Oct. 1, 2011

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Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Samford football team tallied 464 yards of total offense on its way to a 41-14 non-conference win over the Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs Saturday afternoon at Seibert Stadium.

With the win, Samford improves to 2-2. Gardner-Webb drops to 1-3 with the loss.

"What a great team effort, from the coaches to the players to the scout team guys" Samford head coach Pat Sullivan said. "I was as worried about this team all week as I have been about any we've played. They are a talented football team. We needed to come out and play well. Phillip Ketcham blocked a punt right out of the gate and that kind of got us going, and our defense made some big stops in the first half."

Individually for Samford, quarterback Dustin Taliaferro completed 16-of-29 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns. Kelsey Pope caught six passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. Fabian Truss rushed 13 times for 86 yards and a touchdown. Chris Cephus had two catches for 40 yards and a score.

Samford's Phillip Ketcham blocked a punt and Stanley Robinson returned it for a touchdown in the first quarter. Aaron Bethune, starting in place of injured Alex Davis, led the defense with seven tackles and a fumble recovery. Alvin Hines II and Keith Shoulders also had seven tackles each. Truss also returned two kicks for a total of 83 yards.

For Gardner-Webb, Kenny Little rushed 27 times for 162 yards and a touchdown. Exavier Johnson completed 7-of-20 passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.

After the Samford defense forced a three-and-out on Gardner-Webb's first possession, Ketcham blocked the ensuing punt and Robinson returned it 13 yards for a touchdown. Cameron Yaw kicked the extra point for a 7-0 Samford lead with 12:49 to go in the first quarter. The play marked the first time a Samford player returned a blocked punt for a touchdown since Darion Sutton returned a blocked punt 24 yards for a score against Newberry College on Sept. 16, 2010.

On Samford's first offensive possession of the game, the Bulldogs struck for another score. Taliaferro hit Pope for a 60-yard touchdown pass with 8:57 to go in the first quarter. Yaw's extra point gave Samford a 14-0 lead.

Gardner-Webb got on the scoreboard when Johnson hit Jordan Paul for a 24-yard score. Trever Austin added the extra point to cut the Samford lead to 14-7 with 4:53 left in the first quarter.

Samford added to its lead again when Yaw kicked a 27-yard field goal. Yaw's kick gave Samford a 17-7 lead with 2:07 remaining in the first quarter. Yaw added another field goal, this one from 20-yards out, with 8:13 left in the second quarter to push Samford's lead to 20-7.

Samford struck again when Taliaferro hit Cephus on a 25-yard touchdown on a 4th-and-11 play with 7:05 to go in the second quarter. Yaw's PAT gave Samford a 27-7 lead.

Samford got the second-half scoring started when Truss scored on a 17-yard run with 10:00 to go in the third quarter. Yaw's PAT pushed Samford's lead to 34-7.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Taliaferro hit Kelvin Clay for a seven-yard touchdown. Yaw kicked the extra point to make the score 41-7.

Gardner-Webb put the final points on the scoreboard when Little scored on a 42-yard run. Austin added the extra point to make the final score 41-14.

Highlights from Saturday's game will be available on www.SamfordSports.com via the Bulldog Big Screen within 48 hours of the game.

Samford will return to action on Saturday, Oct. 8, when the Bulldogs travel to Greenville, S.C., to take on the Furman Paladins. The game is scheduled for a 12:30 p.m. (CT) kickoff.