Game #5 - Chattanooga

In the Catamounts' fifth game of the 2021 season, the Cats travel to the #19 University of Tennessee - Chattanooga.  This will be the Cat's second straight visit to Chattanooga, as the Mocs canceled their season this past spring, just prior to their scheduled visit to Cullowhee leaving three conference opponents high and dry while denying the Cats one of their home games.  

Western faces the Mocs for the 47th time on the gridiron, since 1973.

Game 5 - at UT Chattanooga Mocs

When: Saturday, October 2, 2021

Time:  1:30 pm
Where:  Finley Stadium (20,412), Chattanooga, TN
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
-announcers: Gary Ayers, PxP; Daniel Hooker, Color, Greg McLamb, sideline

TV/video: ESPN3

-announcers:  Chris Goforth (PxP), Scott McMahen (Analysis) & Dave Keylon (Sideline)

Live Stats:  Mocs Live Stats

Tickets:  Mocs Ticket Office

Fan Message Board:  Moc Nation

Game Notes:  Western Carolina    -     Chattanooga

The Series: In the 47th meeting between the two teams, the Cats own a 17-29 record against the Mocs. The Cats have lost 2 straight to Chattanooga, and 10 of the last 11 games played.  Western is 7-15 against UTC in games played in Chattanooga since 1973. The Cats last won in Chattanooga, TN in 2017

Last Game vs. Chattanooga (September 28, 2019) - Strong Offensive, Special Teams Efforts Not Enough in Loss at UTC - Chattanooga, Tenn. – On the strength of a 17-yard touchdown pass from Tyrie Adams to tight end Owen Cosenke and a two-point conversion rush by Curtis Roach on a fake PAT, Western Carolina closed to within one score, 44-36, with just under six minutes remaining in the third quarter of an offensive Saturday afternoon. However, the Chattanooga Mocs pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 60-36 Southern Conference victory at Finley Stadium. The two teams combined for 1,086 combined yards of total offense.

This Season's Record (Fall 2021):  1-2 overall, 0-1 home, 1-1 away, 0-0 SoCon
Last Season's Record (Spring 2021 - UTC): 3-2 overall, 1-1 home, 2-1 away, 3-1 SoCon  

Head Coach:  Rusty Wright - Rusty Wright is in his third year as head coach of the Mocs football program. He was officially introduced on Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. A 22-year veteran of the collegiate coaching ranks, Wright is a 1996 graduate of UTC with a degree in Sports Administration. He was a four-year letter winner for the Mocs football team and had two stints as an assistant coach at UTC. “I am extremely excited to announce Rusty Wright as the next head coach of Chattanooga Football,” stated UTC Director of Athletics Mark Wharton. “Once again, our program, University, and community attracted an outstanding candidate pool.”

Offensive Formation: Multiple

Defensive Formation: Multiple

Rusty Wright vs. WCU:  1 - 0

Kerwin Bell vs. UTC:  0 - 0

The Coaches Poll has the quitters at #19, while College Sports Journal Sagarin Ranks them at #24 this week.  With all 11 starters back on the offensive side of the ball for the Mocs, with additional depth in the number of backups that got extended looks in the spring.  Jacobs Blocking Award winner Cole Strange anchors an offensive line that has three different running backs behind it with collegiate 100-yard games. The defense was dominant with All-America defensive lineman Devonnsha Maxwell headlining the crew.

Jacobs Blocking Award winner Cole Strange anchors an offensive line that has three different running backs behind it with collegiate 100-yard games. The defense was dominant with All-America defensive lineman Devonnsha Maxwell headlining the crew.

The Mocs had a bye week after playing at Kentucky, and just before playing the Cats, giving them two weeks to rest, recuperate and prepare for the Cats.  The Mocs are deep on both sides of the ball with experience. Forty-six members of the roster are in their fourth year or more at the college level, redshirt included.

Western Carolina's offense has passed the 500 total-yard mark in each of its 3 FCS games this fall, including 650 yards at Gardner-Webb. The Catamounts have run 83-or-more plays against like opponents including 97 against Samford and matched a school record with 99 at Gardner-Webb. WCU enters the weekend ranked third in the conference in total offense at 458.0 yards per game, against a Chattanooga team that ranks second in the SoCon, limiting opponents to just 314.3 yards per game and just 19.3 points per game.

In an effort to put fans in seats in the Finley Stadium, the Mocs are promoting the game as a "White Out", it's also "Family Weekend" and "Band Day". However, I'd expect you'll see less than the 8,115 they had on Opening Day, against OVC's Austin Peay. In 2019, the last regular season prior to Covid 19, the Mocs averaged 7,767 for 6 home games.

 

2021 Mocs Statistics (Fall 3 games):
Rushing Offense: 464 yards on 107 attempts
Yards per game: 154.7
Yards per rush: 4.3 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 20
TDs rushing: 4
Passing Offense: 398 yards or 132.7 yards per game
Avg. per pass: 4.8 yards
Passing 1st downs: 24
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 42-83-5                
TDs Passing: 2
Total Offense: 862 yards or 287.3yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 0-0
3d Down Conversions: 14 of 43 (33%)
4th Down Conversions: 1 of 1 (100%)
Field goal attempts:5 - 5
On-side kicks: 0-0
Red Zone Scores: 10 of 11  (91%)
Red Zone Touchdowns: 6 of  11 (86%)
PAT:  6 of 7 (86%)