Nov. 8, 2007

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford football team dropped a 38-28 decision to Tennessee State on Senior Night, Thursday night at Seibert Stadium in a game televised live on ESPNU.

"We have to learn how to win," Samford head coach Pat Sullivan said. "I am proud of this team, and there's no question we are a better team now than we were at the beginning of the season. But, we have to learn how to win."

Samford drops to 4-6 overall and 2-5 in the Ohio Valley Conference with the loss. Tennessee State is now 5-5 overall and 4-2 in league play.

For Samford, Jefferson Adcock completed 30-of-50 passes for 315 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Jeff Moore caught seven passes for 143 yards, and Chris Evans rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.

Tennessee State was led by Javarris Williams, rushing 21 times for 105 yards. Calvin McNairl completed 10-of-16 passes for 125 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Samford struck first when Alex Barnett scored on a two-yard run with 6:43 to go in the first quarter. Mark Prevost's point after gave Samford a 7-0 lead. Tennessee State put its first points on the board when McNairl scored on a two-yard run with 3:38 to go in the opening quarter. Eric Benson added the PAT to tie the score at 7-7.

Samford retook the lead on the first play of the second quarter. Adcock scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak, and Prevost added the PAT for a 14-7 Samford lead. McNairl scored on a one-yard sneak with 12:44 to go in the second quarter, and Benson's extra point made the score 14-14.

McNairl hit Brandon Jackson for a 10-yard touchdown with 5:08 to play in the second quarter. Benson's PAT gave TSU a 21-14 lead. TSU's Shaun Richardson picked off an Adcock pass and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown with 1:11 to go in the second quarter, and Benson's PAT made the score 28-14.

Jonathan Lowery came up with a one-handed grab on a 21-yard touchdown from Adcock with 12.9 seconds to go before halftime. Prevost's PAT cut the Tigers' lead to 28-21.

TSU's Benson kicked a 33-yard field goal, capping a 99-yard drive for the Tigers, with 3:24 to go in the third quarter to make TSU's lead 31-21.

Samford cut the lead to three when Evans scored on a one-yard run with 5:10 to play in the game. Evans' touchdown capped a 16-play 57-yard drive that took 6:11 off the clock and cut the TSU lead to 31-28. The Tigers put the final points on the board when Terrence Wright scored on a four-yard run with 1:46 to play to make the final score 38-28.

Samford will wrap up the 2007 regular season on Saturday, Nov. 17, when the Bulldogs play at Eastern Illinois. The game is scheduled for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff from Charleston, Ill.