GAME NOTES: Samford @ ETSU (2.20.21)
Complete game release in PDF format

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The wait is finally over for the Samford University football team, as the Bulldogs (0-0, 0-0 SoCon) kickoff the spring 2021 campaign on Saturday, Feb. 20 at East Tennessee State University (0-0, 0-0 SoCon). Game time is set for 12 PM at William B. Greene Stadium in Johnson City, Tenn. ESPN+ will have complete coverage of the game.

Samford and ETSU are meeting for the 7th time on the gridiron with the Bulldogs owning a 6-1 edge in the series standings. Samford has an all-time record of 86-83-9 against teams from the state of Tennessee.

ETSU is coming off a 3-9 season in 2019 that saw the Bucs post a 1-7 mark in SoCon play. Randy Sanders (11-13) is entering his third season as head coach in Johnson City, Tenn., with the Bucs picked to finish eighth in the league this year.

The two teams last met on Oct. 26, 2019, with Samford coming away with a 24-17 victory over the Bucs. For Samford in the win, quarterback Chris Oladokun completed 19-of-31 passes for 134 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed 20 times for 43 yards. Jay Stanton rushed 12 times for 44 yards and a touchdown. Jordan Montgomery and Ty Herring had nine tackles each to lead the defense.

The Bulldogs are entering the spring 2021 season picked to finish fifth in the Southern Conference in both the Preseason Coaches and Media Polls. Wofford was picked as the favorite to win the SoCon by the coaches, while the media tabbed Furman as their favorite.

Samford has an all-time record of 47-53-4 in season-openers, including a 4-1 mark under head coach Chris Hatcher.
 

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EIGHT BULLDOGS NAMED ALL-SOCON PRESEASON; SAMFORD PICKED TO FINISH FIFTH: The Samford football team had eight players named to nine different spots on the Southern Conference's preseason All-Conference teams, voted on by the coaches and released by the league Wednesday afternoon.

Montrell Washington was named first team All-SoCon as both a wide receiver and as a return specialist. Offensive lineman Mike Williams, defensive lineman Armond Lloyd and place-kicker Mitchell Fineran all joined Washington on the first team. Samford's second team All-SoCon selections were running back Jay Stanton, linebacker Nathan East, defensive back Ty Herring and punter Bradley Porcellato.

The SoCon also released its preseason polls, with Samford being picked fifth by both the coaches and the media. Wofford was picked as the favorite to win the SoCon by the coaches, while the media tabbed Furman as their favorite.

In the Coaches Poll, Wofford was followed by Furman, Chattanooga, The Citadel, Samford, VMI, Mercer, ETSU and Western Carolina. Furman was followed in the media poll by Wofford, Chattanooga, The Citadel, Samford, Mercer, VMI, ETSU and Western Carolina.

SOCON PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Team (1st-place votes) Total
1. Wofford (5) 60
2. Furman (3) 56
3. Chattanooga (1) 53
4. The Citadel 39
5. Samford 34
t6. VMI 26
t6. Mercer 26
8. ETSU 20
9. Western Carolina 10

SOCON PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
Team (1st-place votes) Total
1. Furman (16) 246
2. Wofford (10) 228
3. Chattanooga 192
4. The Citadel (3) 164
5. Samford 142
6. Mercer 118
7. VMI 91
8. ETSU 75
9. Western Carolina 49

WASHINGTON NAMED PRESEASON  ALL-AMERICAN: Samford senior Montrell Washington has been selected as a preseason All-American as a punt returner by both HERO Sports and Athlon. Washington returned 15 punts during the 2019 season for an average of 21.9 yards per return. He returned one punt for a 59-yard touchdown late in the first quarter of the team's game at Western Carolina, turning the momentum and helping lead the Bulldogs to a 31-13 win.

TWO-HEADED QUARTERBACK: Samford returns both quarterbacks who split time as the starter during the 2019 season. Graduate students Chris Oladokun and Liam Welch will once again vie for the starting quarterback spot for the Bulldogs. Oladokun passed for 2,058 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2019, while Welch passed for 759 yards and six touchdowns.

WASHINGTON THE NATION'S BEST: During the  2019 season, Montrell Washington led all of FCS football in punt return average. He returned 15 punts  for an average of 21.9 yards per return. The total was nearly four yards per game better than the next competitor, who averaged 18.0 yards per return. At the conclusion of the season, Washington was named a consensus All-American as a return specialist. 

HATCHER'S OFFENSES PRODUCE: Through his first five seasons, Samford head coach Chris Hatcher's offenses have averaged more points than under any other head coach in program history. Entering the season, Hatcher's teams have averaged 33.58 points per game, ahead of Bobby Bowden's 28.57 average. The average is also the highest in the SoCon during the last five seasons. Below is a list of the top five head coaches in points per game in school history.

Samford Coaches Ranked By Points PG
1. Chris Hatcher (2015-Pres.) 33.58
2. Bobby Bowden (1959-62) 28.57
3. Terry Bowden (1987-92) 27.92
4. Bill Gray (2001-06) 25.68
5. Pat Sullivan (2007-14) 25.50

OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION RETURNING: Samford returns its top five rushers and five of its top seven receivers from a year ago. Jay Stanton led the team in rushing in 2019, rushing for 690 yards and seven touchdowns as a true freshman. While two of the top receivers (Robert Adams and Chris Shelling) are gone, Montrell Washington, Kendall Watson, A.J. Toney, Jai'Rus Creamer and Stanton all return after solid receiving seasons. 

SAMFORD IN SEASON OPENERS: Samford has an all-time record of 47-53-4 in season-opening games. Last season, the Bulldogs opened the season in the FCS Kickoff against Youngstown State, falling by a score of 45-22. Entering this season, Samford has won six of its last eight season openers. The Bulldogs are 4-1 in season openers under head coach Chris Hatcher.

BULLDOGS WELCOME SEVERAL NEW COACHES: The Samford football coaching staff received a major overhaul in the offseason. The defensive side saw the most changes, with Nick Benedetto coming in as the new defensive coordinator. Additionally Kevin Corless was hired as the team's linebackers coach and Alex Garcia will coach the team's defensive tackles. Offensively, Mitch Stewart will serve as the team's offensive coordinator, coaching the wide receivers, while Mack Helms will coach the team's offensive tackles. 

AMONG THE NATION'S BEST: The Samford football team ranked in the top 10 nationally among FCS programs in four categories during the 2019 season. The Bulldogs led the nation in punt returns, averaging 19.4 yards per return. The team ranked second nationally in fewest penalties per game (3.58), third in fewest penalty yards per game (34.0) and seventh in 4th-down conversions (67.6%). 

BULLDOGS AGAINST SOCON TEAMS: Now in its 13th season as a member of the Southern Conference, Samford has a record of 52-42 in league games. Last season, Samford went 4-4 in league contests..

PUTTING UP POINTS: Over the last five seasons under head coach Chris Hatcher, the Samford offense has scored at least 30 points 30 times. The unit has put up at least 40 points 17 times, and at least 50 points a total of eight times. 

SOCON LEADERS: During the 2019 season, Samford, as a team, was at or near the top of the Southern Conference in several statistical categories. The Bulldogs led the SoCon in punt return average (19.4 ypr..), first downs per game (22.6) and fewest penalty yards per game (34.0 ypg.), and the team placed second in scoring offense (32.2 ppg.), passing offense (239.2 ypg.) and fourth-down conversions (67.6%).

Several returning individuals were near the top of the league as well. Montrell Washington led the SoCon in punt return average (21.9 ypr.), while Mitchell Fineran led the league in scoring by kick (7.6 ppg.) and field goals per game (1.25), and ranked third in scoring. Chris Oladokun ranked second in the SoCon in pass efficiency (142.6), and third in passing yards per game (172.0)

QUICK STRIKES: In five seasons under head coach Chris Hatcher, Samford has made a habit of quick scoring drives. In the last five seasons, Samford has had 110 scoring drives of two minutes or less and 50 that have lasted one minute or less.

SAMFORD AGAINST TENNESSEE TEAMS: Samford has an all-time record of 86-83-9 against teams from the state of Tennessee, including a mark of 6-1 against Saturday's opponent, ETSU.