Saturday marks the beginning of a gauntlet for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team as the Mocs enter what's expected to be their toughest three-game stretch of the season.
As if a trip to Burgess-Snow Field at Jacksonville State University isn't tough enough for a team that has lost five straight in the series - and 10 of the past 12 - the Mocs (1-0) will face a motivated opponent coming off an upset loss to open the season. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. EDT.
"They'll be hungry and ready to win after they went to Southeastern Louisiana last weekend," UTC coach Rusty Wright said of the Gamecocks. "We've played them 42 times and haven't beat them that much lately, so I don't know how much you can call it a rivalry when you don't win there."
The Mocs will visit Football Bowl Subdivision foe Tennessee on Sept. 14 and host Football Championship Subdivision power James Madison on Sept. 21, but looking ahead to those tests would not be advised.
Jacksonville State entered the season sixth in both FCS polls but is now ranked 17th by the coaches and 18th by STATS. Along with all that motivation from the loss, the Gamecocks have plenty of offensive firepower, led by junior quarterback Zerrick Cooper, 6-foot-4 senior receiver Josh Pearson, tight end Trae Barry and lineman Darius Anderson.
Those four, along with safety Marlon Bridges, were preseason All-America selections.
"They're a good football team at every level," Wright said. "Offensively, they are a little young up front but they do a lot of good things. They have good defensive linemen and two really good linebackers, a real good strong safety and are good in the secondary.
"We'll have our hands full, but it's a great place to play in a great atmosphere and it should be a lot of fun. We're looking forward to it."
So are the Gamecocks, who trailed by 28 points in the fourth quarter last week after a sloppy offensive showing that included six sacks and two interceptions plus a defensive performance that gave up several big plays. Southeastern Louisiana won 35-14.
Coach John Grass promised in his weekly news conference to fix the problems as the Gamecocks attempt to win their home opener for the 14th consecutive year.
"They took it to us from the opening snap and hit us in the mouth and it carried over throughout the game," he said. "One game does not identify this team and will not define the legacy of this team. Our team will respond, and they will respond in a good way. We are ready to learn from our mistakes and grow from them and get ready for a good Chattanooga team."
Several Mocs played in the teams' most recent meeting, a 27-13 Gamecocks win in the Montgomery Kickoff Classic in 2017, including defensive lineman Khayyan Edwards, who is well aware of the history between the teams.
"We haven't beaten them in my five years here, but I know I have a chip on my shoulder for that and all the guys I came in with do also," he said. "I remember in that game that they brought a bunch of fans, so I know what that environment will be like Saturday. It's what football should be."
Contact Lindsey Young at lyoung@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6296. Follow him on Twitter @youngsports22.