WEEK 11 SCHEDULE
Nov. 9 (Saturday) Series TV/Digital Time
*Western CarolinaRV/22 at ETSU
Western Carolina leads 27-25-1
ESPN+ Noon
*ChattanoogaRV/23 at The Citadel
Chattanooga leads 35-20-2
ESPN+ 1 p.m.
*Mercer13/10 at VMI
Mercer leads 7-3
ESPN+ 1:30 p.m.
*Wofford at Furman
Furman leads 56-34-7
ESPN+ 2 p.m.
Tennessee Tech at Samford
Samford leads 5-3
ESPN+ 3 p.m.
* Denotes SoCon game
NOTES
• All nine SoCon teams are in action on Saturday for the first time in three weeks. Samford is the lone team that will not play a conference game this week. • Three SoCon squads – Mercer, Chattanooga and Western Carolina – are ranked in national polls. The Bears are ranked in both the AFCA and Stats Perform polls, while the Mocs and Catamounts are in the Stats Perform poll. Chattanooga and Western Carolina received votes in the AFCA poll. ETSU received votes in the Stats Perform poll. • Western Carolina at ETSU serves as the marquee matchup on the SoCon schedule this week. The Catamounts have won the last two Blue Ridge Border Battles, including a 58-7 victory at home last season. • The Citadel, who is coming off its bye week, host Chattanooga looking for its third straight win. After dropping their first three games, the Mocs had won five straight games before dropping a close game at Western Carolina last week. • Mercer found its way back into the top 10 of the Stats Perform after winning its second consecutive game last week. The Bears boast the top 3rd Down Conversion Pct Defense(.224) in FCS football. Also after scoring twice on defense last week, Mercer leads the FCS in defensive TDs (6). • VMI and The Citadel are tied for second in the FCS in blocked kicks (5) this season. One of those blocks for the Keydets came last week by Shamus Jones, who was named SoCon Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. • Wofford went on the road last week and handed Samford its first home loss of the season. The Terriers will now try to win at rival Furman this Saturday. • Samford looks to win its third straight game against Tennessee Tech. The Bulldogs defeated the Golden Eagles, 33-28, on Sept. 17, 2022, in the two teams’ last matchup. • Samford’s Noah Martin (9.9) and Furman’s Evan DiMaggio (9.8) are ranked fifth and ninth, respectively, in total tackles per game in the FCS. • Mercer wide receiver Brayden Smith is ranked 10th in FCS football in all-purpose yards per game (136.2) and is one of two players in the nation to have multiple punt return touchdowns this season. • Chattanooga’s Leroy Harris III is one of four players in FCS football with three fumble recoveries, which leads the country. • Furman’s Trey Hedden and Wofford’s CJ Coombes were named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List. Chattanooga’s Reuben Lowery III was named a finalist for the Doris Robinson Scholar-Athlete Award.
SO CON PLAYERS OF THE WEEKS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Taron Dickens, R-Fr., QB, Western Carolina
Dickens, making his first career start, completed 34-of-48 his pass attempts, finishing with 431 yards and five touchdowns in Western Carolina’s 38-34 comeback win over then No. 25/18 Chattanooga. The redshirt freshman also ran for a team-best 41 yards on 19 carries against the Mocs. The Miami, Florida, product’s touchdown passes came from 15, 32, 3, 11 and 8 yards out. Dickens was named the Stats Perform FCS National Freshman Player of the Week on Monday for his performance. Western Carolina is now ranked No. 22 in the Stats Perform Top 25 poll..
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Shamus Jones, Sr., DB, VMI
Jones recorded a game-high 13 tackles, a pass breakup, a blocked field goal and an interception as VMI defeated Furman, 21-17, on Saturday. The senior’s blocked field goal came in the first quarter with 6:01 on the clock, keeping the VMI lead at 7-0. The native of Chester, Virginia, logged his interception with 1:41 left in the game, effectively ending the contest to give the Keydets their first win of the season. . For the season, Jones is third on the team with 70.0 tackles and a team-high two interceptions.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Reice Griffith, So., PK, Mercer
Griffith accounted for 13 points in a 37-31 victory of ETSU on Saturday in a matchup of top 25 squads. The Paca, Florida, native converted on all four of his extra point tries, while going 3-for-3 on field goals for the Bears. The sophomore’s field goals were from 36, 36 and 31 yards out, with the final make coming with 97 seconds left in the game. Mercer is now ranked No. 13 in the AFCA poll and No. 10 in the Stats Perform polls.
