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The Samford Bulldogs host Wofford on October 8, 2022 in a SoCon showdown.
Chase Cochran|Samford Athletics

Football

The Chris Hatcher Show: Oct. 14, 2022

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Each week during the 2022 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.
  
Samford took care of businesses on Saturday against Southern Conference-foe Wofford with a 28-14 victory over the Terriers. It was not the prettiest game that the No. 15 Bulldogs have played this season, but Samford found a way to win at Seibert Stadium. 
 
"Wofford has been leaning heavily on their defense this season, not a lot of people have scored many points on them. I thought that defensively, we played outstanding all the way till the very end. We had one bad sequence in all three phases late in the fourth quarter, but defensively we had a shutout going there late in the game and we continue to play really well on that side of the ball," said Hatcher. "It was a game that concerned me heading into the game. Wofford was winless on the season and had a coaching change late in the week. They do have good players, run good schemes and the guys play hard. It is always a tough game when Samford and Wofford meet, and I thought we had a cruddy week of practice and preparation for the game. So when you put all of those things together, I was very concentered heading into the game."
 
The depth of this Samford team was on full display against Wofford as playmakers up and down the depth chart catapulted the Bulldogs to victory. On the offensive side of the ball, wide-out D.J. Rias only had 32 receiving yards on the season before exploding on the scene with 82 yards on four catches and a 54-yard touchdown to open the scoring in the second half.
 
"He's a good player especially when he gets the ball in his hands and we have not got it in his heads as much as we need to, but if you look back through the course of the year he always seems to break the first tackle and make the first guy miss," said Hatcher. "Defensively, we're playing outstanding. We get a few more scores offensively, we are over there thinking about when to put the subs in the ball game. I thought that the two-minute drive at the end of the half to put us up 14, a huge jolt in momentum to our favor and then the touchdown pass to D.J. to start the third quarter, you just kind of felt like that was going to be enough to win the game and sure enough it was."
 
Freshman Jamall Thompson had the best game of this young Samford career as the defensive end collected four tackles and 1.5 sacks on the day to help stifle the Wofford offensive.
 
"Between him, Kobe Stewart and Johnny Johnson, those are three defensive ends that have been a really good change up defensive linemen throughout the course of the game. The week prior to this, Jamall was hurt and was unable to play," said Hatcher. "This week Johnny Johnson had to sit on the sidelines due to a minor injury, so Jamall got his chance and made two really big plays. It is always good to see young guys finding their niche and making plays. That bodes well for the future." 
 
Following the best start since 2016, Samford will be on a bye and the head Bulldog doesn't believe it could have come at a better time. 
 
"I really felt like after the Furman game, that week, was the right time. I could just sense we are a little tired, we were a little beat up, and our focus is down a little bit," said Hatcher. "As a coach, you have the instinctual feeling and I felt that. Knowing what I know now that we won the game on Saturday, this is the best time for a bye week. Our guys needed it; the coaches needed it."
 
Samford returns to play on Oct. 22 in Johnson City, Tennessee against ETSU.
 
FOLLOW THE BULLDOGS:
 For the latest news and information on Samford football, visit the official website for Samford Athletics at SamfordSports.com. Fans can also follow the Bulldogs on social media at /SamfordFootball (Facebook), @SamfordFootball (Instagram)
and @SamfordFootball (Twitter). 

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Players Mentioned

Johnny Johnson

#55 Johnny Johnson

DE
6' 1"
Sophomore
Kobe Stewart

#91 Kobe Stewart

DE
6' 3"
Freshman
Jamall Thompson

#81 Jamall Thompson

DE
6' 3"
Freshman
D.J. Rias

#11 D.J. Rias

WR
5' 8"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Johnny Johnson

#55 Johnny Johnson

6' 1"
Sophomore
DE
Kobe Stewart

#91 Kobe Stewart

6' 3"
Freshman
DE
Jamall Thompson

#81 Jamall Thompson

6' 3"
Freshman
DE
D.J. Rias

#11 D.J. Rias

5' 8"
Sophomore
WR