Mocs Fall at Furman 16-10

(gomocs.com) GREENVILLE—The Chattanooga Mocs fought to the finish but ultimately fell short in a 16-10 loss at Furman Saturday afternoon. It was a defensive battle with just 519 yards of offense between the two squads.

The Paladins scored the first 13 points of the game. Devin Wynn’s 50-yard run late in the first quarter along with two Grayson Atkins field goals of 50 and 48 yards late in the second sent the home team into halftime leading 13-0.

The second of those two field goals came on the last play of the first half with Furman receiving the opening kickoff of the second. Ian Hayes made a big play to spark the Mocs.

He forced a fumble on Landon Lawrence’s return of that kick that was smothered by Jerrell Lawson at the 45. 12 plays and six-plus minutes later, and Victor Ulmo got Chattanooga on the board with a 23-yard field goal.

Furman went on a long drive to put the clock in its favor. It ran out the third quarter and a bit of the fourth with a 20-play methodical march that included three fourth-down conversions. That ended in a third Atkins field goal and a 16-3 advantage.

“Just keep fighting,” Coach Tom Arth shared about what to do at that point in the game. “We are able to hold them to a field goal a number of times. They were taking some time off the clock, and we had opportunities. We got the ball on the ground and had some near interceptions.

“(The defense) were playing their hearts out and leaving it all on the field. They were giving us opportunities, repeatedly.”

The next two Mocs drives were stopped on downs at their 43 and Furman’s 7, respectively. Time looked to be out as the Paladins rushing attack, which had grinded out 180 yards on the day, stubbed its toe. On second-and-eight at the Furman 14, the defense made a huge play as Isaiah Mack forced a Ridge Gibson fumble with Rashun Freeman getting credit for the recovery at the 18.

“It is incredible,” quarterback Nick Tiano said when asked to recollect his thoughts when the turnover happened. “Knowing they were going to run the ball, and it’d be tough to get it back, the defense made a play.

“They gave us another opportunity, we were able to score and give us a chance with the on-side kick.”

Three Nick Tiano completions to Bingo Morton, the last a scoring strike of five yards, made it 16-10 with 1:49 on the clock. One more special teams play was needed, but the Paladins got a clean catch by Avery Armstrong. Three knees to the ground and the game was over.