Looking at Game 9, Chattanooga

Who: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs

When:  November 1, 2014 at 2:00 pm

Where: Bob Waters Field at E.J. Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC

Series history:  The Cats own a 16-24-0 record against the Mocs, having first played in football in 1973.  UTC currently owns a 5 game win streak against the Cats. and hold a 10-9 record in games played in Cullowhee.

Their coach:  Russ Huesman  - The 2013 SoCon Football Coach of the Year is entering his sixth season as head coach. Since taking over in 2009, Chattanooga is 31-25 under Huesman.

Last year’s record:  8-4 overall, 6-2 Southern Conference - The Mocs received a share of the 2013 Football Championship with a 6-2 conference record.  The Mocs shared the title with Furman and Samford. 

How they got there:  The Mocs started the season ranked 24 nationally and opened play with high hopes in Chattanooga against UT Martin. However, at the end of the day UTM departed Finley Stadium with smiles and a 31-21 victory over Chattanooga.  UTC traveled the next week to Atlanta, GA to meet Georgia State in the Georgia Dome and returned home with their first road win of the season, and a beatdown of Sun Belt Conference foe Georgia State, 42-14.  Week three had the Mocs returning to Finley where they picked up a home win over Austin Peay, 42-10.  Playing the second GSU in two weeks, the Mocs traveled to Statesboro, GA and lost to the number 15 ranked Eagles by 2 points, 21-23.  WCU was next to visit Finley, and the Mocs came away with their third victory of the young season, 42-21 over the Catamounts. Following WCU in Chattanooga was the other purple team Furman, who departed with the same outcome, a 31-9 loss.  In week seven, UTC traveled to Elon, NC where they picked up win number 5, over the Phoenix, 20-9.  The Citadel made the trip to Chattanooga next, dropping a 4 point loss to the Mocs,28-24.  The Mocs then traveled to Boone, NC where they snapped a 14 game losing streak in Boone to the Mountaineers, 35-28. Next up, #15 ranked Wofford invaded Finley Stadium, but departed with a 10-20 loss at the hands of the Mocs. The now #17 ranked Mocs traveled to Birmingham, AL to meet Samford for the final conference game of the season, but lost, in overtime to a determined Bulldog team, 14-7. In the final game of the season, the Mocs played at Alabama, giving up 49 points, scoring none. The 6-2 Mocs did not receive the conference auto bid, nor an at large invitation to the FCS playoff.

Last season's game vs. Chattanooga:   October, 5th 2013 -  Chattanooga quarterback Jacob Huesman tossed four touchdown passes and rushed for a fifth as the Mocs handed Western Carolina a 42-21 loss at Finley Stadium / Davenport Field. Huesman threw for 223 of UTC's 432 total yards of offense, adding 49 yards on the ground in the victory for the Mocs. Tailback Keon Williams rushed for 127 and a score in the winning effort.  Chattanooga converted three WCU first half interceptions into 14 points, while limiting the Cats to just 63 total yards in the opening half to carry a 21-0 point lead into the locker room.

Offensive Formation:   multiple

Defensive Formation:   multiple

Lettermen Returning:  39 / 19

Starters Returning/Loss:   15 - 9

Offensive starters - Returning/Lost:   8 - 3

Defensive starters - Returning/Lost:  5 - 6

Specialist Returning/Lost:   3 - 1

Statistics:
Scoring:   26.3 points per game
Rushing Offense:  212.4 yards per game
TDs rushing:   24
Passing Offense:  149.0 yards per game
TDs passing:   14
Total Offense:  361.4 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost:   10 - 6
Penalties-Yards:   47 - 394
On-side kicks:  0 - 0
3rd Down Conversions:  71 of 161  (44%)
4th Down Conversions:   12 of 21  (57%)
Field Goals - Attempts:   5 of 10  (50%)
Red-Zone Scores:  32 0f 39  (82)
Red-Zone Touchdowns:  28 of 39  (72%)

Losses/Weaknesses: - The Moc defense took the biggest hit in losses, losing 6 starters, two linebackers, two safeties, and two cornerbacks.  The defense also lost 3 additional lettermen - a defensive tackle, a linebacker and a cornerback.

Key Losses - Terrell Robinson - WR, Patrick Sutton - C, Kevin Revis - OG, Wess Dolhard - LB, Gunner Miller - LB, D.J. Key - S, Zach McCarter - S, Chaz Moore - CB, Kadeem Wise - S

Strengths: - The offensive side of the ball returns 8 starters, and defensive end Davis Tull, tight end Faysal Shafaat and defensive tackle Derrick Lott are preseason All-Americans, helping the Mocs to a No. 10 national ranking in the Lindy’s preseason top-25, No. 12 in Athlon and No. 14 in The Sporting News poll.

Returning Leaders: Jacob Huesman - QB, Keon Williams - RB, Nick Pollard - P, Davis Tull - DE, Faysal Shafaat - TE, Derrick Lott - DE


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