BY JEFF CATE (TEAM FYN SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR)

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – Chattanooga and East Tennessee State both wear blue and gold, share a state, share an area code, and share a rivalry known as the “Rail Rivalry” where the winning program takes home a railroad tie. The Mocs and Buccaneers met for the 47^th time on Saturday afternoon and after a slow first half that saw one field goal between both teams, UTC scored with 43 seconds left in the game to leave town with the Rail Rivalry trophy for the 5^th time in a row with a 17-10 over the nationally ranked Bucs at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium.

Chattanooga punted on their first possession after ETSU won the toss and deferred, but Heath Jehu launched 37-yard kick that bounced just shy of the goal line and was downed at the Bucs’ 3-yard line. ETSU would go three and out on their first offensive possession and would punt back to the Mocs, who took over in Buccaneer territory at the 49-yard line. 3 plays later, Chase Artopoeus was intercepted by Nick Hunter and returned to the Mocs’ 29-yard line. The Bucs would once again go three and out, settling for a field goal attempt. Ewan Johnson’s 46-yard attempt would miss the uprights. Chattanooga would get inside Bucs’ territory with catches by Sam Phillips and runs by Reggie Davis, but the drive would stall and force UTC to attempt a 52-yard field goal. Jude Kelley would push that attempt and the score was 0-0 after the first quarter. Both teams would combine for 104 yards total offense which included only 7 yards rushing from the Buccaneers.

D’Arco Perkins-McAllister eyeing the football for Chattanooga

The Mocs defense would force a turnover on downs and setup shop at their 30-yard line. Artopoeus connected with Phillips on a 30-yard completion down to the ETSU 31 on a one-handed snag for first down. A Davis 1 yard run and 2 incomplete passes would send Kelley back out, this time for a 48-yard field goal that he would connect on with 12:05 left in the first half to give Chattanooga a 3-0 lead. That would be the score to end a first half that saw both teams go 2 for 16 on third downs conversions.

Johnson would miss on another field goal attempt from 49 yards out to begin the second half but would connect on a 24-yard chip shot on the Buccaneers’ second possession, tying the game 3-3 with 7 minutes left in the third quarter. UTC would answer on the next possession. Artopoeus found Javin Whatley for 36 yards down to the ETSU 32 and then connected to Phillips two plays later for a 38-yard touchdown, taking the lead back 10-3 with 5:01 remaining in the quarter.

The Mocs would be in business once again going into the 4^th quarter, with another 36-yard Whatley completion being the big play. After getting into the red zone, the drive would stall and then Kelley would miss a 33-yard field goal attempt with 12:31 left in the game. ETSU would get their first touchdown of the game with 6:33 left in the game to tie it up 10-10 on a Gino English 25-yard pass to AJ Johnson. Josh Battle looked to have stopped the drive 3 plays earlier with an interception on 3^rd down at the UTC 8-yard line, but a roughing the passer penalty wiped the pick off and kept the Bucs drive going.

Chattanooga’s best offensive drive of the game would be its last and came at the absolute right time. The Mocs would march 85 yards in 11 plays, mixing passes to Phillips and Journey Wyche along rushes by Davis and Justus Durant to get down to the 1-yard line. ETSU looked to have caused a fumble that was recovered in the end zone for a touchback and setting the stage for overtime. But the officials ruled that ball down just before the goal line, giving the Mocs new life for the go-ahead score. Davis would be the one to punch in the go-ahead score from the 1 to give UTC the lead 17-10 with 43 seconds remaining. Beni Mwamba would drive the final railroad spike into the ground, and the heart of the Buccaneer faithful, with an interception close to midfield on the final play of the game, officially allowing UTC to ride the rails to victory.

Reggie Davis rolls in for the game winning score for UTC

Chattanooga improves to 2-3 overall and 1-1 in Southern Conference play. The Mocs head to Greenville, SC next week to take on Furman. ETSU falls to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in the SoCon, the Bucs will host Samford on October 12^th.

Follow Jeff on “X” at @TheJeffCate