Oct 25, 2003

Final Stats

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Vinnie Miroth threw four touchdown passes as Chattanooga beat Western Carolina 38-0 Saturday night.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Mocs struck for two touchdown pass plays over 60 yards each. Patrick Shutters booted a 36-yard field goal right before halftime as UTC enjoyed a 17-0 lead at the break.

Miroth completed 27-for-40 pass attempts and was 17 yards away from his season high of 293 yards at halftime. He collected 124 yards on his first two touchdown passes.

Each of the first two touchdowns were on similar plays. Miroth tossed the ball three or four yards in the flat and let the speedy wideouts use their abilities to complete the touchdown. Jeremy Grier raced 63 yards for the first score with 13:28 left in the second quarter. Tyrone Baisden, a former defensive back, caught a quick screen, his first career reception, and outran the Catamounts for a 61-yard touchdown and a 14-0 lead at 6:45 of the second period.

A WCU facemask penalty on the final play of the first half gave UTC an opportunity to kick a field goal before heading for the locker room. Shutters drilled the 36-yarder for the 17-0 advantage.

The Mocs wasted little time in the second half. Miroth, who completed passes to 10 different receivers, found fullback Chad Smith on a six-yard TD toss to extend the lead to 24-0 at 11:55 of the third quarter.

UTC's defense, which limited the Cats to 302 total yards, scored the Mocs' fourth touchdown. In the fourth quarter, lineman Tim Powers deflected a Brian Gaither pass, intercepted it and returned it 29 yards with 13:27 remaining for a 31-0 lead. Alonzo Nix capped UTC's scoring with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Miroth with 11:42 left in the game.

The Catamounts (3-6, 2-4) were led by Gaither with 176 passing yards and Michael Reeder with seven receptions for 87 yards. Catamount senior wide receiver Lamont Seward had four catches for 45 yards, moving to fifth on the SoCon all-time receptions list (177). Manny DeShauteurs led the Cats on the ground with 38 yards on seven carries. As a team, WCU had 105 yards on 25 rushes.

Defensively for Western, Bruce Lee had eight tackles, while Rod Dunlap added seven.

The Catamounts will return to action next Saturday (Nov. 1) versus Elon. Kickoff is set for 2 pm.