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Photo Gallery (by
Sandy King)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Chattanooga took advantage of an early special teams play to take the lead and the Mocs held Eastern Illinois at bay 24-10 in the season opener for both teams.
EIU returns to action next Saturday at Big Ten member Indiana as the Panthers continue to grind through the sixth toughest schedule in the FCS.
Following two defensive stands by the Panthers, one resulting in an interception by
Raymond Crittenden, it was a special teams play that set up the first score of the game.
EIU fumbled a punt which UTC recovered inside the 20-yard line. Nick Tiano was able to plunge over from 1-yard out at the 7:02 mark of the first quarter to put the Mocs up 7-0.
The Panthers offense answered with a long drive of its own as
Josh Delgado knocked home a 37-yard field goal with 25 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
A gamble on fourth down by the Panthers offense would pay off for the first touchdown of the
Adam Cushing era. On a fourth-and-four,
Johnathan Brantley connected with
Nick Stricker on a 7-yard touchdown pass to make it 14-10 with 2:19 left in the first half. Brantley finished the game 13-of-25 passing for 103 yards.
Chattanooga's additional first half points came on a 59-yard strike from Tiano to Bryce Nunnelly with 8:01 to play in the second quarter and a Victor Ulmo 37-yard field goal as time expired making it 17-10 at the half. Tiano was 17-of-27 passing for 256 yards. Nunnelly had six catches for 100 yards.
The Mocs took to the ground to open the second half as they drove the opening kickoff for a 1-yard touchdown by Ailym Ford. UTC finished the day with 94 yards on the ground despite a heavy dose of run plays in the offense with a late two score lead.
EIU had a lengthy drive of its own in the third quarter stalled as the Panthers lost a fumble on a 4th and one play inside the Chattanooga 25. EIU would drive into UTC territory three more times in the fourth quarter and come up short on downs.
EIU's defense stood up most of the day holding the Mocs to two field goal attempts following drives into the red zone. The second field goal was a miss from 36-yards at the 11:16 mark of the fourth quarter with EIU trailing 24-10.
Chattanooga was able to end an EIU drive with just over two minutes remaining as Kameron Brown picked off a tipped pass inside the 20-yard line.
Harry Woodbery had come in the lead the Panthers drive hitting
Xander Richards on two passes during the drive. Richards finished the day with five catches for 67 yards. The final play of the game was the Panthers having a pass broken-up in the end zone after another Woodbery led drive.
Joe Caputo led the EIU defense with eight tackles.
Bryce Dewberry had a third quarter interception as EIU forced two turnovers in the game.
Marshall Cooper led Chattanooga with ten tackles.
