GAME NOTES: Samford @ The Citadel (3.27.21)
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The
Southern Conference's top offensive unit travels to Charleston, S.C., on Saturday, March 27, as the
Bulldogs (2-3, 2-3 SoCon) of
Samford University faces
The Citadel (0-8, 0-4 SoCon) at Johnson Hagood Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1PM EST and the game will be broadcast on
ESPN+. Samford enters the week leading the league in
scoring (36.6) and
total offense (490.2).
Samford and The Citadel are meeting for the 14th time in the series with the Bulldogs in light blue holding a slight 7-6 edge in the standings. The two teams last met on Sept. 28, 2019, with Samford claiming a 61-55 four overtime victory in Birmingham at Seibert Stadium.
The Bulldogs dropped a heart-breaker, 38-37 in overtime, to No. 19 VMI last Saturday. Despite rolling up 633 yards, including a new SoCon single game passing record of 570 yards by Liam Welch, the Keydets rallied and won the game with a two-point conversion in the extra frame. Reece Udinski finished the day completing 40-of-57 passes for 353 yards with three TDs and an interception to lead VMI.
The Citadel fell to 0-8 and 0-4 in SoCon play after falling 28-21 to East Tennessee State last Saturday. Despite out-rushing the Bucs 168-70, the Bulldogs coughed up two costly fumbles and an interception that aided ETSU in the win. Jaylan Adams accounted for 68 yards in the loss.
Liam Welch (6-2, 205, Gr.), who garnered Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week honors on Monday, enters Saturday's game leading the SoCon in passing yards per game (373.3), QB efficiency (162.4), and total offense (413.8).
SERIES NOTEBOOK: THE CITADEL
- Samford travels to Charleston, S.C., on Saturday, March 27 to face the Bulldogs of The Citadel for the 14th time on the gridiron. Kickoff is set for 1 PM EST at Johnson Hagood Stadium. The Citadel holds a 7-6 edge in the series standings, including a 5-2 mark at Johnson Hagood Stadium while coach Chris Hatcher is 5-3 all-time versus The Citadel.
- The two teams last met on Sept. 28, 2019 in Birmingham, as Samford pulled off a thrilling 61-55 victory in four overtimes. Liam Welch and Chris Oladokun combined to pass for 318 yards on 18-of-36 attempts with three touchdowns. Welch's feet proved to be The Citadel's undoing, as the quarterback scampered for the game-winning touchdown in the 4th overtime. Jay Stanton rushed for 97 yards and a pair of scores as well. Brandon Rainey accounted for five touchdowns on the day for The Citadel with three rushing and two passing.
- The Citadel enters Saturday's game 0-8 overall and 0-4 in SoCon play after falling 28-21 at East Tennessee State last Saturday. The Bulldogs played four games during the fall of 2020, posting an 0-4 mark with losses at South Florida, Clemson, and Army.
- The Bulldogs' offense features one of the top rushing attacks in the nation, averaging 220.6 yards per game, which currently leads the SoCon. Quarterback Jaylan Adams averages 64.9 yards rushing per game to lead The Citadel. He has rushed 128 times for 519 yards and five TDs.
- Defensively, The Citadel is allowing 28.1 points and 341.9 yards per game entering Saturday's clash at Johnson Hagood Stadium.
SAMFORD AMONG NCAA'S BEST
The Bulldogs enter Saturday's game at The Citadel ranked 8th in scoring offense (36.6), 7th in passing offense (344.5) and 8th in total offense (490.2) in NCAA FCS. Montrell Washington has continued to be a thorn in the side of special teams coordinators, ranking No. 1 nationally in punt return yardage (184) and No. 3 in yards per return (14.2). Quarterback Liam Welch is 5th nationally with 373.3 yards passing per game with Chris Edmonds ranked No. 1 in interceptions (4). Mitchell Fineran currently sits 3rd in field goals per game (2.0) and 9th in scoring (10.2) while A.J. Toney is 14th in receptions (6.6).
EDMONDS DEMANDING ATTENTION
Sophomore safety Chris Edmonds (6-2, 205) has started the spring season in remarkable fashion. The Columbus, Ga., native leads the SoCon and ranks 12th nationally with four interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. He has totaled 31 tackles, 1.5 tackles-for-loss and forced two fumbles in addition to his four interceptions through the Bulldogs' five games.
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 33.8 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. Terry Bowden (1987-1992) averaged 27.92 points per game during his tenure while Bill Gray (2001-06 / 25.68) and Pat Sullivan (2007-14 / 25.50) round out the top five.
BETTER TOGETHER
The Samford defense has made great strides in the first five games of the season, featuring eight Bulldogs with 20+ tackles. Nathan East (44) leads the unit with 44 stops followed by Ty Herring (36), Chris Edmonds (31), Josh Long (31), Trimarcus Cheeks (28), Noah Martin (25), Thomas Neville (24) and Armond Lloyd (24). All eight Bulldogs rank in the top 40 in the SoCon in tackles per game, including East at No. 4 overall in the league.
SAMFORD WELCOMES BACK DEVLIN HODGES
At Saturday's game against VMI, former All-American and Walter Payton Award-winning quarterback Devlin Hodges was welcomed back to campus. Hodges and a group of friends watched on from the terrace of the Sullivan-Cooney Family Field House as the Bulldogs battled No. 19 VMI. Hodges started six games at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019, and he is now a member of the Los Angeles Rams.
WELCH SETS SCHOOL, SOCON RECORD
In Saturday's 38-37 overtime loss to No. 19 VMI, quarterback Liam Welch set a Samford and Southern Conference record with 570 passing yards. Welch, a 6-2 graduate student from Augusta, Ga., completed 37-of-59 passes with four touchdowns and a pair of interceptions in the outing. Welch's performance breaks the old mark of 562, set by former Samford quarterback Devlin Hodges against Western Carolina in 2018.
EXTRA FRAMES
Saturday's overtime loss to No. 19 VMI marked Samford's second overtime game so far this season, and the Bulldogs' sixth in the last two seasons. The Bulldogs went 1-3 in those OT games in 2019, playing to extra time against Tennessee Tech, The Citadel, VMI and Mercer. Samford is 0-2 so far this season in overtime contests. The four overtime games in 2019 tied an FCS record, set by the 2007 Georgia Southern team, also coached by Chris Hatcher.
SPREADING THE BALL AROUND
A total of 12 different Samford players have caught passes through Samford's first four games of the 2021 spring season. A.J. Toney leads the group with 33 catches for 373 yards and a touchdown. Ty King has 24 grabs for a SoCon-leading 527 yards and three scores. Michael Vice is third with 17 receptions for 201 yards.
PUTTING UP POINTS
Over the last five-plus seasons under head coach Chris Hatcher, the Samford offense has scored at least 30 points 33 times. The unit has put up at least 40 points 18 times, and at least 50 points a total of nine times.
QUICK STRIKES
In last week's game against No. 19 VMI, Samford had three scoring drives that took two minutes or less, and two of those drives took less than a minute. In five-plus seasons under head coach Chris Hatcher, Samford has made a habit of quick scoring drives, including 127 scoring drives of two minutes or less and 57 that have lasted one minute or less.
SOCON LEADERS
After the first five weeks of the spring season, as a team, Samford leads the Southern Conference in scoring offense (36.6 ppg.), total offense (490.2 ypg.), passing offense (344.8 ypg.), pass efficiency (145.7) and passes intercepted (7). Individually, a few players rank at the top of the league as well. Liam Welch leads the league in passing average per game (373.2 ypg.) and total offense per game (413.8 ypg.). Ty King is the SoCon leader in receiving yards per game (105.4 ypg.), kick return average (22.7 ypr.) and all-purpose yards per game (191.6 ypg.). Mitchell Fineran leads the SoCon in scoring (10.2 ppg.), and in total field goals (10). Chris Edmonds is the league leader in interceptions (4).
MR. CLUTCH: MITCHELL FINERAN
Mitchell Fineran has been Mr. Clutch for the Bulldogs, making 10-of-12 field goals and 21-of-22 PATs this season. The 5-10 sophomore from Fort Valley, Ga., was 3-for-4 on field goals, including a 41-yard effort in Saturday's loss to No. 19 VMI. He enters the week ranked No. 13 nationally in field goals per game (1.75) and 14th in scoring (9.5) per game.
WASHINGTON REMAINS NCAA'S BEST
Samford senior Montrell Washington, a preseason All-American by HERO Sports and Athlon, has continues to be a thorn in the side of special teams coordinators, ranking No. 1 nationally in punt return yardage and No. 3 in yards per return. He has returned 12 punts for 183 yards including a 55-yard touchdown at No. 17 Furman earlier this year.
SAMFORD AGAINST SOUTH CAROLINA TEAMS
Samford has an all-time record of 38-28-1 against teams from the state of South Carolina, including a 6-7 mark against Saturday's opponent, The Citadel. The Bulldogs have played the following South Carolina teams: Charleston Southern (2-0), The Citadel (6-7), Clemson (0-3), Furman (11-12), Newberry College (3-1-1), Presbyterian (3-0) and Wofford (13-5).
AGAINST SOUTHERN CONFERENCE TEAMS
Now in its 13th season as a member of the Southern Conference, Samford has a record of 54-45 in league games. Last season, the Bulldogs went 4-4 in league contests. Against the current members of the Southern Conference, Samford has an all-time record of 78-72-4. The Bulldogs are 6-7 all-time against Saturday's opponent, The Citadel.
HIDDEN YARDAGE
Preseason All-SoCON punter Bradley Porcellato has not disappointed out of the gate, averaging 40.5 yards per punt. He currently ranks No. 23 in the country. He has punted 25 times for 1,012 yards with a long of 60 yards. Of his 25 punts, he has 14 fair catches, seven downed inside tthe 20 and three kicks of 50-plus yards.
FORCING THE ISSUE
Samford enters this week's contest with The Citadel ranked No. 3 in the SoCon in turnover margin (+2). Through five games, the Bulldogs have forced three fumbles and intercepted seven passes.
WASHINGTON NAMED WINNER OF CHARLES WILLIAMS MEMORIAL JERSEY
Senior Montrell Washington has been named the 16th recipient of the Charles Williams Memorial Jersey. The jersey, the No. 5, is given each year to a senior leader. The jersey honors former Samford player Charles Williams, who died in a car accident on May 23, 2003.
