WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsMocs looking to rebound at Georgia Southern

CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) -- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga football team is about to find out what is' made of this week.

Especially its seniors.

With the Mocs reeling from blown second-half leads in back-to-back losses to Appalachian State and The Citadel, veteran leaders have proven to be a little more vocal this week.

"The biggest thing is just trying to stay focused on the goals we set out for at the beginning of the season, because they're all still attainable. I know it doesn't seem like it because we're kind of down in the dumps, but you just have to get back to work," said senior linebacker Ryan Consiglio.

Getting back to work is the only way to get back to winning, and any coach knows that is the best escape from adversity.

"Any win. We need a win. We've got two losses in a row. We need a win. It doesn't matter who it is," said head coach Russ Huesman.

In reality, it may matter a bit this week.

The Mocs hit the road to Statesboro for a SoCon showdown with top-ranked Georgia Southern. Not exactly the easiest task for a team looking for a rebound, but one that could offer the highest of rewards.

"This is going to be a hard game, there's no question," Huesman said. "They're a hard game for everybody. They're thumping everybody they're playing."

With Chattanooga staring at the possibility of its first three-game losing streak under Huesman, confidence is not wavering. Consiglio said the team took Sunday to watch film, Monday to collect their thoughts away from the field, and then returned to work with passion on Tuesday.

The two previous losses have built up plenty of frustration, but it hasn't changed the Mocs' opinion that they're a playoff-caliber team.

"You think about the ways you lost (those two games)," Consiglio said. "App State was probably one of the weirdest plays I've ever seen on a field goal attempt. And then Saturday we've got them on the ropes, and all we had to do was twist the knife.

"We obviously didn't finish the way we should have, but that's something you can work on. We just have to work on finishing the game. It's like we've said all season: finish."

UTC will have to use that mantra for the rest of the season, as well. If Chattanooga is to make the playoffs, it will require at least five wins in the final six games.

A spark may be all the Mocs need to make that happen. One play, one game, or one moment could be all it takes to right the ship.

This weekend's road trip would seem to fit that bill.

"Georgia Southern is a rival school anyway. The fans down there hate your guts just for being the other team," Consiglio said. "But going down there and them being the number one ranked team, I feel like there's no better way for us to get back on track then going down there and beating them."