In game eight of the 2015 football season, the Catamounts return to the road, traveling across the mountains to Chattanooga, TN to play in one in one of the more difficult places in the Southern Conference for the Cats to pick up a win, Finley Stadium.
The Cats own a 16-25-0 all time record against the Mocs, having first played in 1973. Currently the Mocs have a 6 game win streak going against Western, and hold a 19-5 record in games played in Chattanooga.
The Cats have lost the last four games played in Finley, last winning in 2005, by a final score of 38-20. This season, the Mocs are ranked #4 nationally.
Chattanooga
When: Saturday, October 31 at 2:00 pm
Where: Finley Stadium (29,688). Chattanooga, TN
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
TV / video: ESPN3
Game Notes: Western Carolina - Chattanooga
SoCon Weekly Teleconference: Coach Speir - Coach Huesman
Head Coach: Russ Huesman
Huesman has orchestrated a turnaround for the Mocs over the last six years, including back-to-back Southern Conference titles and the first trip to the FCS Playoffs since 1984. A 1983 graduate of UTC and a former defensive back for Chattanooga. Huesman is the 2014 Southern Conference Coach of the Year.
Last Year's Record: 10-4 overall (home 5-1, road 5-3), 7-0 SoCon
Last Season's Game vs. Chattanooga (November 1st 2014): Catamounts Fall to No. 12 Chattanooga in Battle of SoCon Unbeatens -
No. 12/14 Chattanooga rolled up 512 yards of offense including a season-high 386 yards on the ground as it handed Western Carolina its first Southern Conference loss of the season in a 51-0 defeat Saturday afternoon at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.
Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 7 / 4 - On offense, the Mocs lost running back Keon Williams, wide receiver Tommy Hudson, tight end Faysal Shafaat, and guard Chris Mayes to graduation. While not a starter last season (but probably would have started in 2015, Troy Dye a redshirt senior, has decided not to return for his fifth season.
Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 7 / 4 - On defense, the Mocs lost two defensive ends in Zack Rayl and Davis Tull, defensive tackel Daniel Ring, and linebacker Muhasibi Wakeel to graduation
Specialist - Returning/Lost: 4 / 3 - On special teams, the Mocs lost punter/kicker Nick Pollard, and returners Tommy Hudson and Maquis Green to graduation.
Offensive Formation: multiple
Defensive Formation: multiple
The Mocs are coming off back-to-back Southern Conference titles, including last year’s 7-0 record in league play. Chattanooga advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2014 FCS Playoffs with a 10-4 overall record and is a preseason top-10 squad.
At the 2015 SoCon Media Day, the two-time defending champion Mocs were picked by both the coaches and media to repeat their championship run. Eight Mocs earned first-team mention, while four more slotted on the second team. Senior quarterback Jacob Huesman is the preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and is joined on the first team offense by junior offensive lineman Corey Levin, while the defense netted five led by senior defensive tackle Josh Freeman. Juniors Keionta Davis (DE), Nakevion Leslie (LB) and Dee Virgin (Jr.) and sophomore safety Lucas Webb (FS) join Freeman. Junior Henrique Ribeiro is first team pick at place-kicker. Three offensive performers and one defender are on the second team ledger. Junior safety Cedric Nettles accompanies senior guard Synjen Herron, junior wide receiver C.J. Board and sophomore center Jacob Revis.
2015 Chattanooga Statistics (YTD - 7 games):
Rushing Offense: 1589 yards
Yards per game: 227
Yards per rush: 4.9 yards
TDs rushing: 13
Passing Offense: 1081 yards or 154 yards per game
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 105-165-6
Total Offense: 2670 yards or 381 yards per game
Passing 1st downs: 48
Rushing 1st downs: 93
Fumbles-Lost: 5 - 1
Penalties-Yards: 36 -- 341 yards
3d Down Conversions: 47 of 100 or 47%
4th Down Conversions: 5 of 11 or 45%
Field Goals - Attempts: 10 of 12
Red-Zone Scores: 25 of 31 (81%)
Red-Zone Touchdowns: 17 of 31 (55%)
Punts (No. Yards): 29 (1178 yds)
Avg, per punt: 41 yds
Sacks: 22
PAT-Attempts: 24 of 24 - 100%
Field Goals-Attempts: 10 of 12
On-Side Kicks: 0 of 0
Who has the Bulldogs played prior to Western?
The Mocs are 6-1 overall, 4-0 in the SoCon, and have won 6 games in a row. They are 2-1 at home and 4-0 on the road. They currently rank #4 nationally.
The Mocs opened the season with a loss at home against #7 Jacksonville State, 20-23.
Chattanooga remained at home for game two, as the Lions of Mars Hill visited, and the Mocs' picked up their first win of the season, a 10 point victory, 34-44 over the Div. II team. The Mocs Derrick Craine ran for a career-best 169 yards with four touchdowns,
In game 3, the Mocs traveled to Samford and collected another 10 point win, this time against the Bulldogs, 31-21.
Game 4 kept the Mocs on the road, traveling to Clinton, SC to meet Presbyterian, where the Mocs shut out the Blue Hose, 21-0.
In game 5, the Mocs returned to Chattanooga, to face the Furman Paladins. The Paladins were only able to put up a first quarter field goal, as the Mocs pulled off a 31-3 win.
Game 6 took the Mocs to Lexington to meet the VMI Keydets. It took the Mocs' kicker, Henrique Ribeiro four field goals, which tied a school record for Chattanooga to win the game, 33-27.
On the road for the second week, the Mocs traveled to Spartanburg to meet the Wofford Terriers in game 7. Chattanooga kicker, Henrique Ribeiro, again saved a game for the Mocs - for the second straight week - as he booted a 38-yard feild goal as time expired for a 20-17 win at Wofford.
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