WCU Preseason Preview: Game #9 - Chattanooga

Throughout this preseason, Purple & Gold will preview all of  Western's 2024 football opponents. In the Catamount's ninth regular season game, the Cats return home to host the Chattanooga Mocs.  

Game #9 - Chattanooga Mocs 

Western faces the Mocs for the 50th time on the gridiron since 1973. The Cats host the Mocs in this years Homecoming in Cullowhee. 

When: Saturday, November 2, 2024

Time:  2:30 pm
Where:   EJ Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC  
Radio: Catamount Sports Network
   -announcers: Gary Ayers, PxP; Daniel Hooker, Color

TV/video:  ESPN+

Live Stats:  WCU Live Stats

Fan Message Board:  Moc Nation

The Series: In the 50th meeting between the two teams, the Cats own an 19-30 record against the Mocs. The Cats are riding a 2-game winning streak against the Mocs. Western is 11-14 in games played in Cullowhee against Chattanooga. 

Last Game vs. Chattanooga: (10-7-23) McCollum Caps Wild Saturday with a Walk-Off Field GoalMcCollum Caps Wild Saturday with a Walk-Off Field Goal - Redshirt senior kicker Richard McCollum split the uprights on a 32-yard game-winning, walk-off field goal to cap a wild Saturday afternoon in Southern Conference action as No. 17/11 Western Carolina rallied in the game's final minute to upend No. 20/24 Chattanooga 52-50 in a battle of ranked FCS teams at Finley Stadium.

Last Season's Record (2021):  8-5 overall, 3-2 home, 5-3 away, 5-2 SoCon  

Head Coach:  Rusty Wright - Rusty Wright is in his sixth year as head coach of the Mocs football program. He was officially introduced on Friday, Dec. 21, 2018. A 23-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

Record at UTC: 30-22 (6th year) 

Rusty Wright vs. WCU:  3 - 2

Kerwin Bell vs. UTC:  2 - 1

Offense: Multiple 

-  Returning/Lost: 7/4 

Defense: Multiple 

-  Starters Returning/Lost: 7/4 

Specialists (K/LS) 

-  Starters Returning/Lost: 0/4 

In preseason SoCon voting, the Mocs were picked to finish first in the standings by the coaches and ten players selected for the preseason All-SoCon teams. The Mocs also have the SoCon's Defensive Player of the Year, senior defensive lineman, Marlon Taylor.

The Mocs returns 14 players who made starts in 2023 on the offensive side of the ball. On defense, they return 12 with starts under their belt.  Senior running back Ailym Ford, has rushed for three 1,000-yard seasons. He is coming off a career-best 1,199 leading the SoCon in yards per game.

In the preseason, Chattanooga ranks #9 in the Stats Poll, #10 in HERO Sports’ FCS Poll, and #10 in the AGS Poll. The Mocs finished 8-5 last year, exiting in the playoffs in the second round with a 26-7 loss at Furman.

Offense. Chattanooga returns its quarterback, two of its top three wide receivers, and three starters on the offensive line. QB Chase Artopoeus enters his his second season with the Mocs (transferring from UCLA). Last season he was 187/298 passing for 2,672 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions.  Chattanooga also added transfer Chris Domercant, a WR and a All-NEC selection last year, Domercant played in 24 career games and had 85 catches for 1,520 yards and 16 touchdowns.  The offensive line returns three starters, Reid Williams (6’1″ 286 lbs): Dave Monnot III (6’6″ 315 lbs): and Almarion Crim (6’2″ 295 lbs). 

Defense.  The defensive line returns Marlon Taylor (6’2″ 322 lbs) and Quay Wiggles (6’3″ 281 lbs) in the middle.  Taylor, a two-time All-SoCon selection had 30 tackles, nine TFLs, and 5.5 sacks last year. Wiggles totaled 25 tackles and five TFLs in 2023. Defensive transfers include DB Treyvon Hobbs; Lafayette DB Taylor Smallwood; UT Martin EDGE David Stewart; ULM EDGE Joseph Bakhole; WKU DB Amaari Smith;  and WKU DB T.J. Springer.

2023 Mocs Statistics (11 games):

Rushing Offense: 1810 yards 

Yards per game: 139.2
Yards per rush: 3.8 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 94
TDs rushing: 16
Passing Offense: 3189 yards or 245 yards per game

Avg. per pass: 8.3 yards
Passing 1st downs: 146
Passing Comp-Att-Int: 230-384-12            
TDs Passing: 22
Total Offense: 4999 yards or 385 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 10-4
3d Down Conversions: 64 of 168 (38%)
4th Down Conversions: 4 of 8 (50%)
Field goal attempts: 23 - 32
On-side kicks: 0-1
Red Zone Scores: 41 of 46  (89%)
Red Zone Touchdowns: 24 of 46 (42%)