of the school record of 90 career receptions by a running back (Darryle Streeter, 1984-88).
Kealand Dirks led the stout Furman rushing attack with 101 yards on 19 totes. Wilcox chipped in 64 yards and the score, while QB P.J. Blazejowski netted 51 yards rushing to go with 138 yards in the air with three scores before departing with an injury.