Chattanooga Could Present A Problem For Mountaineers Saturday
Don’t look now, but Appalachian State is on the brink of a monumental SoCon title-deciding showdown at Elon in a couple of weeks, however, there’s only one problem. A hungry Chattanooga team comes to Kidd Brewer Stadium, in stark contrast of Mocs’ teams of old.
Not since 2005 Chattanooga team come to The Rock with such promise, needing a win in one of its final three games to clinch only its second winning record since 1997.
First-year head coach knows what he’ll be facing as the head coach of the Mocs on the sidelines Saturday at The Rock. After all, Huseman was on hand for last season’s FCS quarterfinal showdown between Appalachian State and Richmond as the defensive coordinator for the eventual title-winning Spiders. On that snowy afternoon, the Spiders defense was able to limit one of the nation’s most prolific offenses to just 13 points and forced Armanti Edwards into five interceptions in a 33-13 win by Richmond.
In his first season as head coach, Huseman has helped with a total overhaul for the image of Chattanooga football. The Mocs come to Boone looking for their first win at Kidd Brewer Stadium since the 1988 season, when the Mocs were able to upset the Mountaineers 28-24 on that particular November afternoon. The Mountaineers and Mocs will be meeting for the 33rd time on Saturday, with Appalachian State holding a 22-10 all-time series advantage.
The Mocs were in trouble last Saturday on a rainy afternoon, trailing Western Carolina 20-9 in the third quarter, but used a big fourth quarter to overcome the Catamounts for a 24-20 victory.
Chattanooga will bring one of the league’s most balanced offensive attacks to Boone on Saturday for the 3:30 p.m. kickoff. The Mocs come into Saturday’s matchup, ranking fifth in the league in scoring offense (23.1 PPG.) and total offense (314.0 YPG.), while ranking seventh in rushing offense (95.6 YPG.) and sport the league’s fourth-best passing offense (218.4 YPG.).
The Mocs offense has been led by one of the league’s most-efficient passers, in University of Tennessee transfer B.J. Coleman this season. In his first season with the program, Coleman has connected on 156-of-269 passes for 1,710 yards, 13 TDs and just three interceptions. Coleman, a 6-5 product of Chattanooga, Tenn., is a pure drop-back passer and has one of the strongest arms in the league.
Coleman has plenty of capable targets in the passing game, led by senior Blue Cooper. The 6-4, 200-pound native of Rome, GA., is a big target with excellent hands. So far this season, Cooper has hauled in 60 passes (second to only Elon’s Terrell Hudgins in receptions) for 588 yards and four TDs. Cooper had two receptions for 25 yards in last season’s 49-7 loss to the Mountaineers in Chattanooga. Cooper also has above-average speed and is deceptive in that he can find his way behind defenses to catch the deep ball.
Another strong option in the passing game for the Mocs is slot receiver Chris Pitchford. The 6-0, 180-pound junior from Knoxville, Tenn., is the best big-play option in the passing game for the Mocs this season. Pitchford has game-breaking speed and could be a factor on the longball Saturday for the Mocs. This season, he has caught 27 passes for 356 yards and four TDs, averaging 13.2 YPR.
Senior Clint Woods is a player that has also proven reliable for Coleman this season. Woods, a 6-2, 215-pound native of Birmingham, AL., has been a thorn in the side of the Apps the past two seasons.
He has led the Mocs in each of the past two meetings with the Apps in receiving, catching two passes for 34 yards last season, including the only TD of the day for UTC on a 28-yard first-quarter strike from Jare Gault. Two years ago in UTC’s 37-17 loss in Boone, Woods again led the Mocs with six receptions for 58 yards and a score. In total this season, Woods has caught 24 passes for 227 yards (9.5 YPR.) and a TD.
One receiver that has come on as of late for the Mocs has been Terrance Davis. The freshman speedster has gotten off to a fast start in hs career, with 14 receptions for 186 yards (13.3 YPR.) and two TDs this season. Like Pitchford, Davis is another deep threat for UTC, and a player that the Apps have to be fully aware of on Saturday.
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