BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Each week during the 2021 season, we will release The Chris Hatcher Show. The show, hosted by Kevin Blackwell and featuring head football coach Chris Hatcher, will look back at the previous week's football game and look forward to the upcoming contest.
 
Following an open week, the Bulldogs went on the road and earned a 27-24 win at Wofford last Saturday at Gibbs Stadium. Hatcher said the victory was a win the Bulldogs needed at this point in the season.
 
"They're all big wins," Hatcher said. "But this one had a little more significance because we had been beaten in very close games two weeks in a row. Then you have a week to sit on that, which is not very much fun, not being able to play after being beaten two weeks in a row like that.
 
"I thought we prepared exceptionally well, we traveled well and we found a way to win the game," Hatcher said. "I know Wofford, they've been in a lot of close games as well, but we bounced back, we lost some momentum, but we finished for the first time in quite some time to even our record. We've been talking about going on a roll and every streak starts with one, we got that first one under our belt and we're very excited about it."
 
Zach Williams, who was named the Southern Conference Special Teams Player of the Week, kicked a 38-yard field goal into a stiff breeze with 1:38 left in the game to lift Samford to the win. He also kicked a 30-yad field goal in the second quarter and was three-for-three on extra point attempts. Hatcher talked about Williams' play.
 
"It was a huge kick," Hatcher said. "Stiff breeze may be an understatement; it was kind of whipping pretty good. We always talk about catching some breaks and it did die down a little bit before he kicked it. It was a big kick for our team, it was well executed. Zach's been a great hand all season long, an awesome pick up in the summer. We have tremendous confidence in him to be able to go in in pressure situations and win ballgames, and he showed that Saturday and I'm very proud for him and I know our team is very excited for him as well."
 
The drive leading to the touchdown was nine plays, 44 yards and took 2:59 off the fourth-quarter clock. Hatcher talked what led up to the drive.
 
"We came out early in the game offensively and we got the touchdown called back and had to settle for a field goal, had a fourth-down conversion called back, had to settle for a punt," Hatcher said. "And then you go into the second half, and you only get four possessions because they just milked the clock and kept the ball for a long time. Fortunately for our defense, we made some great stops in the second half, which led to that last drive."
 
On that last drive, every play was a running play. Hatcher talked about the execution of the team during that drive.
 
"It says a lot for our offensive line, I thought Jay Stanton had a great night running the ball," Hatcher said. "And then Liam made some really good runs there at the end to put us in field goal range and we executed very well."
 
Quarterback Liam Welch completed 28-of-43 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns in the win. He also rushed eight times for 34 yards and a touchdown. Hatcher talked a little about Welch's play.
 
"Liam's been playing well," Hatcher said. "Some games you have to take some shots, some games they're going to give you the underneath and some games you have to do a really good job with running plays and the RPOs. I thought he managed it well. There were some plays they did a good job covering us and he threw it away or tucked it and ran. I thought he played well. I think each week, he's gotten better and better throughout the course of this season."
 
Defensively for Samford, Noah Martin had 13 tackles, while Nathan East had 12. Hatcher talked about the play of the defense overall.
 
"I think our defense really stepped up." Hatcher said. "The first half we played outstanding defensive football. In the second half we just missed a fit here and they sprung a long one, we missed a read and they hit a long pass over the middle. Other than that, we kept them in front of us. They did take their time and milk the clock, which was a really good philosophy on their part in the second half. But it was good to have Nelson Jordan back and Nathan East, both of them missed the Mercer game due to injuries. Having those guys come back just adds some maturity, some experience and some leadership to our defense."
 
This week, Samford will play host to Chattanooga Saturday afternoon. Chattanooga has a record of 3-3 overall and 2-1 in SoCon play. The Mocs earned a 21-16 win over 10^th-ranked ETSU last week.
 
"Athletically, I would compare them to UT Martin of the teams we've played up to this point," Hatcher said. "It seems like they're putting it all together. They really had a great game against Kentucky and then last week, we've seen what they (ETSU) can do and they shut ETSU down. We've got to do a really good job of protecting the passer, they're defensive line is outstanding. And then offensively, they have a stable of running backs that are physical and they like to run right at you, so we're going to have to really bow up in our front seven to have a chance to win."
 
Saturday's home game against Chattanooga is set for a 12 p.m. start from Bobby Bowden Field at Seibert Stadium. To purchase tickets for Saturday's game, click here: TICKETS. The game can be seen live on ESPN+ at the following link: WATCH LIVE. Live stats are also available at the following link: LIVE STATS.
 
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