Sept. 14, 2006

Box Score

Photo Gallery

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Samford's Marcus Rice went over the top of the line for a touchdown from one yard out on fourth down with 2:55 to go in the game to lift the Samford football team to a 17-10 win over Austin Peay Thursday night at Seibert Stadium.

"I thought our defense kept us in the football game and gave us a chance to win," Samford head coach Bill Gray said. "There's no question we need to work some things out offensively. We didn't play well, especially in the first half. But, when we had to get it done, we had a 15-play drive to win it."

For Samford, Rice rushed nine times for 36 yards and the first touchdown of his Samford career. Harris Johnson rushed 10 times for 35 yards and his first collegiate touchdown. Dante Williams completed 13-of-16 passes for 114 yards for the Bulldogs.

Austin Peay's Chris Fletcher rushed 25 times for 105 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Mark Cunningham completed 15-of-22 passes for 147 yards for the Governors.

Samford got on the scoreboard first when Shannon Fleming kicked a 27-yard field goal with 6:29 to go in the second quarter to take a 3-0 lead. Austin Peay answered when Ross Coffee kicked a 27-yard field goal to tie the score at 3-3 with 1:14 left before halftime. The teams headed to halftime tied at 3-3.

Samford took the lead when Johnson scored on a one-yard run with 7:24 to go in the third quarter. Fleming's extra point gave the Bulldogs a 10-3 lead. Austin Peay came back to tie the score when Fletcher scored on a 10-yard run with 2:13 to go in the third quarter. Coffee's PAT tied the score at 10-10. Rice's game-winning touchdown capped a 15-play 89-yard drive that used up 7:07 of the clock in the fourth quarter.

Samford will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 23, when the Bulldogs play host to defending Ohio Valley Conference champion Eastern Illinois. The game is scheduled for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff at Seibert Stadium.