WEEK 6 SCHEDULE
Oct. 5 (Saturday) Series TV/Digital Time
*Furman at The Citadel
Furman leads 63-37-2
ESPN+ 2 p.m.
*Wofford at Western Carolina
Wofford leads 28-17
ESPN+ 2:30 p.m.
*VMI at Samford
Samford leads 8-3
ESPN+ 3 p.m.
*Chattanooga at ETSU
Chattanooga leads 26-19-1
ESPN+ 3:30 p.m.
Notes
• Eight teams are in action on Saturday this week, highlighted by Chattanooga going to ETSU. This week in the first weekend that all the games on tap for the conference are SoCon contests.
• Two SoCon squads – Mercer and ETSU – are ranked in national polls. The Bears are ranked in both the AFCA and Stats Perform polls, while the Buccaneers are in the Stats Perform poll. ETSU received votes in the AFCA poll. Chattanooga, Western Carolina and Wofford received votes in both polls.
• Under the direction of first-year 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 sacks (15), tackles for loss (41) and passes defended (25). Defensive backs TJ Moore and Dainsus Miller have been awarded the conference’s defensive player of the week the last two weeks as a part of the defensive unit.
• ETSU won its third game of the season last week at The Citadel. With that victory, the Bucs tied its 2023 win total after just five games played.
• The 47th installment of the Rail Rivalry between ETSU and Chattanooga will take place on Saturday. The Mocs have won the last four meetings, with the Buccaneers last winning in 2018, 17-14, in Johnson City.
• Chattanooga’s offense had its best showing of the season in its 45-30 win over Portland State last week, scoring a season high in points. Mocs quarterback Chase Artopoeus threw for a season-high 396 yards, and wide receivers Sam Phillips and Javin Whatley each had 100-plus yards receiving.
• Mercer quarterback DJ Smith is in the top five in the FCS in completion percentage (.786) and passing efficiency (180.8).
• Western Carolina carries a three-game winning streak into its tilt with Wofford.
• Furman and Samford will both play its SoCon opener this week after the two teams were unable to face off a week ago due to Hurricane Helene.
• The Citadel’s Bradlee Jones is one of four players in FCS football that has blocked multiple kicks this season.
SO CON PLAYERS OF THE WEEKS
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Khamran Laborn, R-Jr., WR, ETSU, Norfolk, Va.
Laborn scored twice on just eight touches for ETSU as the Bucs defeated The Citadel, 34-17, on Saturday. The native of Norfolk, Virginia, ran for 117 yards on five carries, caught two passes for nine yards and had one kick return for 11 yards. The redshirt junior’s first touchdown came in the second quarter from 20 yards out, giving ETSU a 6-3 lead with 13:46 on the clock. Laborn’s next touchdown was a 40-yard scamper in the fourth quarter with 5:42 remaining. Laborn, who also had runs of 26 and 33 yards in the game, averaged 23.4 yards per rush in the contest.
Other nominees: Hess Horne (Mercer) and Chase Artopoeus (Chattanooga)
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Dainsus Miller, Jr., DB, Mercer, Fairburn, Ga.
Miller anchored one of the nation’s top defenses over the weekend as Mercer topped then 23rd-ranked Wofford, 22-3, on Saturday in a matchup of top 25 teams. The junior logged a pair of solo stops and two interceptions. The Fairburn, Georgia, product’s first pick came in the endzone during the third quarter with 1:28 left, keeping the Bears ahead 8-3. Wofford began that drive inside the Bears’ 10-yard line. Miller’s second interception came in the fourth quarter with 12:30 remaining, which turned into a Mercer touchdown two plays later. Mercer is currently ranked third in total defense in the FCS (224.0 yds/game). The Bears are now ranked 11th in both AFCA and Stats Perform polls.
Other nominees: Nick Hunter (ETSU), Reuben Lowery III (Chattanooga) and Jalen Marshall (Wofford)
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
John McConnell, R-Jr., P, Mercer, Morgantown, W. Va.
McConnell, who also won the honor on Sept. 9, punted five times for Mercer in its win over Wofford. The native of Morgantown, West Virginia, averaged 45.4 yards per punt, pinning the Terriers inside the 20 on two occasions. Following the redshirt junior’s punts, Wofford’s average starting field position was the 19-yard line.
