Saturday, October 3
Johnson City, Tenn.
3:30 PM
Chattanooga
at
ETSU
Zion Rutledge with Martez Cooksey, Jr.
Photo by: Laura O'Dell
PREVIEW: Rail Rivalry Returns This Saturday
9/30/2026 12:18:00 PM | Football
Zion Rutledge and the Chattanooga Mocs head to Johnson City for the next chapter in the series with the ETSU Bucs.
The Chattanooga Mocs football team completes a stunning road run to start the season. It's the fourth game away from the friendly confines of Finley Stadium in the opening six contests of the 2026 season for the group. This one brings the Rail Rivalry back to the forefront with a visit to Greene Stadium at ETSU.
The matchup kicks off at 3:30 p.m., on ESPN+ as well as over the airwaves via the Mocs Sports Network and WFLI Chattanooga.
Resources – Game Notes | Series | Live Stats | Roster | Tickets
2026 Chattanooga Mocs Football
Chattanooga Mocs (3-2/2-0) at ETSU Bucs (3-2/1-0)
Oct. 3 | Johnson City, Tenn. | Greene Stadium (7.694)
Scheduled Start Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series
Meeting: 49 | Series: 28-19-1 (Home: 18-8/Road: 10-11-1) | Streak: +6
First Meeting: 9-29-1961, W, 27-6 (Home) | Last Meeting: 10/18/2025, W, 42-38 (Home)
Media
TV: ESPN+ (PxP: Keith Brake, Color: Mark Hutsell, Sideline: Kennedy Story)
Radio: WFLI Chattanooga (96.1/100.3 FM & 1070 AM) - Jim Reynolds (PxP), Todd Agne (Analysis) & Will Poindexter (Sideline). Also available online at GoMocs.com & Varsity Network app.
Coaches
Chattanooga: Rusty Wright (Chattanooga '96) | Record at UTC: 45-36 (8th season) | Overall: Same
ETSU: Will Healy (Richmond '08) | Record at ETSU: 10-7 (2nd) | Career Record: 38-52 (9th)
Openers
About ETSU
3 Notes to Know
Quotable
Coach Rusty Wright on the trip to ETSU:
"We're excited about going up to Johnson City and having an opportunity to play a good football team. They've got a lot of good players and are probably playing as well as anybody in our league right now. It'll be a tough challenge. It's a good atmosphere. Their (fans) are right on top of you. We have to go play four quarters, and our guys know that we have to go play a 4-quarter football game and see how we can figure out a way to win it."
Coach Wright on the ETSU offense:
"Their quarterback makes all the throws. They have really good skill kids, and the running back's a good player. The tight end's an older guy playing really well. He's an all-conference guy, and they're playing well upfront."
SS Jaden Nelson on what the confidence is after two wins in a row:
"It feels great winning two games in a row. But we have to just take it day-by-day and get better every day."
QB Battle Alberson on the production in the run game:
"It's been great. Everyone out there contributes to it. The guys up front have done really well, and the running backs have been great. The wideouts have done a really great job helping spring those long runs as well."
Football Ticket Quick Links – Mini-Plans | Game
As always, for all Mocs and McKenzie Arena events, go to GoMocs.com/tickets. Football mini-plans and single-game tickets are available with season tickets on sale as well for men's and women's basketball along with wrestling. The Arena also has Leanne Morgan's "The Time of Our Lives" Tour available.
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Wear what the teams wear in our BSN Team Store or go to the bookstore's official True Spirit Stop. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook, X & Instagram accounts. Find out how to join the Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here & by checking out NIL possibilities here.
The matchup kicks off at 3:30 p.m., on ESPN+ as well as over the airwaves via the Mocs Sports Network and WFLI Chattanooga.
Resources – Game Notes | Series | Live Stats | Roster | Tickets
2026 Chattanooga Mocs Football
Chattanooga Mocs (3-2/2-0) at ETSU Bucs (3-2/1-0)
Oct. 3 | Johnson City, Tenn. | Greene Stadium (7.694)
Scheduled Start Time: 3:30 p.m.
Series
Meeting: 49 | Series: 28-19-1 (Home: 18-8/Road: 10-11-1) | Streak: +6
First Meeting: 9-29-1961, W, 27-6 (Home) | Last Meeting: 10/18/2025, W, 42-38 (Home)
Media
TV: ESPN+ (PxP: Keith Brake, Color: Mark Hutsell, Sideline: Kennedy Story)
Radio: WFLI Chattanooga (96.1/100.3 FM & 1070 AM) - Jim Reynolds (PxP), Todd Agne (Analysis) & Will Poindexter (Sideline). Also available online at GoMocs.com & Varsity Network app.
Coaches
Chattanooga: Rusty Wright (Chattanooga '96) | Record at UTC: 45-36 (8th season) | Overall: Same
ETSU: Will Healy (Richmond '08) | Record at ETSU: 10-7 (2nd) | Career Record: 38-52 (9th)
- Wright is 6-0 against the Bucs. He is five wins from becoming the third Mocs ball coach with 50 career wins (170-Scrappy Moore & 59-Russ Huesman).
- Healy is 0-1 against the Mocs.
- Wright & Healy shared the shared the Chattanooga sidelines from 2013-15 under then-head coach Russ Huesman. Wright was the Mocs special teams coordinator and linebackers coach over four campaigns (2013-16). Healy was on staff for seven seasons first as a QB assistant for one year before shifting to lead the WR room over the last six.
Openers
- Chattanooga is tied for the league lead at 2-0 with Tennessee Tech just ahead of ETSU and Furman at 1-0.
- Last time with a 2-0 to start the SoCon slate? 2023 starting 3-0. Last time 2-1? 2025. 3-0 four times under Wright (2019, 2020-21, 2022, 2023) and 2-1 three times (2021, 2024, 2025).
- Linebacker Zion Rutledge is this week's Tennessee Sports Writers' Association Defensive Player of the Year. He amassed 13 tackles with two for loss leading a stout defensive effort in last weekend's win at The Citadel.
- 119th season of football at Chattanooga…game number 1,187…584-568-35 (.507) all-time record…50th as a DI program.
- 50th season in SoCon for the Mocs...game number 359...181-175-2 (.507).
- Rail Rivalry moniker was started by the Bucs in 2018. They won the first in Johnson City with
- the Mocs capturing each one since (6-1). The winner earns the Rail Trophy which is renowned as the most prestigious railroad tie in collegiate athletics.
- The Mocs have won six straight in the series and eight of nine. Longest current series streak.
- 2-1 on the road this season. 23-15 (.605) vs FCS competition on the road under Wright…18-9 (.667) on the road in the SoCon during his tenure.
- Wright is also five SoCon wins from 40. Only Huesman (42) has topped that milestone.
- The Mocs lead the league in scoring defense (14.2), total defense (266.6), defensive TDs (1), sacks (2.80) & pass defense (136.2).
- Individual leaders: Kevin Lalin, rushing yards (95.8) & rush TDs (6); Journey Wyche, yards per carry (7.5); Orlando Daniels, forced fumbles (2); Davon Kiser, punt return TDs (1).
About ETSU
- 3-2 on the season, 1-0 in the league.
- Coach Will Healy is a Chattanooga native and former assistant coach (2009-15).
- Common opponent: West Georgia…Chattanooga opened the season with a 24-10 win in Carrollton, while ETSU topped the Wolves 35-27 at home two games ago.
- SoCon leaders: 3rd Down Conv. (55.2), Completion Pct. (72.8), Defensive TDs (1), TFLs Allowed (4.00) & Total Offense (437.2).
- Individual leaders: Mason Mims, Completion Pct (72.2); Jason Albritton, Rushing TDs (6).
- The Bucs are third nationally in completion percentage (72.8) and 12th in pass efficiency (160.95).
3 Notes to Know
- The Bucs are 15th nationally in scoring offense (36.2), while the Mocs are ninth in scoring defense (14.2).
- 19.0 TFLs & 9.0 sacks over the last two weeks. That included 7.0 sacks against Wofford and 10.0 TFLs at The Citadel.
- 551 yards rushing the last two weeks (310-Wofford/241-at The Citadel). Most in back-to-back SoCon games since 625 in 2019 (400-Western Carolina/225 at Mercer). The third game after that duo was ETSU with 225 in the 2019 meeting in Finley for an 850 total over three contests.
Quotable
Coach Rusty Wright on the trip to ETSU:
"We're excited about going up to Johnson City and having an opportunity to play a good football team. They've got a lot of good players and are probably playing as well as anybody in our league right now. It'll be a tough challenge. It's a good atmosphere. Their (fans) are right on top of you. We have to go play four quarters, and our guys know that we have to go play a 4-quarter football game and see how we can figure out a way to win it."
Coach Wright on the ETSU offense:
"Their quarterback makes all the throws. They have really good skill kids, and the running back's a good player. The tight end's an older guy playing really well. He's an all-conference guy, and they're playing well upfront."
SS Jaden Nelson on what the confidence is after two wins in a row:
"It feels great winning two games in a row. But we have to just take it day-by-day and get better every day."
QB Battle Alberson on the production in the run game:
"It's been great. Everyone out there contributes to it. The guys up front have done really well, and the running backs have been great. The wideouts have done a really great job helping spring those long runs as well."
Football Ticket Quick Links – Mini-Plans | Game
As always, for all Mocs and McKenzie Arena events, go to GoMocs.com/tickets. Football mini-plans and single-game tickets are available with season tickets on sale as well for men's and women's basketball along with wrestling. The Arena also has Leanne Morgan's "The Time of Our Lives" Tour available.
GoMocs.com is the official website of the Chattanooga Mocs. Wear what the teams wear in our BSN Team Store or go to the bookstore's official True Spirit Stop. The Mocs can also be followed on their official Facebook, X & Instagram accounts. Find out how to join the Mocs Club and support more than 300 student-athletes by clicking here & by checking out NIL possibilities here.
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
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