SoCon full of big-margin football games last week [photos]

UTC quarterback Nick Tiano (7) lies on the turf after being hit by Western Carolina defensive tackle Jake Helms (94) at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

By Gene Henley October 4, 2017 4 min read

Photo Gallery

Western Carolina smothers UTC, 45-7

UTC quarterback Nick Tiano (7) throws under pressure from Western Carolina linebacker Tahjai Watt (96) at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

UTC fans file out of the stands during the third quarter of the Mocs game against Western Carolina at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

UTC offensive lineman Malcolm White (56) helps quarterback Nick Tiano (7) up during their game against Western Carolina at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Western Carolina running back Donnavan Spencer (20) is wrapped up by UTC defensive lineman Isaiah Mack (8) at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

UTC quarterback Alejandro Bennifield (15) looks to pass on a flea flicker play, on his first snap of the season, against Western Carolina at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Bennifield was suspended for the first four games of the season.

Western Carolina wide receiver Steffon Hill (1) and UTC defensive back Kareem Orr (2) get in each other's faces at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

UTC defensive back C.J. Fritz (6) brings down Western Carolina running back Corey Holloway (7) at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

UTC defensive back Tavon Lawson (4) and defensive lineman Taylor Reynolds (94) chase Western Carolina quarterback Tyrie Adams (12) at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

UTC quarterback Nick Tiano (7) is hit by Western Carolina linebacker Tahjai Watt (96) at Finley Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 30, in Chattanooga, Tenn.

UTC wide receiver Alphonso Stewart cannot bring in this pass as he is defended by Western Carolina's Tra Hardy (8) during WCU's 45-7 Southern Conf'erence victory Saturday at Finley Stadium.

Separation Saturday in the Southern Conference?

It certainly looked that way last week.

After five of the first six SoCon football matchups had been decided by one possession – the outlier being the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s 63-7 win over Virginia Military Institute on Sept. 23 – none of the four league games last Saturday were closer than 21 points.

Furman (56-35 over East Tennessee State) and Samford (35-14 over The Citadel) had the closest wins. Aside from that, Western Carolina beat UTC 45-7 while Mercer defeated VMI by a 49-14 margin.

Wofford and Western Carolina are currently 2-0 in the league, but four teams are 1-1 and two others 1-2.