West Georgia vs Chattanooga

Chattanooga managed just 114 total yards and no offensive touchdowns in a first half that saw Alberson sacked four times. The 72-yard strike from Alberson to Schumann on the second play of the third quarter — taking one play from the half-time restart — fundamentally rewired the game. It gave the Mocs their first lead and forced West Georgia to play from behind for the first time all night, a dynamic the Wolves could not handle. The Mocs outgained West Georgia 215-79 in total offence after the break.

Kevin Lalin (RB, Chattanooga) — The Catawba transfer rushed 30 times for 128 yards and a touchdown, giving the Mocs their first 100-yard debut since March 2021. He was stopped for a loss just once. His four-yard average per carry kept the chains moving and the clock bleeding.

Battle Alberson (QB, Chattanooga) — Completed 9-of-17 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns, both coming in the decisive third quarter. The redshirt sophomore's deep ball to Schumann was the single most impactful play of the night.

Ashton Schumann (WR, Chattanooga) — Caught four passes for 100 yards (56 after the catch) and a touchdown. He became the first Chattanooga receiver with a 100-yard debut since 2004.

Kam Baah-Slay (DB, Chattanooga) — Led the Mocs with eight total tackles (seven solo, one assist) and anchored a secondary that held West Georgia to three second-half points and 79 total yards over the final two quarters.

Chattanooga's 329-219 advantage in total offence (+110) tells only part of the story. The ground-game disparity was emphatic: the Mocs rushed for 149 yards on 46 carries while West Georgia managed just 38 yards on 23 attempts, a 111-yard gap that speaks to Chattanooga's defensive line dominance. The Mocs controlled time of possession by over 13 minutes (36:43-23:17), a margin that reflects a second-half script of establishing the run and protecting a lead. Neither team committed a turnover.

Chattanooga (1-0) snapped West Georgia's 13-game winning streak in season openers — the Wolves' first opening-day loss since 2011. West Georgia (0-1) also fell for the first time on a Thursday night since 2012, having entered the game 10-0 in Thursday fixtures across that span. This was the first-ever meeting between the two programmes.

The Mocs return to Finley Stadium for their home opener against Tennessee Tech on Saturday, 5 September (6pm ET). West Georgia will look to rebound on the road against a yet-to-be-announced opponent.

Chattanooga's response after a ragged first half was as emphatic as it was instructive for the season ahead. The ground game (Lalin behind a mauling line) and the vertical passing threat (Alberson's arm) complement each other well when both are functional. The defensive front — which held West Georgia to 38 rushing yards — looks the real strength of this team. If Alberson's decision-making holds up against stronger opposition, the Mocs could be a factor in the Southern Conference race.