Furman Paladins Seek Revenge on Chattanooga Mocs in SoCon Title Tilt

November 4, 2023

1:30 PM

Finley Stadium

Chattanooga, Tennessee

The #2 ranked Furman Paladins (7-1, 5-0 SoCon) will hit the road to take on the #14 ranked Chattanooga Mocs (7-2, 6-1 SoCon) in a highly anticipated Southern Conference matchup on Saturday afternoon at Finley Stadium. The winner of the game will clinch at least a share of the SoCon title and the automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.

The Paladins are led by a strong rushing attack that averages 184.8 yards per game. Running back Dominic Roberto has had a standout season, rushing for 613 yards and 7 touchdowns. Quarterback Tyler Huff has also been a valuable contributor to the running game, rushing for 487 yards and 5 touchdowns.

In addition to their strong running game, the Paladins also have a solid passing game. Huff has thrown for 1452 yards and 5 touchdowns this season. He has a good group of receivers to work with, led by Joshua Harris (32 receptions, 296 yards, 2 TDs).

The Paladins’ defense is one of the best in the FCS, allowing just 19.88 points per game. The defense is led by safety Hugh Ryan (54 tackles), linebacker Elijah McKoy (51 tackles), and defensive end Marcus Anderson (12 sacks). The Paladins also have a good pass rush, led by Anderson and linebacker Justin Hughes (8 sacks).

The Mocs’ offense is led by quarterback Chase Artopoeus, who has thrown for 2383 yards and 18 touchdowns this season. He has a good group of receivers to work with, led by Jamoi Mayes (48 receptions, 819 yards, 3 TDs).

The Mocs’ defense is also solid, allowing just 21.0 points per game. The defense is led by defensive back Josh Battle (50 tackles).

The two teams have met 87 times in the past, with Furman holding a 54-31-2 lead in the series. The Paladins have won the last two meetings between the two teams, including a 31-28 victory in Chattanooga last season.

Matchup to Watch

Furman rushing attack vs. Chattanooga defense

The Paladins have one of the best rushing attacks in the FCS, while the Mocs have one of the best defenses in the FCS. This matchup should be a lot of fun to watch.

The Paladins will need to find a way to run the ball against a stout Mocs defense. Roberto and Huff are both solid running backs, but they will need to get their blockers involved in order to be successful.

The Mocs will need to stop the Paladins’ running game in order to have a chance to win the game. The Mocs have a good front seven, led by Battle. They will need to get pressure on Huff and force him into making mistakes.

Prediction

The Furman Paladins are the favorites to win this game. They have a better rushing attack and a better defense than the Chattanooga Mocs. However, the Mocs have a high-powered passing game, and they are always tough to beat at home.

I predict that the Furman Paladins will win this game by a score of 27-24.