Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
It feels like Fulton in the 'Boro for two Raiders
11/7/2018 6:00:00 PM | Football
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee's Floyd Stadium could've been confused for Fulton High School's Bob Black Field on Friday, Nov. 2, because of the play of two FHS alums on the Blue Raider offense.
The blue and white got its first victory in three tries over its biggest rival WKU thanks to freshmen Chaton Mobley and Zack Dobson, who were everywhere offensively in the 29-10 win.
Seeing the two Knoxville natives stand out on the football field is nothing new for Fulton Falcons fans.
Mobley, who redshirted last year for MT, and Dobson, a true freshman, developed a friendship while in middle school, and that friendship turned almost into a brotherhood during their freshman year of high school.
They starred on both sides of the ball for Fulton's freshman team in 2013, quickly gaining notice of head coach Rob Black.
"We were best friends on and off the field, and we fed off each other," Mobley said.
Then, as Mobley and Dobson played incrementally as sophomores, the Falcons completed a perfect 15-0 season in 2014, capturing the Tennessee 4A state title.
With plenty to prove the next year, the junior duo broke out on the field.
Mobley led the team in tackles (73) as a linebacker and rushed for 580 yards and 12 touchdowns. Dobson had over 1,000 all-purpose yards, 23 tackles and seven total touchdowns, including a pick-six of 72 yards.
"That was fun," Dobson said. "We got to celebrate and do everything together, and it's crazy how we came to college and turn around and get to do the same thing."
A month after the Falcons lost 28-25 in the second round of the state playoffs to Knoxville Catholic in 2015, tragedy hit the Dobson family and Fulton High School community.
Dobson's younger brother, Zaevion, who was also on the Falcons football team, was killed as he shielded two Fulton classmates from drive-by gunfire. He was later named the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his actions.
The heartbreak rocked the entire community. If it wasn't for friends like Mobley, Dobson may not have made it through.
"Chaton, man, he's like a brother to me," Dobson said. "He's like my big brother, and he's always been there for me and is still there for me, no matter what I need."
Dobson valiantly made it back onto the football field during his and Mobley's senior year in 2016, donning No. 24 in memory of his brother.
The duo led the team to a tournament quarterfinal berth and 8-5 season, Dobson scoring 15 TDs, racking up 1,806 all-purpose yards and catching three interceptions and Mobley reaching 806 all-purpose yards, eight TDs, 44 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
After Mobley committed to play for Middle Tennessee, Dobson's choice became easy.
"I committed first, and then I told him he needed to go on and sign too so we could try to do it at the next level, too," Mobley said.
They would have to wait to get onto the field together in Murfreesboro.
Mobley redshirted for the Blue Raiders while dealing with an injury as a freshman and also switched from linebacker to running back. Dobson took a gray shirt while rehabbing a torn rotator cuff.
The two took a year to dream what it would be like when they took the field together in 2018, and that dream finally became a reality against WKU.
Mobley, the team's leading rusher this season, racked up 198 yards on 25 carries against the Hilltoppers. Dobson scored his first collegiate touchdown while adding 49 rushing and 19 receiving yards.
"We talk about it all the time, and it finally came," Dobson said. "We just have to keep that juice pumping."
With Dobson running around on jet sweeps and catching passes and Mobley using his big size (6-foot-1, 235 pounds) to punish defenders, the Blue Raiders could be confused for Falcons.
It at least feels like Friday night lights in Knoxville for the two freshmen.
"We talk all the time about how it feels like high school all over again," Mobley said.
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
The blue and white got its first victory in three tries over its biggest rival WKU thanks to freshmen Chaton Mobley and Zack Dobson, who were everywhere offensively in the 29-10 win.
Seeing the two Knoxville natives stand out on the football field is nothing new for Fulton Falcons fans.
Mobley, who redshirted last year for MT, and Dobson, a true freshman, developed a friendship while in middle school, and that friendship turned almost into a brotherhood during their freshman year of high school.
They starred on both sides of the ball for Fulton's freshman team in 2013, quickly gaining notice of head coach Rob Black.
"We were best friends on and off the field, and we fed off each other," Mobley said.
Then, as Mobley and Dobson played incrementally as sophomores, the Falcons completed a perfect 15-0 season in 2014, capturing the Tennessee 4A state title.
With plenty to prove the next year, the junior duo broke out on the field.
Mobley led the team in tackles (73) as a linebacker and rushed for 580 yards and 12 touchdowns. Dobson had over 1,000 all-purpose yards, 23 tackles and seven total touchdowns, including a pick-six of 72 yards.
"That was fun," Dobson said. "We got to celebrate and do everything together, and it's crazy how we came to college and turn around and get to do the same thing."
A month after the Falcons lost 28-25 in the second round of the state playoffs to Knoxville Catholic in 2015, tragedy hit the Dobson family and Fulton High School community.
Dobson's younger brother, Zaevion, who was also on the Falcons football team, was killed as he shielded two Fulton classmates from drive-by gunfire. He was later named the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for his actions.
The heartbreak rocked the entire community. If it wasn't for friends like Mobley, Dobson may not have made it through.
"Chaton, man, he's like a brother to me," Dobson said. "He's like my big brother, and he's always been there for me and is still there for me, no matter what I need."
Dobson valiantly made it back onto the football field during his and Mobley's senior year in 2016, donning No. 24 in memory of his brother.
The duo led the team to a tournament quarterfinal berth and 8-5 season, Dobson scoring 15 TDs, racking up 1,806 all-purpose yards and catching three interceptions and Mobley reaching 806 all-purpose yards, eight TDs, 44 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.
After Mobley committed to play for Middle Tennessee, Dobson's choice became easy.
"I committed first, and then I told him he needed to go on and sign too so we could try to do it at the next level, too," Mobley said.
They would have to wait to get onto the field together in Murfreesboro.
Mobley redshirted for the Blue Raiders while dealing with an injury as a freshman and also switched from linebacker to running back. Dobson took a gray shirt while rehabbing a torn rotator cuff.
The two took a year to dream what it would be like when they took the field together in 2018, and that dream finally became a reality against WKU.
Mobley, the team's leading rusher this season, racked up 198 yards on 25 carries against the Hilltoppers. Dobson scored his first collegiate touchdown while adding 49 rushing and 19 receiving yards.
"We talk about it all the time, and it finally came," Dobson said. "We just have to keep that juice pumping."
With Dobson running around on jet sweeps and catching passes and Mobley using his big size (6-foot-1, 235 pounds) to punish defenders, the Blue Raiders could be confused for Falcons.
It at least feels like Friday night lights in Knoxville for the two freshmen.
"We talk all the time about how it feels like high school all over again," Mobley said.
Josh Vardaman is the staff writer for goblueraiders.com. Follow him on Twitter @J_Vardaman and also follow @MTAthletics for more on the Blue Raiders.
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