CHATTANOOGA—Another Friday is here. Just one more long day until an evening kickoff in Spartanburg at Wofford.
The first-place Chattanooga Mocs face a Terriers team that looks to get footing in the Southern Conference race. Chattanooga’s 2-0 is ahead of Western Carolina, Furman and VMI in second at 1-0. ETSU plays its first league game tomorrow sitting in fifth, a half-game ahead of the 0-1 trio of Mercer, Wofford and The Citadel. Samford, the Bucs opening opponent, holds the bottom line at 0-2.
Kickoff Saturday is at 6 p.m., on ESPN+ along with audio on the Mocs Sports Network. It also airs on WFLI 53.2 My Network TV in Chattanooga (308-EPB, 226-Comcast & 53-DirecTV).
Week 5: #22 Chattanooga (3-1/2-0) at Wofford (0-4/0-1)
Game Time: 6 p.m. | Location: Gibbs Stadium; Spartanburg, S.C. (Tickets)
Series: 14-15 (History)
Media: ESPN+ | Mocs Sports Network | Live Stats | Media Center (Game Notes)
ICYMI
This week’s stories leading into the game: Monday | Tuesday Presser | Wednesday Preview
What to Look for…
Offensively:
- SoCon Offense Leaders in: Scoring Offense (37.2), Completion Pct. (67.5%), Yards/Completion (14.77), Pass Efficiency (176.09), Time of Possession (32:52), Sacks Allowed (0.5/gm). TFLs Allowed (3.75) & Fumbles Lost (1).
- Offense yards per play over first four games: at UNA (5.6), Kennesaw State (6.8), The Citadel (7.6) & at Samford (6.9). Averaging 6.6 for the season.
- WR Sam Phillips is the SoCon standard and T11th in FCS in receptions per game (6.6).
- QB Chase Artopoeus is the league leader for total offense (306.5).
- Artopoeus needs three TD passes on Saturday to match the fastest-ever start by a Mocs QB joining Chris Sanders (1999) and B.J. Coleman (2010) with 12.
- Ford’s career record watch (numbers needed for new marks): 45 carries, 282 yards & nine rush scores. Currently has 744 carries, 3,770 yards & 35 rush TDs (37 total).
- O-Line is among the nation’s best in limiting sacks (4th) and tackles for loss (18).
Defensively:
- SoCon Defense Leaders in: Sacks (2.25), 3rd Down Conversion (28.6%), 2nd in Red Zone Defense (.556), Fewest Penalties per Game (4.00), Penalty Yards/Game (36.50) & Defensive Scores (2).
- Tied for the national lead in defensive scores (2). Both came on pick-6s last week at Samford (38yd-Alex Mitchell/78-Kam Brown).
- LB Bo Spearman is tops in the SoCon in fumble recoveries (2).
- Reserve LB Kobe Joseph leads SoCon in sacks per game (2, 0.67).
- Edge Jay Person (43.5) is 17.0 TFLs shy of a new career mark: Tull (60.0).
- S Jordan Walker leads the team with 28 tackles. He’s second to Jay Person (4.5) in TFLs with 4.0.
Something Special:
- K Jude Kelley leads the league in FG per game (2.0) and scoring (10.3).
- Kelley is 9th nationally in scoring (10.3).
- P/KO Specialist Clayton Crile has 16 touchbacks in 28 kickoffs with nearly all flying through the end zone. The majority of the 12 non-touchbacks were returns out of the end zone. Average starting position of returned kickoffs? 19.8 yardline.
Artopoeus Watch
Top 5 Passing Yards Thru 1st 5 Games
Nick Tiano (2018) – 1,442
Chris Sanders (2000) – 1,431
Chris Sanders (1999) – 1,425* (12 TD most in 1st 5G)
B.J. Coleman (2010) – 1,280 (12 TD)
B.J. Coleman (2009) – 1,132
Preston Hutchinson (2022) – 801
Chase Artopoeus (4G) – 1,110
Top 5 Total Offense Thru 1st 5 Games
Nick Tiano (2018) – 1,595
Chris Sanders (2000) – 1,406
Chris Sanders (1999) – 1,400*
B.J. Coleman (2010) – 1,275
Chase Artopoeus (4G) – 1,226
* indicates most in 1st 5 games as a Moc
*This article is courtesy of Chattanooga Mocs Athletics
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