Nov. 22, 2003

Final Stats

CHARLESTON, Ill. - Efrem Hill set new Ohio Valley Conference records for receptions and touchdowns in a single season as he pulled down 10 catches for 151 yards as Samford defeated Eastern Illinois 17-14 in the final game of the 2003 season for both teams.

Ray Nelson went 26 for 38 for 279 yards and one touchdown to break Samford's single-season yards passing record. Nelson also ran 18 times for 60 yards. D.J. Stancil had nine rushes for 51 yards and a touchdown as the Bulldogs finish with a 7-4 record and a 5-3 mark and a third place finish in their first OVC season.

Samford dominated the first quarter but had nothing to show for it. The Bulldogs ran 24 plays for 157 yards while EIU ran ten plays for 44 yards. The Bulldogs had the ball for 10 minutes in the opening quarter but turnovers ended two Bulldog drives.

The quarter ended with an EIU fake punt that went for 29 yards for the Panthers' first-first down of the game and was their longest play of the quarter. The Panthers finished the season with a 4-8 record overall and 3-5 in the OVC.

On the Bulldogs' second possession of the second quarter Stancil capped off a nine play, 61 yard drive with a 13-yard touchdown run for the first score of the afternoon.

Hill caught his 89th ball of the season at the 3:06 mark of the second quarter to set the OVC single-season record for most completions in a season. He broke the Samford record earlier in the first quarter. Ty Neil capped off the drive with a 45-yard field goal with 53 seconds remaining in the half to give the Bulldogs a 10-0 halftime lead. It was the second time this season that Samford shutout its opponent in the first half.

Samford's first drive of the second half resulted in the Bulldogs' third turnover of the game. The Panthers took advantage of the miscue as Andrew Harris capped off a nine-play, 65 yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown run. Andre Raymond had the big play of the drive with a 39-yard run to set EIU up at the Samford eight-yard line.

Harris was 19 of 32 for 180 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers. He also rushed 12 times for 25 yards. Raymond had 12 rushes for 73 yards.

Courtland Finnegan returned the ensuing kick-off 33 yards to give Samford good field position at the Bulldog 47 yard line. The Bulldogs caught a break with defensive holding call on a 4th and two play with 3:03 remaining in the third quarter. On the very next play, Nelson hit Hill with a 35-yard touchdown pass to complete a five-play, 53 yard drive to give Samford a 17-7 lead.

EIU responded on its next possession with a 10-play, 80-yard touchdown drive that was capped off with a 31-yard catch by Jermaine Mobley that brought the score to 17-14.

The Panthers had fourth and four with 2:22 remaining in the game at the Samford 44-yard line. EIU completed the pass but a holding call nullified the completion and forced the Panthers to punt. The Bulldogs took over at their own 20-yard line with 2:14 remaining in the game.

Nelson hit Hill with a 27-yard completion on third and six with 1:46 to play to preserve the victory. The Bulldogs ran out the clock to claim victory in their first trip to Eastern Illinois.