Oct. 11, 2003
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -
Fred Gilliam rushed for 73 yards on 13 carries and Efrem Hill caught four passes for 89 yards and a touchdown to lead the Samford football team to a 35-6 victory over the Murray State Racers in an Ohio Valley Conference showdown at Seibert Stadium Saturday afternoon.
Samford quarterback Ray Nelson completed 15-of-31 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown. Defensive back Cortland Finnegan had 4.5 tackles and two interceptions, including a 56-yard interception return for a touchdown to lead the team defensively.
"The defense stepped up and played well," head coach Bill Gray said. "The offense scored when they had to, and we created some turnovers, which always gives us a chance to make something happen. I am pleased that we are continuing, week after week, to create turnovers."
Murray State's (2-5, 1-2 OVC) Jesse Ohliger put the first points on the board when he nailed a 43-yard field goal with 10:27 to go in the first quarter to give the Racers a 3-0 lead. Samford (4-2, 2-1 OVC) cut the lead to 3-2 when Darold Williams tackled MSU's Ulysses Odoms in the end zone for a safety with 8:03 to go in the opening period. Samford took the lead when D.J. Stancil scored on a three-yard touchdown with 11 seconds to go in the first quarter. The try for a two-point conversion failed, and the first quarter ended with Samford leading, 8-3.
The lone points scored in the second quarter came when Ray Nelson hit Hill on a 26-yard touchdown with 3:38 to go before halftime. Ty Neil added the extra point to make the score 15-3.
Ohliger cut the Samford lead to 15-6 with a 28-yard field goal with 8:09 to go in the third quarter. Neil made the score 18-6 with a 32-yard field goal with 2:07 to go in the third quarter. Cortland Finnegan added to the Bulldogs' lead with a 56-yard interception return for a touchdown with 57 seconds to go in the third quarter. Neil's point after made the score 25-6.
Backup quarterback Kevin Tooker scored on a one-yard run with 5:01 to go in the game. Neil's extra point made the Bulldogs' lead 32-6. Neil added a 31-yard field goal with 2:42 left in the game to make the final score 35-6.
Quarterback Stephen Hatchell led Murray State, completing 20-of-36 passes for 189 yards. Bobby Sanders had 7.5 tackles to lead the Racers' defense.
Samford will go back on the road next week when the Bulldogs travel to Martin, Tenn., to take on the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks. Kickoff for the game is set for 4:00 p.m.
