2008 Woodie Awards
Mocs pounce on Catamounts in rout
Jennifer Adkins
Issue date: 10/18/07 Section: Sports
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The Mocs took control of the game early with a 41-yard field goal kick by Marietta, Ga. sophomore Craig Camay with 10:58 in the first quarter.
Chattanooga quarterback Antonio Miller, Charlotte, N.C., senior, led the rest of the game for the win.
Miller caught a 35-yard touchdown pass from receiver Blue Cooper on a trick play, bringing the score 10-0 with 6:25 left in the first quarter. It was the first pass attempt in Cooper's collegiate career, though he did play quarterback in high school.
Miller scored the next touchdown on a 1-yard run, his third rushing touchdown of the year. This brought the score to 16-0 after a failed kick by Camay and 1:01 left in the first quarter.
Cooper struck again in the second quarter with a ten-yard touchdown pass to tight end Joseph Pitman, a Marietta, Ga. sophomore, on a fake field goal to make the score 23-0.
Chris Camacho, a Los Angeles, Calif. senior, then forced a Western Carolina safety to extend the lead to 25-0, going into the second half.
The Catamounts got on the board in the second half of the game with a 27-yard blocked punt return by Western Carolina's safety, Angelo Brown.
But Chattanooga did not cut them any slack as Miller threw a 59-yard pass to Mocs receiver Clint Woods, a Birmingham, Ala. sophomore, bringing the score to 32-7 with a field goal kick by Spencer Nolen, a Columbia, Tenn. freshman.
Western Carolina answered back with a 39-yard touchdown pass, reducing Chattanooga's lead 32-14 with 8:43 remaining in the third quarter.
The Catamounts closed out the third quarter with a four-yard touchdown run, closing in the score at 32-21.
"Our offense was moving the ball and putting points on the board, and our defense was creating pressure on them and causing problems," said head coach Rodney Allison. "I credit Western Carolina for coming back in the second half."
However, the Catamounts had no hopes for a comeback against the Chattanooga defense in the fourth quarter. The defense registered six sacks during the game.
Chattanooga sophomore Joseph Thornton, Stone Mountain, Ga., picked off a pass at the Western Carolina's 43-yard line and returned it to the one.
Erroll Wynn, Jonesboro, Ga., sophomore, finished the game with a one-yard touchdown run, bringing the score to 39-21 with the extra kick by Nolen.
Miller completed the game with 9-16 completed passes for 124 yards and one touchdown.
Wide receiver Woods led the Mocs with four catches for 90 yards and a touchdown, though receiver Blue Cooper had two touchdown passes on the night.
Bryan Fitzgerald, Memphis junior, led the Mocs on the ground as he rushed for a career high 174-yards, making it his second straight 100-yard game.
Camacho led the Mocs with 11 hits and two of Chattanooga senior Chris Johnson's tackles were for sacks.
UTC takes on SoCon rival Furman at Finley Stadium Saturday in a special noon kickoff.
