Chattanooga, TN – In the game known as the “Rail Rivalry”, UT Chattanooga pulled off the upset over FCS No. 10 East Tennessee State in a key Southern Conference contest, 21-16.  The combined rushing of Moccasin RBs Tyrell Price (102 yards on 14 carries, two TDs) and Ailym Ford (97 yards on 14 carries, one TD) outshone the Buccaneers duo of Quay Homes and Jacob Saylors, 197 yards to 186.  However, timely defensive efforts posted by UTC DE Deveonnsha Maxwell’s five sacks and S Jay Person’s turnovers keyed stops to hold the undefeated Buccaneers (6-1, 3-1) to 16 points, well under their 39.3 ppg heading into this game.  LB Ty Boeck led the UTC defense with ten stops.

Defensive domination at the start

     As missed FG by ETSU and a fumble recovery by Person held the Buccaneers in check before the Mocs started a drive before the end of a scoreless first period. On the first play of Q2, Price’s eight-yard run put the home team up in front of 7,838 fans at Finely Stadium, 7-0.  Interceptions by both teams foiled ensuing drives.   Jerrell Lawson’s put the Moccs at their 42.  They drove to the ETSU 11, but Buccaneer DB Alijah Huzzie picked off Cole Copeland (8 for 14, 82 yards, one INT) in the end zone to thwart that drive. The score stood 7-0 in favor of the Mocs at the half.

Offenses start firing in third

    After the first half, Buccaneer DB Tyree Robinson recovered a Moc fumble to gain possession at the UTC 38.  Tyler Keltner finally put ETSU on the scoreboard to trail, 7-3, with his 51-yard FG.  On the Mocs’ next series, Ford broke through over left tackle for a 49-yard TD jaunt to extend UTC’s lead, 14-3.  After a kick return of 49 yards out to the 45 by Buc Trey Fester, Jacob Saylors answered Ford’s jaunt bursting off right tackle unscathed for a 54-yard TD run.  The teams went into the final period with UT Chattanooga up by four, but ETSU was on the move with a first and ten at the Moccasin 38.

    ETSU drove the ball down to the nine.  On fourth and two, Buccaneer HC Randy Sanders decided to go for the first, at least.  QB Tyler Riddell (17 of 29, 182 yards, one TD, one INT) mishandled the snap in the shotgun, and Jay Person jumped on it quickly to gain possession at the 21 with 10:20 left to play.  The Mocs capitalized with another long run.   Price raced 58 yards to paydirt to extend the UT Chattanooga lead, 21-10.

 Maxwell brings down his Silver Hammer, but Bucs rally

    A sack by Maxwell on a fourth and long turned the ball back to UTC on downs at their 42.  The Buccaneers used up all three time-outs before UTC punted back from their 46.  Two more sacks on consecutive plays by Maxwell put East Tennessee in a fourth and 25 situation.  On a long pass attempt, UTC got called for pass interference.  ETSU maintained possession and scored when Riddell connected with WR Will Huzzie who dove for the pylon for a 28-yard TD.  The review stood.  The two-point attempt got picked off by the ubiquitous Person.  With :39 left, ETSU recovered an onsides kick, but they got penalized five yards for going offsides.  UT Chattanooga recovered the subsequent onsides and as time ran out, scuffles started, but ended quickly. 

    The Mocs grabbed the Rail Trophy to keep for the third year in a row for victory in this rivalry. The players carried it off and started the celebration along with their fans. Both teams have one loss each in conference play.  Hopefully at least one of these two will get a bid in the 24-team FCS playoff format.  Collegefootballfan.com plans to go if either hosts a contest for the FCS championship.

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Week Eight

    UT Chattanooga travels to play Samford next Saturday to continue SOCON play through the end of the season which finishes on November 13.  Samford (3-3,1-1) fell to ETSU previously, 55-48, in OT.  ETSU hosts Furman (4-2, 2-1). Going into conference play next weekend, five SOCON teams each have one loss.  The others include VMI (lost 37-34 in OT to UTC already) and Mercer.  Through the end, SOCON teams should probably determine their ultimate champion in exciting fashion!

    Collegefootballfan.com resumes games this Wednesday evening when we travel to Boone, NC to see No. 14 Coastal Carolina (6-0, 2-0) facing Appalachian State (4-2, 1-1) in a SunBelt battle.  On Saturday, for convenience due to proximity, we may visit Southeast Missouri (2-5, 2-1) at UT Martin (5-1, 2-0) or Austin Peay (2-4, 0-1) at Murray State (3-3, 0-1) in the struggling Ohio Valley Conference.  A decision will be made later this week.  We’ve never ventured to either host venue in the past.  Stay tuned.

Extra Points:

   Stopped at Naked River Brewing Company located at the north end of Finley on Reggie White Boulevard for beers and a sandwich before the game. We recommend their Double Slap brew, a double IPA.  Their pulled pork sandwich was the tastiest eaten since we’ve moved to Tennessee.  We’ll go there again whether we attend another game at Finley or visit Chattanooga for any other reason!

   Ruben Studdard of American Idol fame, performed The Star-Spangled Banner before the kickoff. He lives in Tennessee and has a connection with someone at UT Chattanooga.  He played college football for Alabama A&M according to his biographies on line.

SEC! SEC!

   Of note in the Gameday 2021 program available at Finley Stadium, it mentions that ETSU’s 23-3 victory over Vanderbilt, one of ten recorded by FCS programs over the FBS this season, resulted in the widest victory margin.  Against another SEC opponent, Kentucky, in Week 3, UT Chattanooga led the now No. 15 Wildcats (6-1), 16-14, early in Q4.  A TD drive and pick-six gave UK a 28-23 win before a 75-yard TD drive by the Mocs when time expired in Lexington.

-Steve Koreivo, ed.