UTC (1-3, 0-0 SoCon) vs. WESTERN CAROLINA (1-2, 0-1)
Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019
4 p.m. at Finley Stadium in Chattanooga
VIDEO & RADIO
ESPN+ & 97.7 FM/1070 AM
THE MATCHUP
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has dominated this Southern Conference football series, winning nine of the past 10 meetings, though the Mocs’ lone loss in that stretch did happen at Finley, 45-7 in 2017. Western Carolina is coming off an open date that followed a 20-17 win over Division II member North Greenville, with that victory ending the Catamounts’ 10-game losing skid. Coach Mark Speir’s team played the past two games without top quarterback Tyrie Adams, the preseason SoCon offensive player of the year, because the fifth-year senior was suspended for a violation of team policies and standards. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound dual threat will return against the Mocs, though redshirt freshman Will Jones is the likely starter behind center. Adams passed for 318 yards in a 49-27 loss to SoCon foe Mercer to open the season; Jones has thrown for 305 yards in two starts. The Catamounts’ leading rusher to this point is Connell Young, with 89 yards on 24 carries, but five players have seven or more receptions, with Daquon Patten leading with 18 for 156. Defensively, they have allowed averages of 35.7 points and 387 yards per game. The Mocs have given up averages of 33.2 points and 442 yards per contest.
ONES TO WATCH
Go with “Project Thumper,” the moniker UTC’s running backs have given to their group effort – without much explanation of the nickname – this season. Senior Tyrell Price, out for the season with an ACL injury, rushed for a season-best 135 yards against the Catamounts in a 26-6 road win last year, a good sign for freshman Ailym Ford and graduate transfer Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks, who this season have combined for 361 yards on 88 carries, an average of 4.1 yards per rush. The Catamounts have allowed an average of more than 200 rushing yards per game, so expect the Mocs to pound the ball.
IN THE END
The Mocs will take out a month’s worth of frustration – they haven’t won since the Aug. 29 opener against Eastern Illinois – if they can. Adams can extend plays and drives, which tends to frustrate the UTC defense. Keep him under control and use the ground game to open things up downfield, though, and the homecoming crowd should go home happy.
PREDICTION
UTC 31, Western Carolina 20
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.