The Chattanooga Mocs are back in Southern Conference play this weekend at ETSU. The Mocs and Bucs renew acquaintances for the 47th time. Kickoff is Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at Greene Stadium in Johnson City on ESPN+.
The Mocs enter at 1-3 coming off a home win over Portland State this past weekend. They set season highs across the board offensively in the 45-30 triumph. The Bucs moved into the top 25 this week at No. 23 after a 34-17 victory at The Citadel.
This is the first of seven straight weeks in league play before closing the regular season outside the conference at Austin Peay.
This will be the 47th meeting with the Bucs coming in with a 26-19-1 series record. The first meeting was a 27-6 win on Sept. 29, 1961 at Chamberlain Field.
ETSU Coach Tre Lamb is from nearby Calhoun, Ga. TE/ST Coach Jay Graham is a former Chattanooga assistant (2006-RBs). Dir. of Football Relations David Blackburn was the Mocs AD from 2013-18. Bucs from Chattanooga area high schools: LB Dre Delinois (McCallie), WR Xavier Gaillerdetz (McCallie), DB Terrance Lee (Brainerd), WR Karim Page (Dalton) & QB William Riddle (McCallie).
Mocs from the Tri-Cities region: LB Amanuel Dickson (Greeneville).
Mocs are among others receiving votes nationally in both FCS polls. In the last seven meetings, five have been decided by a single score. In those contests, the total combined points were between 13 and 40. Last year’s 34-3 win over ETSU was the largest margin of victory in the series for UTC (31 pts).
QB Chase Artopoeus is the SoCon leader in passing yards (1,028), pass yards per game (257.0) and pass yards/completions (15.82). He's top 20 nationally in pass yds/comp (5th), yds/pass attempt (11), pass yds/game (12), pass yards (16) & total offense (18).
WR Sam Phillips is the SoCon leader in all-purpose yards (123.8), receiving yards (480), receiving yards per game (120.0) and receptions per game (6.0). He's top 20 nationally in receiving yds/game (2nd), total receiving yards (3), receptions per game (11), all-purpose yards (17) & yards per reception (20).
WR Javin Whatley tied for the SoCon lead in receiving TDs (3) and 22nd in the country.
DE Leroy Harris III is tied for first in the league and 16th nationally in fumble recoveries (1).
LB Alex Mitchell is 19th in the country in tackles per game (9.3).
The devastation of Hurricane Helene in northeast Tennessee has the two rivals teaming up this weekend. The counties of Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Johnson and Unicoi were among the hardest hit by the storm. The Bucs athletics department is taking donations in their Food City Fan Zone and at the entry gates this Saturday.
Needed Items:
- Toiletries
- Water
- Non-Perishable Food Items
- Cleaning Supplies
- Heavy Duty Trash Bags
- New Clothing
- N95 Masks