JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 1, 2022) – The Rail Rivalry ended in heartbreak once again for the ETSU Bucs as they drop to 0-3 in their last three meetings with their SoCon rival, the Chattanooga Mocs.
The Bucs were hoping to turn the season around following the blowout win at Robert Morris the week before, but Chattanooga had no plans on letting the Rail leave their possession despite a strong first half for the Bucs.
Striking early with a 36-yard run by Bucs RB Bryson Irby (Douglasville, Ga.), the team found themselves with a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter following a 32-yard field goal by kicker Tyler Keltner (Tallahassee, Fla.).
A defensive showcase for both teams could be seen during the second quarter as both teams struggled to advance the ball. Keltner would score the only points of the quarter with a 33-yard field goal to put the Bucs up with a 13-0 lead. Keltner would again have the opportunity to extend the lead for the Bucs on a long 53-yard field goal attempt with the ball veering wide left late in the second.
The Bucs still had plenty of momentum entering the half after shutting out the in-state rival Mocs.
The Bucs returned to the field with the same intensity on defense, stopping Chattanooga on back-to-back drives, even forcing a fumble on their second drive of the quarter.
The Bucs offense would not have the same type of production, as the team had five straight three-and-outs to start the second half of play.
During the offensive struggles for the Bucs, the Mocs would put up 17 unanswered points as they took the lead early in the fourth quarter 17-13. The Bucs would finally answer back with another field goal by Keltner to put the Bucs within one point 17-16.
As the offensive woes continued, it was difficult for the Bucs to maintain possession of the ball without finding the sticks. The Mocs would put the nail in the coffin late in the fourth on a second and inches play resulted in a score for Chattanooga to put them up 24-16 with just a minute remaining. With little time remaining the Bucs attempted to mount a comeback drive, but it was a stout Mocs defense that would claim the Rail Rivalry victory over the Bucs as time expired to spoil the Bucs hopes of bringing the Rail home.
The Mocs moved to (4-1) on the season while our ETSU Bucs fall to (2-3).
The Bucs were only able to earn 11 first downs in all four quarters of play. Struggling to move the ball by air with only 90 passing yards, the Bucs found more success on the ground, gaining 144 rushing yards.
Bucs’ head coach George Quarles remains optimistic for the squad: “Nobody wants to hear it, but we’re close…it’s a bottom-line sport. You are judged on whether you win or lose and clearly we lost that one,” said the first-year head coach.
Looking ahead, the Bucs will travel to Lexington, Va. to take on the (1-3) VMI Keydets in another SoCon showdown on Oct. 8. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
For more information on Bucs football, visit www.etsubucs.com/football.
