WEEK 7 SCHEDULE
Oct. 12 (Saturday)
Series
TV/Digital Time
*VMI at Wofford
Wofford leads 14-13
ESPN+ 1:30 p.m.
*Chattanooga 23 at Furman
Furman leads 33-21
ESPN+ 2 p.m.
*The Citadel at Western Carolina
The Citadel leads 27-20-1
ESPN+ 2:30 p.m.
*Samford at ETSU
Samford leads 5-3
ESPN+ 3:30 p.m.
Princeton at Mercer7/8
First meeting
ESPN+ 3:30 p.m.
NOTES
• All nine SoCon teams are in action on Saturday for the first time in four weeks. Furman, Samford and Western Carolina all look to move to 2-0 in the league standings.
• Two SoCon squads – Mercer and Chattanooga – are ranked in national polls. The Bears are ranked in the top 10 in both the AFCA and Stats Perform polls, while the Mocs are in the Stats Perform poll. Chattanooga received votes in the AFCA poll. ETSU and Western Carolina received votes in both polls.
• Under the direction of first-year head coach Mike Jacobs, Mercer is the league’s only unbeaten team. The Bears are second in the FCS in scoring defense (7.8 ppg), along with leading the league in tackles for loss (41) and interceptions (9).
• Wofford is looking for its first home win this weekend. The Terriers’ last home win was against Furman in their season finale last year.
• Furman defeated Chattanooga twice last season and have won the last three overall in the series. The Mocs’ last win over the Paladins was at home in 2021.
• The road team has won the last three games between The Citadel and Western Carolina. The last home win was by the Catamounts in the 2020- 21 season, a game that Western Carolina won 21-14.
• Chattanooga’s Sam Phillips moved into the top 10 in Mocs history in career receptions and yards after last week’s win over ETSU. Phillips, who has three 100-yard games this season, currently leads the FCS in receiving yards per game (118.0).
• Mercer quarterback DJ Smith (.786) and Samford quarterback Quincy Crittendon (.717) are second and fourth, respectively, in the FCS in completion percentage.
• Wofford linebacker David Powers became the fourth Terrier to be named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week on Monday.
• Furman quarterback Trey Hedden has been one of the country’s most impressive freshmen this season. The first-year signal caller is in the top 50 in FCS football in six passing categories, including completion percentage (.600), passing efficiency (144.0) and passing touchdowns (7).
SO CON PLAYERS OF THE WEEKS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Sam Phillips, R-Jr., WR, Chattanooga
Phillips caught six passes for 110 yards and a touchdown for Chattanooga as the Mocs won, 17-10, at then 23rd-ranked ETSU on Saturday. The redshirt junior’s score came from 38 yards out at the 5:01 mark of the third quarter, making the score 10-3 in favor of the Mocs. The Cartersville, Georgia, native’s performance was his third 100-yard receiving game of the season and moved him into the top 10 in career receptions and yards in program history. Phillips now leads all of FCS football in receiving yards per game (118.0 yards/game). Chattanooga is now ranked No. 23 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
David Powers, Sr., LB, Wofford
Powers had a team-high 11 tackles, including one for a loss, and an interception in Wofford’s 21-17 setback at Western Carolina. The senior from El Paso, Texas, picked off a pass at the 2-yard line in the first minute of the fourth quarter, keeping the Terriers within one possession. Powers became Wofford’s fourth defensive player to receive the weekly honor this season.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Nate Brackett, R-Jr., P, ETSU
Brackett punted six times for ETSU in the game against Chattanooga on Saturday, averaging 48.3 yards per kick. The redshirt junior had three punts over 50 yards and pinned the Mocs inside the 20-yard line on three occasions. The native of Rockwood, Tennessee, booted a season-long 65-yard punt in the fourth quarter with 12:31 remaining in the game, which was downed at the 11-yard line. Brackett is the second special teams weekly winner for the Bucs this season, joining kicker Ewan Johnson, who won the award on Sept. 23.
