For the fifth game of the season, the Cats travel to Chattanooga, TN for what will be the third road game of the young season. Chattanooga has become a very difficult place for the Catamounts to win.
Both teams are coming off conference wins, as the Cats upset #17 Samford and the Mocs dominated VMI on the road.
The Cats last won in Chattanooga in 2005, with a 38-20 victory. and the Cats are currently on an eight-game losing streak against the Mocs.
When: Saturday, September 30 - Time 6:00 pm ET
Where: Finely Stadium, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
TV/video: ESPN3
Game Notes (when available): Western Carolina - Chattanooga - SoCon Weekly Release
Moc's Fan Message Board: Chattanooga Moc Nation
Head Coach: Tom Arth (John Carroll, ‘03)
Record at Chattanooga: First Year
Career Record: 40-8 (4 yrs)
Basic Offense: Multiple
Basic Defense: Multiple
Lettermen Returning / Lost: 48 / 21
Starters Returning / Lost (O/D/S): 12(5/5/2) / 13 (6/6/1)
The Series: The Cats own a 16-27-0 all-time record against the Mocs, having first played in 1973. Currently, the Mocs are on an 8 game win streak in the series, with the Cats last victory against the Mocs coming in Cullowhee in 2008.
Games played by the Mocs prior to the WCU game: (4) Record: 1-3 overall, 0-1 home, 1-1 away, 0-1 neutral
- JSU (away) - The 12th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs dropped a 27-13 decision at the hands of No. 5 Jacksonville State in the Cramton Bowl.
- LSU (away) - The 13th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs dropped a 45-10 decision at No. 12 LSU. UTC falls to 0-2, while their hosts improve to 2-0.
- UT Martin (home) - The 15th-ranked Chattanooga Mocs could not overcome an early deficit in a 21-7 loss to UT Martin in the home opener at Finley Stadium. It drops UTC to 0-3, while UTM improves to 2-1.
- VMI (away) - UTC opened Southern Conference play with a 63-7 triumph over the Keydets in Foster Stadium.
The last time we played Chattanooga: Oct. 29, 2016 - Newsome Breaks School-Record in 38-25 Loss to #8 Chattanooga - Western Carolina junior tailback Detrez Newsome rushed for a school-record 277 yards and two lengthy touchdowns, but it was not enough to derail the eighth-ranked Chattanooga Mocs. UTC’s Ricarde Bagley scored three touchdowns including two on the ground as the Mocs downed the upset-minded Catamounts, 38-25, on Homecoming at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field.
The Mocs entered the season with high expectations, but dropped their first three games, picking up their first win against the SoCon's other winless team, VMI. A large piece of the Mocs problems revolved around the absence of senior quarterback Alejandro Bennifield. Bennifield was suspended for 4 games by the NCAA and is eligible to return for the Western Carolina game. Sophomore quarterback Nick Tiano has picked up four starts in the absence of Bennefield, at this time it's unknown which of the two will start the Western game, but I expect to see Bennifield with significant playing time with or without the start.
Chattanooga placed a league-high 10 student-athletes on the SoCon preseason all-conference teams. Senior defensive back Lucas Webb was joined by junior defensive lineman Isaiah Mack, senior linebacker Dale Warren and senior offensive lineman Josh Cardiello on offense first team. Senior quarterback Alejandro Bennifield, senior running back Richardre Bagley, sophomore offensive lineman Malcolm White and senior wide receiver James Stovall were named to the second team offense. Senior defensive lineman Taylor Reynolds and senior defensive back Trevor Wright earned second-team defense honors. The Mocs were picked to finish fourth by the coaches and media.
2017 Chattanooga Statistics (thru 4 games)
Rushing Offense: 298 yards
Yards per game: 75
Yards per rush: 2.5 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 19
TDs rushing: 5
Passing Offense: 785 yards or 196 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 5.8 yds
Passing 1st downs: 37
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 135-76-6
TDs Passing: 6
Total Offense: 1083 yards or 271 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 4-2
3d Down Conversions: 21-56
4th Down Conversions: 4-8
Field goal attempts: 12 - 15
On-side kicks: 0-0
Field goal - attempts: 12-15
Red Zone Scores: 11-13
Red Zone Touchdowns: 8-13
Punts - Yards: 20 - 845 - Avg per punt: 42
Touchdowns scored: 12
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