Chattanooga 31, Furman 10

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Jacob Huseman passed for 171 yards and two touchdowns to lead Chattanooga past Furman, 31-10, in Southern Conference football action Saturday afternoon at Paladin Stadium.

Huseman, a freshman from Chattanooga, completed 18-of-23 passes and added 59 yards rushing on 22 carries to finish with 230 yards total offense in helping the Mocs (3-3, 2-1 SoCon) record their second straight win in Greenville but only the fifth triumph over the Paladins (2-5, 1-3 SoCon) in the last 28 meetings dating back to 1985.

Chattanooga rolled up 369 total yards and dominated time of possession, 38:54-21:06.

Terrell Robinson also figured big in the win for UTC, completing 7-of-10 passes for 86 yards, rushing four times for 29 yards and a score, and catching eight passes for 81 yards, including both of Huseman's touchdown passes.

Trailing 7-3 late in the second quarter, Chattanooga grabbed the lead for good when Huseman took advantage of blown coverage by Furman's secondary to connect with Robinson for a 38-yard touchdown strike with 51 seconds on the clock. Nick Pollard's PAT sent the Mocs into halftime with a 10-7 lead.

UTC stretched its lead to 17-7 with another Huesman-to-Robinson connection against blown coverage, this time covering 14 yards with 4:59 to go in the third quarter.

Furman responded on the ensuing possession with a Ray Early 36-yard field to make it 17-10, but that would do it for the Paladins' second half scoring.

A Robinson 6-yard scoring run, his third touchdown of the game, at the 14:21 mark of the fourth quarter, capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive and gave the Mocs a 24-10 advantage.

UTC capped its offensive display with a J.J. Jackson 10-yard run with 2:27 to go after stopping Furman on fourth down at the Paladin 10-yard line.

Chaz Moore's seven-tackle performance paced a Chattanooga defense that racked up four sacks in the game, including a pair by Davis Tull, who was also credited with a forced fumble. UTC also tallied seven pass breakups.

Furman was led by Gary Wilkins' 13 tackles. The Paladins finished with three sacks.



The Citadel 45, Western Carolina 31

CHARLESTON, S.C. - True freshman quarterback Troy Mitchell and senior tailback Michael Vaughn both rushed for two touchdowns apiece for Western Carolina on Saturday afternoon, but it was not enough as The Citadel's triple-option attack ground out six scores in handing the Catamounts a 45-31 setback in Southern Conference action at Johnson Hagood Stadium.

The loss was WCU's sixth-straight on the season while The Citadel halted a three-game slide.

Western Carolina (1-6, 0-5 SoCon) had two backs go for over 100 yards in the loss as both Mitchell (117 yards) and classmate Darius Ramsey (118 yards) - who was making his return to the Catamount backfield - eclipsed the century mark as WCU rushed for 298 yards, its second-highest output of the season. Mitchell was also 9-of-14 passing with one interception for a combined 67 yards through the air.

Vaughn added 51 yards on the ground, twice finding the end zone for his second career two touchdown game - and the second in the past three games. Senior Jacoby Mitchell and freshman Spearman Robinson - who entered the game fourth in NCAA FCS Football in receptions among freshmen - both had three catches apiece.

The Citadel (4-3, 3-2 SoCon) compiled 378 yards on the ground led by Darien Robinson with 116 yards and a touchdown while quarterback Ben Dupree rushed for two scores to accompany his 96 rushing yards. Combined, the Bulldogs used eight different backs for 68 rushing attempts with six TDs, only throwing the ball six times (4-of-6 for 48 yards).

From the opening kickoff, the two squads put on an offensive show, both marching down the field on respective 15-play drives to light the scoreboard. Dupree gave the Bulldogs the early advantage on a 10-yard run while Vaughn plowed his way into the end zone to tie the game, capping a 90-yard drive on the first play of the second quarter.

Following a second Dupree scoring run, the Catamounts marched back into scoring territory before stalling at the five-yard line. Sophomore Richard Sigmon, who accounted for seven total points on the day, was called upon to punch through a 22-yard field goal making it 14-10 in favor of the home standing Bulldogs.

On the ensuing possession, WCU recorded its first stop on the potent Bulldog ground attack, forcing a three-and-out and a punt by The Citadel. Mitchell then drove the Catamounts 67 yards in eight plays, taking it in from 12 yards out for his first of two rushing touchdowns to hand WCU its first lead of the afternoon, 17-14, just minutes before the halftime break.

The Citadel added a 27-yard Thomas Warren field goal as time expired in the opening half to send the teams to the locker room deadlocked at 17 apiece.

After trading turnovers to open the second half, Western Carolina surged back in front on the strength of an eight-play, 82-yard drive to pull ahead, 24-17. Mitchell had a pass intercepted only to see Rock Williams strip Bulldog signal caller Ben Dupree two plays later to set-up the scoring drive. Spurred by a third-down completion by Mitchell to classmate Spearman Robinson for a 12-yard gain to keep the drive moving, Vaughn recorded his second scoring romp of the day, rumbling in from 24-yards out to hand WCU the lead back.

The Citadel went back on the march on its next possession, though, moving 75 yards in 12 plays with Aaron Miller plunging in from a yard out to again knot the game at 24 through three quarters.

The turning point in the otherwise equally played game was back-to-back WCU possessions of three-and-out by the Catamount offense - one late in the third quarter and the first offensive possession of the fourth. The Bulldogs countered with two scoring drives capped by a Rickey Anderson 11-yard run and a six-yard rush by Robinson to pull ahead, 38-24.

Western Carolina answered by capitalizing on a career-long, 31-yard kickoff return by freshman A.J. McKoy. The Catamounts moved 61 yards in just six plays with Mitchell again hitting pay-dirt with a five-yard score.

The Citadel recovered WCU's subsequent on-sides kick, adding a rushing touchdown to provide the final tally.

Playing against a triple-option team for the first time all season, WCU senior linebacker Rock Williams returned to the lineup and posted a career-high 24 tackles - nearly surpassing his previous career-best of 19 in solo stops with 17 on the day. Williams' performance was an opponent record against The Citadel, surpassing the previous high of 22. The Howell, Mich., native whose parents have since relocated to the South Carolina Lowcountry also forced and recovered a fumble for the Catamounts.

Junior Courtland Carson finished with nine tackles while both Ace Clark and Randy Pressley tallied seven stops apiece. Defensive lineman Bevans Robbs and back De'von Richardson both tallied a tackle for loss.



#12 Appalachian State 28, #25 Samford 25

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Appalachian State's Jamal Jackson hit Sean Price for a 22-yard touchdown with 22 seconds left in the game to lift the 12th-ranked Mountaineer football team to a 28-25 win at 25th-ranked Samford Saturday afternoon at Seibert Stadium.

Samford entered the final quarter trailing, 21-10, but the Bulldogs fought back to take the lead. Kelsey Pope scored on an 18-yard run with 14:41 left in the final quarter. Andy Summerlin then hit Chris Cephus in the back of the end zone on the two-point conversion to cut the lead to 21-18.

Samford took the lead for the first time since midway through the second quarter when Fabian Truss scored on a one-yard run with 7:37 to go. Cameron Yaw added the extra point to give Samford a 25-21 lead.

The game-winning drive for Appalachian State covered 80 yards, and took seven plays and 1:17 off of the fourth-quarter clock. Samford got the ball back with 16 seconds left, but was unable to get into field goal range as the Mountaineers came away with the 28-25 win.

For Samford for the game, Summerlin completed 18-of-30 passes for 270 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Truss was the Bulldogs' leading receiver with eight catches for 113 yards to go along with his 18 rushes for 46 yards and a touchdown. Tony Philpot caught three passes for 67 yards and a score.

Jaquiski Tartt led the Samford defense with 14 tackles, including 11 solo stops and one interception. Keith Shoulders added seven tackles for the Bulldog defense. Punter Greg Peranich averaged 46.7 yards on nine punts. Yaw averaged 64.8 yards on five kickoffs, with two going for touchbacks. Yaw also made both of his extra-point attempts and his lone field goal attempt.

For ASU, Jackson completed 22-of-39 passes for 288 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Andrew Peacock caught seven passes for 60 yards, while Steven Miller had six receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown. Price caught five passes for 90 yards and a score.

The ASU defense was led by Jeremy Kimbrough with 10 tackles. Joel Ross had an interception he returned 17 yards for a touchdown.

Samford jumped on top on the opening drive of the game. Yaw kicked a 25-yard field goal with 11:42 left in the first quarter to give Samford an early 3-0 lead. The score capped a seven-play, 67-yard drive that used 3:18.

Appalachian State took the lead when Ross intercepted a Summerlin pass and returned it 17 yards for a touchdown. Drew Stewart added the extra point to give the Mountaineers a 7-3 lead.

The Bulldogs took the lead again when Summerlin hit Philpot on a one-yard touchdown pass with 2:26 left in the opening period. Yaw added the extra point to put Samford ahead, 10-7. The scoring drive was six-plays, 66 yards and took 1:53 off the first-quarter clock.

The Mountaineers answered when Rod Chisholm scored on a 20-yard run with 7:43 left in the second quarter. Stewart added the extra point to put ASU on top, 14-10. Appalachian State added to its lead when Jackson hit Miller for a 48-yard touchdown with 5:16 left in the second quarter. Stewart's PAT pushed the ASU lead to 21-10.

Neither team was able to score in the third quarter, sending the teams to the fourth quarter with ASU leading 21-10 and setting up the wild final period.

As a team, Samford totaled 352 yards of total offense, while ASU finished with 413 total yards. Samford kept the ball for 31:32, while the Mountaineers had the ball for 28:28 of the game.



#7 Georgia Southern 17, #4 Wofford 9

STATESBORO, Ga. - In a defensive battle, the Wofford football team fell 17-9 to Georgia Southern on Saturday evening at Paulson Stadium. Both teams kept the ball on the ground, as the Eagles had 265 rushing yards to 221 for the Terriers.

The Terriers are 5-1 on the season and 3-1 in the SoCon. Georgia Southern is 5-1 overall and 4-1 in conference play. For Wofford, Eric Breitenstein had 102 yards on 13 carries and Cam Flowers had 26 yards. Georgia Southern was led by Dominique Swope with 25 carries for 137 yards and the game's only two touchdowns.

To open the game, Georgia Southern fumbled and the ball was recovered by E.J. Speller at the 28-yard line. Wofford was stopped and made a 39-yard field goal, but the Eagles were offsides and the Terriers got the first down. After a pass interference call in the endzone, Wofford got on the board with a 19-yard field goal by Christian Reed for a 3-0 lead with 9:26 on the clock in the first quarter.

On the next drive for the Eagles, they were forced three-and-out and punted. Wofford gained one first down before a tackle for loss and sack made the Terriers punt. Georgia Southern picked up one first down before punting. Wofford used a 65-yard run by Eric Breitenstein to move the ball inside the 15-yard line and took a 6-0 lead after a 30-yard field goal by Christian Reed with 14:56 on the clock in the second quarter.

The Eagles had a 33-yard run by Jerrick McKinnon to set up a 48-yard field goal by Alex Hanks to make it a 6-3 game at 11:52 in the second quarter. On the ensuing drive the Terriers gained one first down before punting, which was matched by the Eagles on their next drive. Wofford then went three-and-out and punted and Darreion Robinson returned it 46 yards inside the 30-yard line. Georgia Southern took advantage of the short field and scored a touchdown on a four-yard run by Dominique Swope. The Eagles had a 10-6 lead with 46 seconds left in the first half.

To start the second half, Wofford gained one first down before two incomplete passes forced a punt. After a sack by Alvin Scioneaux, Georgia Southern went three-and-out and punted. After picking up two first downs, Eric Breitenstein converted a fourth-and-one. However the drive stalled and Wofford punted.

The Eagles gained two first downs on their next drive before punting with 1:23 on the clock in the third quarter. Wofford then was able to pick up three first downs, but after a fumble the Terriers were forced to punt with 12:12 left in the fourth quarter.

Georgia Southern used four rushing first downs to get to the 11-yard line. Dominique Swope then scored from three yards out to give the Eagles a 17-6 lead with 8:36 on the clock in the fourth quarter. With the ball back, Wofford was able to drive inside the 10-yard line, but once again were kept out of the endzone and Christian Reed kicked a 23-yard field goal. The score was 17-9 with 3:38 left in the game. The Eagles got the ball back and were able to gain three first downs and run out the clock for the win.

Wofford had 248 total yards, with 221 on the ground. Georgia Southern had 265 total yards, all of which were rushing. Each team had 15 first downs. Wofford was 4-of-15 on third downs. Georgia Southern was 3-of-10 on third down. Wofford had two penalties, while Georgia Southern had five. Wofford had the time of possession by a 33:40 to 26:20 margin.