No. 11 Chattanooga 20, No. 13 Furman 18
FCS No. 12 Chattanooga used a masterful defensive effort, limiting No. 13 Furman to just 170 yards of total offense and turned the Paladins over four times en route to a 20-18 Southern Conference win Saturday afternoon at Paladin Stadium.
With the win, the Mocs improved to 3-1 this season and remained a perfect 3-0 in the Southern Conference. The Paladins fell to 3-2 overall and also fell to 3-2 in league play this spring.
The 170 yards of total offense was easily the lowest output of the spring for the Paladin offense, and lowest against any foe since mustering just 163 yards against No. 2 Clemson in the season-opener of the 2018 season. Against an FCS foe, the yardage output was the lowest of the Clay Hendrix era (2017-present). Chattanooga held the Paladins to just 49 rushing yards, while posting 172 yards of its own on the ground.
While Furman was able to muster only 70 yards in the opening half, the Paladins were only able to generate 100 yards in the second half. Despite all that, and being out-gained 390-170, the Paladins still had their chances to win the game in the second half, thanks in large part to another strong performance by their play on the defensive side of the football. The Paladin defensive unit were on the field a full 13 minutes more than their opponent (36:37-23:23).
The Furman offense found itself behind the eight-ball from the outset of the contest, and through the first 20 minutes of game action, had only 19 yards of total offense. However, despite getting out-gained 227-70 in the opening half of play, the Paladins found themselves behind by only four points (10-6) at the half.
Mocs place-kicker Skyler Wilson connected on a 42-yard field goal with 7:36 remaining in the contest, as he connected on both of his field goal attempts to bookend the Mocs' scoring on the day, while also handling the punting duties after being pressed into action without the availability of regular starting punter Gabe Boring.
Furman took the lead for the second and final time of the contest early in the fourth quarter, as freshman running back Kendall Thomas hauled in an 11-yard pass for the go-ahead touchdown with 14:41 remaining in the game. Following a missed two-point conversion by Furman, who opted to attempted to go for an the extra point on the scoreboard after place-kicker Timmy Bleekrode had one blocked earlier in the contest.
The Paladin offense had been set up in its best position all afternoon after Wilson accidently downed the ball at the 11 following what was a low snap.
It looked as though the Paladins might be able to get even more of an advantage following a nice stand by the Furman defense, as Luke Wilson applied heavy pressure to Drayton Arnold, who was throwing out of his own end zone, and the ball was picked off by Furman safety Hugh Ryan at the UTC 38.
However, with a chance to add to its lead, the Furman offense couldn't generate any yardage, and Bleekrode came on to try and pin the Mocs deep within their own end, however, a perfect punt by Bleekrode, which couldn't be downed inside the two after it was mis-played, would give the Mocs some breathing run and come out to the 25.
The Mocs made the most of that Paladin miscue, as Cole Copeland re-entered the lineup and led the Mocs on an 11-play, 55-yard drive to set up what would be the game-winning points provided by Wilson on the 42-yard field goal.
Both team's would put points on the board in the third quarter. On its opening drive of the second half, the Paladins would take their first lead of the day when tight end Jake Walker hauled in the first of two scoring passes from Sisson, as the duo connected on a three-yard pass to give Furman a 12-10 lead. For the second time this season, the Paladins would suffer a miscue on a PAT, and it would prove costly, as Bleekrode's attempt would be blocked.
The Mocs would respond with one of their best drives of the day on the ensuing drive, needing just six plays to cover 75 yards, as Gino Applebury ran the ball in from from three yards out and Wilson's PAT would give the Mocs a 17-12 lead with 7:10 remaining in the third quarter.
Chattanooga received the opening kickoff and managed to drive, using a 26-yard one-handed catch from Reginald Henderson to set the Mocs offense at Furman 22. Chattanooga would reach the four-yard line before being turned away by the Paladin defense, as they held the Mocs to a 22-yard field goal from Wilson to give the Mocs the lead with 9:10 left in the first quarter. The key play on the drive was a 50-yard pass completion from Arnold-to-Henderson on a 3rd-and-16 play, which got the Mocs all the way down to the Furman 31.
Furman's opening possession would result in the first turnover of the day, as Paladin quarterback Hamp Sisson was pressured by Devonsha Maxwell and the ball was intercepted by Ty Boeck to set the Mocs up inside Paladin territory at the 40. Six plays later, the Mocs would score the game's first touchdown on a 1-yard plunge from Tyrell Price to extend the Mocs lead to 10-0 with 5:31 remaining in the opening quarter.
Furman's second possession of the day resulted in a second turnover for the Paladins, as a missed exchange between Sisson and Devin Wynn gave the Mocs great field position once again at the Paladin 30. The Paladin defense would force the Mocs into a decision on 4th-and-3, and the Mocs opted to go for it after a timeout by Furman. However, an incomplete pass on fourth down from Mocs quarterback Drayton Arnold would see Chattanooga turn it over on downs.
The Paladins got their first break of the day on a botched exchange on a Chattanooga punt, as place-kicker Skyler Wilson would give the Paladins a first down at the UTC 36. After netting only one yard, the Paladins had to settle for a 40-yard Bleekrode field goal, which split the uprights with 12:01 remaining in the half, bringing the Paladins to within a touchdown, at 10-3. Despite only having 16 yards of total offense and no first downs, the damage had been managed well by the Paladins all things considered.
Midway through the second quarter, Furman's defense would force a turnover on a third-and-long play, as Jeremiah Jackson would get the quarterback pressure, and Luke Clark came up with the intercetpion to set the Paladins inside Mocs territory.
However, after gaining its first first down of the day, the Paladins were penalized for an offensive pass interference on the next play, forcing the Paladins to have to settle for a 46-yard Timmy Bleekrode field goal, which had the distance, but ended up being wide left.
Late in the half, the Paladins would get their second interception of the day when Braden Gilby stepped in front of a Cole Copeland at the Furman 5-yard line and returned to the 25. After a 15-yard penalty put the Paladins at their own 40 with 1:31 remaining in the half, it left time for points to be put on the board in a game where they were coming at premium on both sides.
A 16-yard pass completion from Sisson to Wynn helped the Paladins advance the ball into Mocs territory at the 47. Another completion to Noah Henderson got the Paladins to the 22 before the Paladins eventually had to settle for a Bleekrode 37-yard field goal to make it a 10-6 game at halftime.
Sisson finished the contest by completing 10-of-23 passes for 121 yards with two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Arnold completed the day connecting on 6-of-20 passes for 125 yards, with two interceptions. Copeland completed the day by connecting on 5-of-9 passes for 93 yards and an interception.
Tyrell Price was the story running the football for the Mocs, as he completed the day by rushing for 111 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries. Applebury finished the contest by rushing for 85 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
The Paladins were led on the ground by Devin Abrams, who rushed for 31 yards on eight carries, while Sisson added 20 yards on 10 rush attempts. Furman leading rusher Devin Wynn completed the afternoon with just seven yards on nine carries.
The Mocs got four catches for 95 yards from Reginald Henderson, while Price hauled in two passes for 36 yards. Jamoi Mayes also hauled in a pass for 42 yards. Abrams and Noah Henderson led the Paladins in receiving, as each hauled in two passes for 27 yards.
Defensively, linebacker Ty Boeck led the Mocs with eight tackles, with an interception and a fumble recovery, while fellow linebacker Kam Jones added six tackles and 3.5 TFL. Furman was led by linebacker Braden Gilby, who posted 10 tackles, an interception and a pass breakup.
The Paladins have the week off next Saturday, while Chattanooga will host Mercer in a noon kickoff at Finley Stadium.
Other Notes Around the SoCon From Saturday:
--No. 19 VMI remained undefeated, as the Keydets went on the road and claimed a 38-37 overtime win at Samford. Junior wide receiver Michael Jackson hauled in the game-winning two-point conversion from quarterback Reece Udinski in the back of the end zone to give the 19th-ranked Keydets a 4-0 start to the spring.
--The 4-0 start for the Keydets is the best start to a season by the Keydets since 1981
--VMI rallied from a 13-point deficit to post their second overtime win over the Bulldogs in the last two meetings between the two programs. Last season, VMI was a 48-41 winner over Samford in Lexington.
--The Keydets improved to 9-4 in program history in overtime games, including 4-0 on the road.
--Samford QB Liam Welch passed for a school-record 570 yards for the Bulldogs in the loss.
--Since the start of the 2019 campaign, the Bulldogs have played six overtime games, with a record of 1-5 in those games.
--Samford out-gained VMI 633-486 in total offense
--SoCon preseason Player of the Year Reece Udinski was 40-of-57 passing for 353 yards, with three touchdowns and an INT.
--The Citadel suffered its 10th-straight loss dating back to 2019, as the East Tennessee State Buccaneers came to Charleston and came away with a 28-21 win at Johnson-Hagood Stadium on Saturday.
--The Bucs won despite totaling just 223 yards of total offense, with 21 points coming off Bulldog turnovers
--Tyree Robinson highlighted the Bucs ball-hawking defensive performance, returning a fumble 27 yards for a score in the opening quarter.
--Will Huzzie was ETSU's best offensive weapon on the day, as he hauled in six passes for 94 yards and a score, while Alijah Huzzie added an interception on the defensive side of the football.
--The Citadel was limited to just 168 yards of total offense by the Bucs defense, including just 138 yards on the ground.
--Mercer was able to post its second win of the spring, posting a 45-28 win over Western Carolina in Macon. The road loss by the Catamounts marked their 10th-straight away from the friendly confines of E.J. Whitmire Stadium, as the Catamounts fell to 1-7 overall in the 2020-21 season, including 1-4 in SoCon play. Mercer improved to 2-5 overall and 2-2 in SoCon play for the 2020-21 season.
--Mercer held a 426-230 advantage in total yards of offense.
--The 308 rushing yards by the Bears in Saturday's win over the Catamounts were the most in the Drew Cronic era.
--Nakendrick Clark led the rushing efforts for Mercer, finishing with 92 yards and two scores on 23 carries.
Stats of the Weekend
--Widely considered the two top rushers in the SoCon, ETSU's Quay Holmes and Furman's Devin Wynn were held to a combined 34 yards and one rushing score on 21 rush attempts.
--Liam Welch's 570 passing yards for Samford were more than The Citadel, Furman and Western Carolina combined for (568 yds) in Saturday's SoCon action.
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