University of Tennessee at Chattanooga beat writer Gene Henley breaks down the Mocs’ 47-24 win at Samford.
SATURDAY’S STAR
First-year UTC quarterback Chase Artopoeus has been nothing short of spectacular since a slow start in the season opener, and that continued Saturday, when the junior and UCLA transfer threw for 323 yards and a score against the Bulldogs. In the past three games, Artopoeus has 799 passing yards and seven touchdowns to just 14 incompletions.
SATURDAY’S STAT
The UTC defense scored more touchdowns off Bulldogs quarterback Michael Hiers’ passes (two) than the Samford offense did (one).
TURNING POINT
The Mocs had already built a seven-point advantage early in the game, but Mitchell’s interception off a tipped pass that he returned 38 yards for a score swung the momentum entirely in UTC’s favor, and the visitors’ lead never crept below 10 points the rest of the way.
THE BIG PLAY
Artopoeus found himself scrambling on third-and-5 on the game’s first drive. Meanwhile, Tyler “Smoke” Smith sneakily slipped behind a napping defense, and Artopoeus lofted a perfect pass that the junior receiver ran under and caught, cruising in for a score.
WHAT IT MEANS
Seemingly left for dead after a poor performance at North Alabama in their season-opening loss, the Mocs suddenly have won three straight games and dominated a top-20 opponent at their own place. The program lost a lot of goodwill nationally after the past couple of seasons and the North Alabama game, but some of that should return after Saturday’s result.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com.