Chattanooga Could Present A Problem for Mountaineers Saturday

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.

One significant injury that the Mocs have had to deal with this season is an injury to Bryan Fitzgerald, who suffered an ankle injury three weeks ago at Samford, which has limited much of the versatility that this Chattanooga offense had early on in the 2009 campaign. Despite playing in only four games this season, Fitzgerald still leads the team in rushing, with 342 yards and two TDs.

Having to shoulder much of the load in the running game with the injury to Fitzgerald has been true freshman running back Chris Awuah. The 5-9, 190-pound true freshman is one of the best athletes on the offensive side of the football, possessing excellent speed and cutting ability. He is also more of a receiving threat than Fitzgerald was coming out of the backfield. In eight games this season, Awuah has rushed for 341 yards and four TDs on 109 attempts (3.1 YPC.). As a threat in the passing game, he has caught 14 balls for 114 yards (8.1 YPR.) and a TD this season.

The Mocs’ top running back in short-yardage situations this season has been Bo Dyer. Dyer is a player that has had to step up an be more of a factor this season due to the injury to Fitzgerald. The 6-1, 205-pound native of Gatlinburgh, TN., has also proven to be an effective receiver coming out of the backfield for the Chattanooga. As a runner this season, Dyer has 91 yards and a TD on 27 attempts (3.4 YPC.) this season. Receiving the football out of the backfield, Dyer has hauled in three passes for 26 yards in limited action.

One of the areas that the Mocs have seen the most improvement in on the offensive side of the football this season has been the offensive line. With four starters returning from a year ago entering the ‘09 season, the Mocs seasoned offensive front has helped in their overall offensive success this season. The offensive line is big and physical, led by left tackle Chris Harr (6-6, 260 lbs) and right guard T.J. Hurless (6-4, 310 lbs), as both will likely compete for All-SoCon honors this season. The Mocs have, however, been susceptible to the pass rush this season, having allowed 23 sacks on the campaign, which is second-most in the SoCon last season.

Even more impressive than their offensive counterparts, the Mocs have seen a resurgence on the defensive side of the football this season. Coming into Saturday’s showdown with the Apps, Chattanooga ranks third in the SoCon in total defense (291.2 YPG.), rushing defense (130.6 YPG.), scoring defense (21.9 PPG.), while ranking second in passing defense (160.6 YPG.).

Anchoring a talented defensive line this season has been one of the best individual bookends in the SoCon the entire season, senior Josh Beard. Beard is actually the younger brother of former standout Appalachian State running back Jerry Beard. So far this season, Beard has spearheaded the Mocs’ defensive line, with 47 tackles and a SoCon leading 10.5 sacks.

Set to start at the other defensive end for the Mocs on Saturday afternoon will be junior Jaron Norfleet. The 6-3, 250-pound native of Nashville, Tenn., has battled some nagging injuries this season, but should be back ready for action on Saturday afternoon against the Mountaineers. Norfleet has seen action in seven games this season for the Mocs, recording 14 tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss.

The defensive interior will be anchored by B.J. Taylor and Nick Craig. Taylor is a seasoned starter and is having another strong season for the Mocs. He’s the most experienced of the Chattanooga defensive linemen, having started the last 20 games in the Blue and Gold. Taylor, a 6-3, 298-pound could be a contender for All-SoCon honors this season. In eight starts this season, Taylor has recorded 19 tackles, four tackles-for-loss, a sack and a forced fumble in ‘09.

Rounding out the starters along the veteran defensive line for the Mocs will be Nick Craig, who has started seven of UTC’s first eight games in ‘09. Craig, a 6-2, 295-pound native of Carrollton, GA., is one of the youngest players along the defensive line for the Mocs and is in his first full season as a starter for the Mocs. So far in ‘09, Craig has recorded 17 tackles and a sack.

The latter part of the front seven is a surprising, athletic group of linebackers that will roll into Boone, N.C. this Saturday. Leading the way is one of the most athletic and most talented all-around linebackers in the league, in senior Joseph Thornton. Thornton, a 6-2, 21-pound native of Stone Mountain, GA., comes into Saturday’s game currently ranked sixth in the SoCon in tackles. A preseason league player of the year candidate prior to last season, Thornton appears to be well on his way to at least another All-SoCon season. In eight games this season, Thornton has recorded 73 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, four pass break-ups and an interception this season.

Joining Thornton, who will start at weakside linebacker on Saturday for Huseman’s Mocs, will be Ryan Consiglio at strong-side linebacker and Steven Smigelsky at middle linebacker. Consiglio, a 6-1, 210-pound native of Franklin, Tenn., has had one of the top breakout season’s of any of the young performers on the UTC defense this fall. Consiglio is a good athlete and seems to always put himself in the correct position to make the big play on the defensive side of the football for the Mocs. In eight games this season, Consiglio has registered 65 tackles, eight tackles-for-loss, a sack and an interception in his redshirt freshman season.

Smigelsky, a 6-2, 224-pound native of Gainesville, GA., has had a strong season as well for UTC, holding down the middle linebacker position. Smigelsky is a heady performer and a sure-tackler. A senior and one of the most experienced players on the defensive side of the football for the Mocs, Smigelsky had his signature career performance in a game against Georgia Southern a few weeks ago with a career-high 10 tackles in a 30-20 loss. He currently ranks third on the club in tackles, having recorded 49 tackles and four tackles-for-loss this season.

The secondary comes into Saturday’s game ailing a bit after losing J.D. Dothard to an injury against Western Carolina last Saturday. The Mocs will bring one of the league’s most-athletic secondary’s to Boone on Saturday. Leading the charge in the secondary for the Mocs will be right cornerback Buster Skrine, who’s one of the top cover-corners in the league. Skrine, a 5-9, 180-pound native of Woodstock, GA., is not only one of the fastest players on the defensive side of the football for the Mocs, but is also one of its most-physical performers. Skrine has 31 tackles, a team-leading eight pass break-ups, two interceptions and a tackle-for-loss in ‘09

Chris Lewis-Harris will start at the left cornerback position for the Mocs on Saturday. The 5-11, 175-pound native of Smyrna, GA., has had a pretty strong sophomore season and has proven to be one of the better young performers on the defensive side of the football this season for the Mocs. Lewis-Harris comes into Saturday’s contest, having recorded 22 tackles, half-a-tackle-for-loss and has five pass break-ups.

The two starters at the respective safety positions entering Saturday’s showdown with the Mountaineers will be Tony Swafford and Jordan Tippit. Swafford moved into the starting lineup at strong safety as a result of the injury that Dothard suffered against Western Carolina last Saturday. Swafford, a 5-11, 180-pound native of Chattanooga, Tenn., is an experienced performer that has made a successful transition from linebacker to defensive back this season for the Mocs. Playing mostly as a reserve defensive back for the Mocs this season, Swafford has 15 tackles and a couple of pass break-ups.

Rounding out the starters in a talented secondary is one of league’s top pass defenders, in free safety Jordan Tippit. The 6-0, 185-pound from Huntsville, AL., enters Saturday’s contest having an All-SoCon season. Tippit, who will start at free safety for the Mocs on Saturday, enters the contest with a league-leading four interceptions on the season, including one in which he returned for a TD against Wofford. In addition to those four picks, Tippit has 41 tackles, 3.5 tackles-for-loss, six pass break-ups and two sacks this season.

This game shapes up to be an interesting one for Appalachian State, as the Mountaineers look to avoid letting the Mocs garner their first win in Boone since 1988. That won’t be as easy as it has been in the past, with Chattanooga playing better football, a coach that knows what to expect when he comes to Boone and of course, the obvious—having Elon on the horizon for a potential monumental SoCon title showdown next Saturday.

Noting Last Season’s Meeting Between Appalachian State and UTC

 

CHATTANOOGA, TENN.-Junior quarterback and eventual Walter Payton Award-winning signal-caller Armanti Edwards racked up 328 yards of total offense in only one half of work, leading the second-ranked Appalachian State Mountaineers to a 49-7 over the Mocs in Finley Stadium.

Edwards topped the 100-yard rushing mark on ASU’s second possession and finished the day with 152 yards on just nine carries, while completing 9-of-17 passes for 176 yards and two TDs. Defensively, the Mountaineers were led by sophomore linebacker D.J. Smith, who eight tackles, including one for a loss.