Sept. 14, 2007

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Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Chris Evans rushed 20 times for a career-high 174 yards and a touchdown to lead the Samford football team to a 34-24 win over Presbyterian College Thursday night at Seibert Stadium.

With the win, Samford improves to 2-1 on the season, while Presbyterian drops to 1-2.

"Our guys never quit, they played hard," Samford head coach Pat Sullivan said. "We had a chance to knock them out and we didn't, and we should give Presbyterian credit for that. But, I couldn't be prouder of our guys."

Evans sealed the win with a career-long 51-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. With his performance, Evans becomes the first Samford player to rush for over 100 yards since Drew Guess ran for 108 yards against Edward Waters in 2005. Evans' total is the most for a Samford player since Ray Nelson ran for 198 yards against Southeast Missouri in 2004. Freshman Alex Barnett rushed 13 times for 83 yards on the night.

Kyle Morton led the team in tackles with a career-high 12 tackles and three pass break-ups. Ty Levie and Jay McCurty each had an interception in the game. McCurty's was returned 36 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter. Derek Slaughter also returned a fumble 55 yards for a score early in the fourth quarter.

For Presbyterian, Grayson Mullins completed 23-of-47 passes for 213 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. S.J. Worrell rushed 15 times for 72 yards in the game.

Samford jumped on top first when Adrian Bradley scored on a two-yard run on a fourth-and-one play with 9:23 to play in the first quarter. Mark Prevost added the extra point to give Samford a 7-0 lead. Presbyterian tied the score with 3:49 to go when Mullins hit Worrell for a 31-yard touchdown and Cam Miller added the extra point to make the score 7-7.

Samford took the lead back when Jefferson Adcock hit Joe Jones on a 23-yard touchdown on the final play of the first quarter. Prevost added the PAT to give Samford a 14-7 lead. Samford struck again when McCurty intercepted a Presbyterian pass and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown with 10:49 to go in the second half. Prevost's PAT made the score 21-7.

Presbyterian scored first in the second half when Mullins hit Brandon Clark for a 14-yard touchdown. Miller's PAT made the score 21-14 with 8:50 to go in the third quarter. After a Samford interception, Mullins hit Justin Durant for a 13-yard touchdown with 14:42 to go in the fourth quarter. Miller's PAT tied the score at 21-21.

Slaughter then returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown with 12:28 to go in the fourth quarter, but Prevost's PAT was blocked by Chetyuane Reeder to keep Samford's lead at 27-21.

Presbyterian's Miller kicked a 33-yard field goal with 9:03 to play to cut the Samford lead to 27-24. Evans' 51-yard touchdown run to seal the win came with 3:46 to play.

Samford will return to action on Saturday, Sept. 22, when the Bulldogs open Ohio Valley Conference play with a home game against Southeast Missouri. Kickoff for the game is scheduled for 6 p.m.