Pair of SoCon unbeatens to meet under the lights in Greene Stadium

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Sept. 28, 2018)– A pair of Southern Conference unbeatens will clash under the lights when ETSU football hosts No. 24/20 Chattanooga on Saturday night inside Greene Stadium.  Kickoff for the the rivalry game is set for 7:30 p.m.

THINGS TO KNOW FOR SATURDAY’S GAME

As fans make their plans for the game, the ETSU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has released its Top 5 “Things to Know” presented by Citizens Bank.

Fans are also reminded they can access information regarding game day activities by visiting ETSUBucs.com and clicking on the Game Day Central link located on the football page, or by downloading the ETSU Game Time App for Apple and Android devices. Current users of the Game Time App are encouraged to update prior to the season to get the latest information on Buc athletics.

No. 1 – The “Rail Rivalry” is Born: Earlier this week, the ETSU and Chattanooga athletic departments introduced a new tradition into their storied rivalry. “The Rail” – a former railroad tie that has been adorned with logos and symbolism from both programs – will now be presented to the winning team following matchups between the two schools. To learn more about “The Rail” rivalry click here.

No. 2 – White Out: Saturday’s game has been designated a “White Out” and fans are asked to wear their favorite white ETSU gear for the game with Chattanooga.

No. 3 – Ticket information: Tickets are now on sale and going fast. To purchase click here

No. 4 – Tailgating, Buc Walk and Fireworks: Parking lots on campus open at 8 a.m. for tailgating on game days. Click here for the game day parking map. Fans are also reminded that the Buc Walk will take place and 5:15 p.m. In addition, fireworks will be used during the game for the national anthem, team introductions and ETSU scores.

No. 5 – Clear Bag Policy and Enhanced Security: ETSU has a clear bag policy for all home football games inside William B. Greene, Jr. Stadium. In addition, new security procedures including metal detectors and security wands will be employed at entry gates. Fans are asked to arrive early to insure access to the stadium.

BUCCANEER NOTES

BUCS RECEIVING VOTES IN TOP 25

Following the win over Furman last Saturday, ETSU improved to 3-1, 2-0 in SoCon play. As a result, the Bucs have caught some national attention as the Blue and Gold are now receiving votes in the STATS FCS Top 25 Poll – six total votes … This marks the first time since the start of the 2016 season that the Bucs are receiving votes in the Top 25. 

ETSU’S RALLY VS. FURMAN LARGEST IN PROGRAM HISTORY

According to the ETSU record book, last Saturday’s 21-point comeback over Furman was the largest deficit the Bucs have overcome in program history … Prior to last Saturday’s comeback, the previous mark was when the Bucs rallied from 20 points down to beat Chattanooga 24-23 on Oct. 14, 1989 … ETSU was down 10-0 after the first quarter, 16-3 at halftime and went down 23-3 before George Searcy rattled off three straight touchdown runs to help fuel the comeback … Searcy went on to be named SoCon Player of the Year at the end of that season. 

A WIN TONIGHT WOULD…

A Buccaneer win tonight would mark ETSU’s 348th victory in program history, while it would mark the first time ETSU won its first three SoCon games to start a season since 1996 when the Bucs started 6-0 and eventually reached the NCAA Playoffs … A win would also mark the Bucs’ best start to a season since opening the 1999 campaign 4-1 (Please note, the Bucs were without a program from 2004-2014). 

BUCS AND FOURTH QUARTER SUCCESS

In their three wins this season, the Bucs are outscoring the opposition 37-0 in the fourth quarter, while the Blue and Gold have yet to allow a fourth-quarter point at home all season – outscoring their foes, 30-0 in two home games. 

BUCS INSIDE GREENE STADIUM

ETSU has won six of its first eight games played inside Greene Stadium, with the two setbacks coming within a single score as the Bucs dropped a 31-25 decision to then-No. 13 The Citadel last Sept. 16 and 31-24 game to then-No. 8 Wofford on Oct. 28 … In the eight games played inside its new home, ETSU is outscoring the opposition, 203-138, while holding its foes to 17 points per contest … The Buccaneer defense is limiting opponents to 301 yards per game (152 yards rushing/149 yards passing) … In six home games a year ago, ETSU rushed for only 469 yards (78.2 per game); however, in its first two games this season, ETSU has rushed for 342 yards, including 238 yards on the ground in the season opener vs. Mars Hill … JJ Jerman is 22-for-22 in PATs in the first eight games inside Greene Stadium … Linebacker Dylan Weigel has totaled 71 tackles and two fumble recoveries in eight career games in Greene Stadium, while Nasir Player has 55 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks and one interception in his first eight games played on the new turf … Austin Herink has thrown for nearly 1,500 yards (1,498), 10 touchdowns (one interception) and is completing 65% of his passes (117-for-179) in seven career games inside Greene Stadium. 

JERMAN SETS ETSU FIELD GOAL RECORD 

Senior kicker JJ Jerman set the ETSU all-time record for field goals made in the Bucs’ comeback win over Furman on Sept. 22  … Jerman, who has totaled 39 career field goals, broke Jerry Chapman’s (1995-97) record of 37 with his 32-yard make in the first quarter against the Paladins … Jerman also ranks third all-time in Buccaneer history in extra-points (71) and scoring (188) … Jerman is two PATs away from passing Mike Shoun (1987-89) for second all-time and 50 points shy of passing Jerry Chapman (1995-97) for second all-time. 

HOLMES TABBED STATS FCS FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK

ETSU redshirt freshman running back Quay Holmes was tabbed STATS FCS Freshman of the Week following his performance in the Bucs’ win over Furman on Sept. 22 … Holmes totaled 22 carries for 102 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Paladins Holmes – who totaled his second 100-yard career rushing game in just his fourth collegiate contest – also added four receptions for 14 yards and had three kickoff returns for 45 yards … The Buccaneer running back capped off a 9-play, 93-yard scoring driving with a two-yard run in the third quarter, while he also scored on the Bucs following possession via a 12-yard carry to pull ETSU within seven, 27-20 at the 8:27 mark of the fourth quarter. Overall, Holmes totaled 161 all-purpose yards in the win over the Paladins … Holmes posted the Bucs seventh 100-yard rushing game by a player since the return of the program in 2015 – ETSU is now 6-1 in those contests, while ETSU recorded its fourth straight 100-yard rushing game, marking the first time that has been accomplished since the end of the 2003 season. 

T0 30 AND BEYOND…

ETSU  is 5-1 when scoring at least 30 points since restarting the program in 2015 … ETSU had won its last 14 games when scoring at least 30 points prior to the setback at Furman on Sept. 30, 2017, with the last setback coming on Nov. 4, 2000 when Wofford defeated the Bucs, 35-31. 

RED ZONE SUCCESS

Since the start of the 2016 season, ETSU is 62-of-70 (89%) in red zone scoring ... The Bucs have scored 328 points during these 70 trips (38 TDs/24 FGs). 

ABOUT CHATTANOOGA  

The Mocs have won their first four games to start the season and enter Saturday’s game ranked No. 24 in the Coaches’ Poll and No. 20 in the STATS FCS Top 25 Poll … Chattanooga is 4-0, 2-0 in SoCon play. 

Chattanooga is 4-0 for the second time in the last three years and just the sixth time in school history where they opened 4-0 … UTC has won six of its last seven games dating back to last year 

The Mocs have scored at least 27 points in all four of their games this season, which includes 34-point efforts in wins over Tennessee Tech and at UT Martin … UTC only scored over 24 points once last season 

UTC is averaging 418.5 yards per game this season – 292.5 passing and 126 rushing, while allowing 404.5 yards per contest – 233.2 passing and 171.2 rushing

The Mocs lead the SoCon in passing efficiency (161.4) and passing yards per attempt (9.7), while ranking second in scoring defense (20.5), pass efficiency defense (111.8), touchdowns scored (15), and average yards per play on offense (6.8) and passing yards per completion (15.8)

Chattanooga has forced 11 turnovers (seven interceptions, four fumble recoveries), while the Mocs have turned the ball over four times (two INTs, two fumbles) … Senior defensive back Kareem Orr has posted four of UTC’s seven interceptions this season, while sophomore defensive back Jerrell Lawson had a 26-yard INT returned for a touchdown in the season-opening win over Tennessee Tech … The Mocs had four takeaways last week vs. Samford – three interceptions and one fumble … Last year, UTC turned the ball over 25 times (only four this year), while they recorded eight defensive INTs last year (already have seven this year) … They also only scored 41 points of turnovers (this year they have 38) 

The Mocs are outscoring their opponents 40-0 in the first quarter and 35-13 in the third quarter this season

Junior quarterback Nick Tiano ranks second in the SoCon in total offense (319.0), passing yards per game (287.8), passing touchdowns (8) and total offense TDs (9), while junior running back Tyrell Price leads the conference in total rushing yards (332) and rushing touchdowns (5) … Sophomore wide receiver Bryce Nunnelly leads the SoCon in receiving yards (654), receiving yards per game (163.5) and yards per catch (21.8), while ranking second in receptions per game (7.5), receptions (30) and receiving touchdowns (4) … Nunnelly had seven receptions for 161 yards in the season opener vs. Tennessee Tech and followed that up with 10 receptions for 268 yards and two touchdowns in the overtime win at The Citadel … He then had eight catches for 136 yards at UT Martin, while adding five catches for 108 yards and one TD in last week’s win over Samford … Nunnelly posted a school-record fourth straight game with over 100 yards receiving last week vs. Samford, while he now has caught five or more balls in all four contests … His 654 receiving yards is 216 higher than his 2017 total

SERIES HISTORY

Chattanooga leads the all-time series, 22-18-1 … Saturday marks the 20th game played in Johnson City with the Bucs holding a 10-8-1 advantage in the previous 19 meetings … The teams played to a 10-3 decision last year in the season finale at Chattanooga … JJ Jerman tied a career-long with a 51-yard field goal; however, that was the only scoring done by the Bucs as Chattanooga held ETSU to 116 yards of total offense (92 passing/24 rushing yards) and nine first downs … Austin Herink was sacked four times, while the Bucs were held to 4-of-16 on third down … In 2016, the Mocs defeated ETSU, 37-7, in Johnson City, while the Bucs’ last win over Chattanooga was a 68-7 victory back on Nov. 15, 2003 inside Memorial Center … ETSU’s longest win streak in the series is five straight wins from 1992-96, while Chattanooga’s longest run is a four-game stretch from 1980-83 … The Bucs’ largest win all-time against Chattanooga was the 68-7 victory back in 2003, while ETSU won seven of the last 12 in the series.

COVERAGE

Saturday’s game will be streamed live on ESPN+ … David Jackson will handle the play-by-play duties, while former ETSU quarterback and Hall of Fame member Mark Hutsell will be the color analyst and Kasey Marler will handle sideline reporting. 

About ESPN+

ESPN+ is the premium multi-sport, direct-to-consumer video service from The Walt Disney Company’s Direct-to-Consumer and International (DTCI) segment in conjunction with ESPN. It offers fans thousands of additional live events, on-demand content and original programming not available on ESPN’s linear TV or digital networks. Fans can subscribe to ESPN+ for just $4.99 a month (or $49.99 per year) and cancel at any time. 

Programming on ESPN+ includes hundreds of MLB, NHL and MLS games, thousands of college sports events (including football, basketball and multiple other sports from more than 15 conferences), exclusive Top Rank boxing, UFC (beginning in 2019), Grand Slam tennis, international and domestic rugby, cricket, new and exclusive documentary films and series, acclaimed studio shows and the full library of ESPN’s award-winning 30 for 30 films. 

CLICK HERE FOR ESPN+ BROADCAST

The Buccaneer Sports Network (BSN) will provide ETSU fans with complete pregame, in-game and postgame coverage on the radio. Games air live on the Bucs’ flagship station WXSM-AM 640 and affiliate station 104.9 FM NASH ICON.     

The BSN begins its pregame programing one hour and 30 minutes prior to kickoff with the 30-minute long ETSU Football Tailgate Show, followed by the Randy Sanders Pregame Show Powered by Ford which will lead up to 30 minutes prior to kickoff. The Appalachian Orthopaedic Countdown to Kickoff will then lead into the final moments before kickoff.       

The broadcast team of “Voice of the Bucs” Jay Sandos, color analyst and former ETSU defensive back Adam Walton,sideline reporter Robert Harper, and studio hosts Mike Gallagher and Trey Adams will provide ETSU fans all the information they need to complement their game-day activities. 

At halftime, the crew will have the Zaxby’s Halftime Show, while fans can tune into the General Shale Post Game Show for a full wrap up, with game statistics, players and coach interviews, and other post-game information.       

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE AUDIO

In addition to following the Bucs on your mobile device and/or tablet with live audio and video, fans can get up-to-the-minute stats by following the action via StatBroadcast. Fans can access live stats on their computers or mobile devices via ETSUBucs.com.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE STATS 

TICKETS 

Tickets for Saturday’s game are still available … Tickets can be purchased by calling the ETSU Ticket Office at (423) 439-3878, online or on gameday at the ticket gate.

UP NEXT 

ETSU wraps up its three-game homestand next weekend when the Bucs host Gardner-Webb … Kickoff for the Homecoming game is set for 3:30 p.m. inside Greene Stadium.

SOCIAL MEDIA 

For complete information on ETSU Football, follow the program via social media on Twitter (@ETSUFootball), Instagram (@ETSUFootball), Snapchat (@ETSUFootball) and on Facebook (ETSU Buccaneer Football). 

For more information on Buccaneer football, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the football link.