Victor Ulmo’s redeeming kick lifts Mocs to 16-13 win over ETSU [photos]

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ UTC players celebrate with the Rail. The Rail is the trophy for whoever wins the UTC/ East Tennessee game. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019. Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ UTC players celebrate with the Rail. The Rail is the trophy for whoever wins the UTC/ East Tennessee game. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

By Lindsey Young October 17, 2019 6 min read

Photo Gallery

Mocs vs. ETSU

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / UTC running back Ailym Ford breaks through a huge hole in the line during Thursday's game against ETSU at Finley Stadium.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ After a sizeable gain Ailym Ford (32) is tackled by East Tennessee's Alijah Huzzie (28). The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ UTC's Ailym Ford (32) weaves his way between Buccaneer defenders. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ UTC's Jeffrey Wood II (6) picks up yardage after a pass reception. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ East Tennessee's Will Huzzie (86) goes up over UTC's CaMiron Smith (5) to pull in the ball for a Buccaneer touchdown. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Marion County alumni Jacob Saylors (8) breaks the tackle of UTC's CaMiron Smith (5). The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ East Tennessee's Quay Holmes (1) is brought down by UTC's Ty Boeck (46) and Rashun Freeman (3). The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ UTC head coach Rusty Wright watches the action. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ UTC's Ailym Ford (32) runs through two Buccaneer defenders for the Mocs's first touchdown. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ UTC's Ailym Ford is slowed by two Buccaneer defenders. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ UTC's quarterback Nick Tiano (7) throws from the pocket. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ East Tennessee's Keith Coffee (14) goes for a reception as CaMiron Smith (5) defends for UTC. Smith was called for interference on the play. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ East Tennessee's Quay Holmes (1) makes a big run before being pulled down by UTC's Brandon Dowdell (1). The runs set up a Buccaneer field goal. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ UTC's Cole Strange and Reginald Henderson (12) check on a injured Tyrin Summers (9). The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ Randy Sanders is in his second year at East Tennessee as head coach. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ UTC quarterback Nick Tiano (7) throws while Jacob Webster (82) blocks East Tennessee's Nasir Player (45). The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / UTC kicker Victor Ulmo (60) celebrates with his teammates after making the winning field goal in a 16-13 victory over ETSU on Thursday night at Finley Stadium.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ UTC coach Rusty Wright gets a flying high five from Reginald Henderson (12). The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd / UTC's Reginald Henderson, left, makes a catch over East Tennessee State's Karon Delince during Thursday night's SoCon football game at Finley Stadium.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ UTC's Reginald Henderson (12) makes a big catch over East Tennessee's Karon Delince (4). The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ The UTC offense celebrate their first touchdown. The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Staff Photo by Robin Rudd/ UTC's Devonnsha Maxwell (90) and Ben Brewton (53) combine to sack East Tennessee's Trey Mitchell (5). The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Mocs hosted the East Tennessee State University Buccaneers in Southern Conference football at Chattanooga's Finely Stadium on October 17, 2019.

Victor Ulmo rewarded his coach’s faith Thursday night just in time for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team to improve to 3-0 in Southern Conference play.

After missing three field-goal attempts and an extra-point try, Ulmo nailed a 30-yarder with 15 seconds to play to lift the Mocs over East Tennessee State University 16-13 at Finley Stadium.

“I just said relax and kick it,” UTC coach Rusty Wright said, recalling his final words to Ulmo. “Don’t worry about, you’re going to make it. We’re going to be fine. I didn’t yell or scream at him or tell him to kick it through there, Charlie Brown. Just go kick it.”

Freshman running back Ailym Ford had another stellar game, finishing with 200 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries, his fourth 100-plus-yard game. His runs of 23 and 11 yards on the final drive moved the ball to the ETSU 20, and three plays later Ulmo finished it.

UTC is 4-3 overall. The Buccaneers fell to 2-5, 0-4.

Lindsey Young

Assistant Sports Editor

Lindsey Young is the assistant sports editor at the Times Free Press and began his career with the News Free-Press in 1986 after graduating from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and associate’s degrees in English and Psychology. At the News Free Press and now the Times Free Press he has covered preps, mostly in the Northwest Georgia area, including numerous state championships, and has won several Tennessee Sports Writers Association awards. He was the paper’s NASCAR beat writer for 12 years and has, over the years, covered a Super Bowl, two World Series, many college football games and served as the beat writer for UTC for parts of three years. Lindsey is a 2024 inductee into the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame.

Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296.