The adversity for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team started long before kickoff Saturday afternoon.
But just as they overcame one of their buses breaking down on the way to the game against Virginia Military Institute, the Mocs overcame a largely lackluster performance on the field, using VMI’s missed extra-point attempt, their own defensive stand and a crucial first down gained in the fourth quarter to defeat the Keydets 24-23.
It was UTC’s first win in Lexington, Virginia, since 2017, and the first in three tries there for Rusty Wright as head coach of the Mocs after they lost close road battles with the Keydets in 2019 and 2021. The Mocs are now 19-9-1 all-time against the Keydets, including 9-6 in away games.
UTC improved to 7-2 overall and 6-1 in the Southern Conference this season, and with Mercer defeating Western Carolina 45-38 later Saturday, the Mocs will have a chance to play for the SoCon’s automatic bid to the 24-team Football Championship Subdivision playoffs next weekend at home. It was the second league loss for Western Carolina, which beat UTC 52-20 on a last-second field goal on Oct. 7 at Finley Stadium.
The Mocs, who have yet to reach their open date this season, have just one game remaining on their SoCon schedule. Furman which defeated East Tennessee State University 16-8 to improve to 7-1, 5-0, is the opponent at 1:30 p.m. next Saturday at Finley. UTC is ranked in both FCS polls (15th by coaches, 17th by media), with Furman (7-1, 5-0) at No. 3 in both.