Chattanooga 38, Mercer 31
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Mercer University football team nearly rallied from a 21-point deficit, before dropping a shootout to No. 14 Chattanooga, 38-31, on Saturday afternoon at Finley Stadium.
After a 28-straight points by Chattanooga (5-3, 4-0 SoCon) gave the Mocs a 35-14 advantage in the third quarter, back-to-back touchdowns pulled the Bears (5-4, 1-4 SoCon) back into the game.
Trailing by just one score late in the fourth quarter, Mercer drove into the red zone thanks to a 39-yard run by Alex Lakes. However, two passes into the end zone would each fall inches short of the equalizer, as the Mocs took over and essentially ran out the clock. The Bears got one more opportunity with four seconds remaining, but their Hail Mary attempt fell short.
Both offenses were on full display, as the two teams combined for 982 yards of total offense including 700 yards through the air. Mercer finished with 440 yards of total offense, the most given up by Chattanooga, the SoCon’s leading defense, this season.
John Russ broke his own school record with 293 yards passing, finishing with 310 yards of total offense and three total touchdowns. Alex Lakes tallied 100 yards rushing in the contest to record his second-straight triple-digit rushing performance.
For the first time in program history, the Bears had three players with over 80 yards receiving. Chandler Curtis led the way with five receptions for 89 yards and a score, while Robert Brown and Tee Mitchell combined for 166 yards receiving on five catches.
Mercer scored on its second drive of the game thanks to some good field position, moving 61 yards in three plays for the game’s first score. The Bears opened the drive with a 49-yard strike from Russ to Brown, which set up a first down from the UTC 12-yard line. Two plays later, Russ would punch in his third rushing touchdown of the year,
Chattanooga threatened on its next drive, as C.J. Board rolled 53 yards off a bubble screen to move the Mocs to the Mercer 15. However, Lendell Arnold recovered a fumble on the very next play to give the ball back to Mercer.
The Bears were unable to take advantage though, going three-and-out to hand the ball back to the Mocs. Chattanooga overcame an early penalty to answer with a 10-play, 55-yard scoring drive to tie the game, as Jacob Huesman threw for 59 yards on the drive including a four-yard touchdown pass to Troy Dye.
It didn’t take long for Mercer to put itself back on top though, scoring on its next offensive play. Russ hit Mitchell on a screen pass that went 74 yards for a touchdown, the longest play allowed by the Mocs’ defense this season, to hand the Bears a 14-7 lead heading into the second quarter.
Chattanooga rallied in the second quarter, behind a pair of scoring drives. Huesman wrapped up a Huesman wrapped up a 63-yard drive with a six-yard score on a quarterback draw early in the period, before Keon Williams’ touchdown dive on fourth and goal sent the Mocs into halftime with a 21-14 advantage.
The Mocs pushed their lead to 35-14 with two-straight scores in the third quarter. Huesman keyed the run with a 48-yard scamper that set up Derrick Craine’s one-yard score, before connecting with Xavier Borishade for a 61-yard touchdown and a 35-14 lead.
Mercer responded with a 75-yard, 10-play drive to stop the bleeding. Russ and Brown connected again for a 35-yard gain to move inside the 15-yard line, before a trick play cut the deficit to 35-21. JeTarii Donald took the pitch from Russ and tossed an eight-yard touchdown pass to JT Palmer.
The Bears kept the momentum going, as Alex Avant picked off his third pass of the year on the next series to hand the offense the ball at the Mocs’ 41-yard line.
Mercer took advantage of the turnover immediately, as Russ hit Curtis for a 41-yard touchdown pass to pull within a score, 35-28.
The Mocs pushed their lead back to double-digits on Henrique Ribeiro’s 44-yard field goal, but a 42-yard field goal by Jagger Lieb and a quick stop by Mercer’s defense set up the team’s final push.
Samford 45, Furman 0
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Michael Eubank passed for 314 yards and a touchdown and Denzel Williams rush for 101 yards and two scores to power Samford to a 45-0 shutout victory over Furman in Southern Conference football action Saturday afternoon at Paladin Stadium.
The win improved Samford to 4-3 on the season and 3-2 in SoCon play while Furman dropped its sixth straight game to fall to 2-6 overall and 1-2 in SoCon action.
Eubank completed 22-of-33 passes, including nine for 206 yards and a touchdown to wide receiver Karel Hamilton. Williams notched his 101 yards on 19 attempts, helping Samford roll up 540 yards in total offense to Furman’s 252.
Samford grabbed command from the beginning when Deion Pierre blocked a Furman punt, and Jay Galloway collected the ball and covered the 15 yards into the end zone to stake the Bulldogs to a 7-0 lead just a minute and half into the contest.
After forcing another Furman punt, Samford scored on its first offensive play of the game when Eubank connected with a streaking Hamilton on a 62-yard touchdown pass down the sideline to give the Bulldogs a 14-0 lead.
Samford’s early game fortune continued after Jamerson Blount intercepted a pass by Furman quarterback P.J. Blazejowski at the Paladin 27. Eubank followed with a 17-yard completion to Hamilton to the 10, and Williams finished off the two-play series with a 10-yard scoring run to stretch the advantage to 21-0 with 5:03 left in the first quarter.
The Bulldogs blew the game open with a pair of second quarter scores, both on trick plays involving freshman wide receiver Malik Johns. On the first one Johns took a lateral from Eubank and fired across the field to an open Krondis Landry for a 35-yard touchdown strike to make it 28-0. Johns finished off Samford’s dominant first half by taking a pitch and connecting with a Eubank out of the backfield for 4-yard scoring toss and 35-0 halftime lead.
Furman’s best chance to get on the board ended on downs at the Samford 12 midway through the third quarter.
The shutout was the first suffered by Furman since dropping a 33-0 verdict to Clemson in 1998 -- a streak of 199 games -- and first registered against the Paladins by an FCS squad since Georgia Southern posted a 21-0 victory in Greenville in 1992. It was the first shutout sustained by the Paladins to a league foe since 1974 versus The Citadel.
Wofford 38, VMI 3
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – On Saturday afternoon, the Wofford College football team defeated VMI 38-3. The Terriers had four different players score touchdowns in the contest, which marked the 500th win in program history.
The Terriers are 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the Southern Conference, while VMI is 1-8 and 0-4 in league play. Wofford was led by Lorenzo Long with 125 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Octavius Harden added 100 rushing yards. Quarterback Michael Weimer ran for a touchdown and also threw for a 19-yard touchdown. The Keydets were led by quarterback Al Cobb, who was 14-of-25 passing for 11 yards.
The Terrier had the ball first and used a 38-yard run by Lorenzo Long to move inside the 20-yard line. On fourth-and-one from the one, Lorenzo Long scored a touchdown to give Wofford a 7-0 lead with 9:23 on the clock in the first quarter. On the first possession by the Keydets, Al Cobb was intercepted by Drake Michaelson and Wofford took over at the 18-yard line. After a loss of two yards on a fumble, Michael Weimer found Will Irwin for a 20-yard touchdown reception. The Terriers led 14-0 with 7:21 left in the first quarter.
The Keydets went three-and-out and punted. Wofford attempted a deep pass, but the ball was intercepted in the endzone. VMI gained three passing first downs, but the drive stalled and they punted. Wofford took over at the three-yard line and methodically moved down the field, converting two fourth downs on the way. The Terriers settled for a 27-yard field goal by David Marvin to take a 17-0 lead with 5:08 left in the second quarter.
VMI was able to drive late in the second quarter and got on the scoreboard with a 41-yard field goal. The score was 17-3 with 1:24 left in the first half. Wofford had the ball back and a 40-yard completion to Will Irwin moved the Terriers inside the 30-yard line. Lornezo Long added a first down run to get to the five. On third-and-goal from the one, Michael Weimer dove for the near pylon and scored. Wofford had a 24-3 lead with one second left on the clock. VMI recovered the short kickoff as time expired.
To open the second half, VMI went three-and-out and punted. Wofford then used an eleven play drive to go 68 yards, with Lorenzo Long going in from two-yards out for the touchdown. The Terriers had a 31-3 lead with 7:41 on the clock in the third quarter. The Keydets drove inside the five yards line. On the first play of the fourth quarter, the Keydets had fourth-and-two from the six. The pass attempt was incomplete and the Terriers took over on downs. Wofford gained one first down with Brad Butler at quarterback before punting.
VMI began their next drive with 11:34 left in the fourth quarter. They went three-and-out and punted. Wofford failed to gain a first down and also punted. After another three-and-out by the Keydets resulted in a punt, the Terriers took over at the 38-yard line with Brandon Goodson at quarterback. A 24-yard pass to Hunter Windham gave Wofford a first-and-goal, with Chris Martin going in from four yards for the touchdown. The Terriers lead was 38-3 with 2:04 left in the game. On the Keydets final drive, Hayden Alford was intercepted by Lincoln Stewart and he returned it 33 yards. Wofford had the ball at the 25 and took a knee twice to end the contest.
Wofford had 499 total yards, with 374 on the ground. VMI had 197 total yards, 139 of which were passing. Wofford had a 23 to 14 advantage in first downs. Wofford was 9-of-15 on third downs and 3-of-3 on fourth down. VMI was 4-of-12 on third down and 0-of-1 on fourth down. Wofford had six penalties, while VMI had two. Wofford had a 36:38 to 23:22 time of possession advantage.
Western Carolina 29, The Citadel 15
CULLOWHEE, N.C. - Western Carolina rolled up 633 yards of total offense and forced four Citadel turnovers as the Catamounts continued their best start in nearly four decades with a 29-15 victory on Saturday at E.J. Whitmire Stadium.
The Catamounts are 6-2 and remained tied with Chattanooga for first place in the Southern Conference with a 4-0 league record. The Bulldogs dropped to 2-6 and 0-3 in the SoCon after only its third loss to Western in the past 11 meetings.
The game was played in front of 13,323 on Western's homecoming, the 10th-largest crowd in Whitmire Stadium history.
Citadel freshman B-back Isiaha Smith turned in the first 100-yard game of his young career with 107 yards on 13 carries. Aaron Miller followed with 104 yards and both Citadel touchdowns as the Bulldogs put two runners over the century mark for the third time this season.
The Citadel finished with 360 rushing yards and 443 yards of total offense, while the balanced Catamount attack gained 342 yards on the ground and 291 passing yards on 21 of 29 accuracy by Troy Mitchell. Mitchell also rushed for a game-high 131 yards, and Detrez Newsome carried 11 times for 124 yards and scored twice.
The Bulldogs led 8-7 after a wild first half that saw the teams combine for 592 yards but waste several scoring opportunities, largely due to five turnovers.
Western took little time jumping out in front at the start of the third quarter, driving 70 yards on only five plays. A 31-yard reception by Terryon Robinson set up a 24-yard scoring run by Newsome to give the Catamounts a 14-8 lead with just 2:29 expired in the period.
The Citadel appeared poised to go back ahead, but Cam Jackson was stripped of the ball at the Catamount 26 by Trey Morgan. Western took advantage of the miscue in short order, covering the 74 yards in four plays with Newsome scoring for the second time in the quarter from 38 yards out to make it 21-8 with 1:19 on the clock.
The Bulldogs quickly got back within one score on two big plays by Miller. First he hit Alex Glover on a 28-yard pass to the Western 26 on the final play of the third quarter, then ran a perfectly executed quarterback draw on 3rd and 11 for a 27-yard score that cut the deficit to 21-15 with still 13:41 to play.
The two touchdowns give Miller 18 in his career and moved him into sole possession of 13th place in school history. He entered the game as the second-leading rusher in the SoCon with an average of 91.3 yards per contest.
The Bulldogs forced a punt and drove to the Western 37 where they faced a 4th and 3. The offense remained on the field to try to extend the drive, but a false start forced The Citadel into a punting situation. The Catamounts got the ball at their own 15 and went the distance, with the final two runs of 36 and 20 yards by Darius Ramsey sealing the Western victory.
The teams traded turnovers to start the game with redshirt freshman DeVonta Delaney picking off a pass deep in Citadel territory. Malik Diggs added another interception later in the half for the Bulldogs while Morgan grabbed an interception for Western.
The three interceptions came after there had not been one - for or against The Citadel - in any of its first seven games this year.
Western got on the scoreboard on its second possession on a nine-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Sexton. The Citadel answered with a 68-yard drive that ended with Miller's first score of the game from five yards out. The Bulldogs lined up in a fake formation on the extra point, and Dane Anderson took the snap and found Glover for the two-point conversion and an 8-7 lead with 47 seconds left in the opening quarter.
The Citadel's second turnover of the half was probably its costliest of the game. Smith broke free up the middle and raced 53 yards to the Western one, but Morgan knocked the ball out from behind and the Catamounts recovered in the end zone.
Western then drove to The Citadel 15, but Mitchell missed a wide open Sexton in the end zone and Richard Sigmon missed a 32-yard field goal. The Catamounts reached Bulldog territory twice more in the half, but Diggs ended one drive with his interception, and a pass to Robinson from The Citadel one was ruled incomplete in the back of the end zone as the clock ran out.