The Chris Hatcher Show: Oct. 6, 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.

Despite being down 10-0 after the opening 15 minutes, the Samford Bulldogs prevailed 34-27 on the road against the Furman Paladins in a highly anticipated SoCon showdown. Coach Hatcher is proud of his team's "Play The Next Play" mentality that was showcased against Furman.

"It really looked kind of grim for us early on. I thought that we didn't come out with as much pep and intensity as we need to against a really good football team in Furman especially being on the road," Hatcher said. "We were flat and Furman took it to us early in the game and in all three phases, but fortunately for us, we did not dwell on what happened in the first quarter. Great credit to our coaching staff and our players for just continuing to play the next play, which is what we preach all the time and it worked out really good for us on Saturday."

Jaylan Thomas put the rest of the Southern Conference on notice with his performance against Furman on Saturday. The transfer running back scampered for 104 yards on five carries and three scores along the way to being named SoCon Offensive Player of the week.

"We thought going into the game that Furman had one of the tougher fronts to run the ball on. Nobody has been able to do it against them this season," Hatcher said. You got to give credit to the offensive line, first of all. Then Jaylan made a few guys miss and broke some open field tackles and we got good blocking on the perimeter for some big plays. Those three straight touchdown runs, of course, those ended up being the difference in the ball game."

The play of the game came in the third quarter when graduate linebacker Nathan East strip-sacked the Furman quarterback deep in Paladin territory to set up a Michael Hiers pass to J.R. Tran-Reno for the game-winning score. East was named National and SoCon Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the win that included 10 tackles, two forced fumbles, a pair of quarterback hurries, a pass break up and the game-altering sack.

"We had taken a commanding lead, but you can kind of feel the momentum swinging to Furman just because offensively we had some three-and-outs then we were playing the field position game," Hatcher said. "Punted them deep in their territory, which Bradley Porcellato continues to do a great job with that, but then the turnover was huge in that area and just as important to come out of there with seven points and hitting a third-down conversion for a touchdown. That swing in momentum ended up being the game-winner."

After being on the road three of the last four weeks, the Samford Bulldogs return to the friendly confines of Seibert Stadium as a winless Wofford team comes to Birmingham for yet another SoCon matchup. Despite Wofford's record, coach Hatcher has been preaching to the team all week that there are no easy games in the Southern Conference.

"Every team in this league is dangerous. Every week is a new week, it doesn't matter what you did the previous week or what you are going to do the next week. The only thing that matters is what you do this week," Hatcher said. "We have a history with Wofford, they are one of our rivals in the league. We better prepare well and we better strap it up on Saturday because Southern Conference football is tough but I expect our guys will be ready to play."

Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m. CT inside Seibert Stadium on Saturday and can be streamed on ESPN+. Tickets can be purchased at SamfordTickets.com.

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).

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#5 Nathan East: LB; 6' 2"; Graduate Student

#7 Bradley Porcellato: P; 5' 11"; Graduate Student

#8 J.R. Tran-Reno: WR; 6' 1"; Senior

#10 Michael Hiers: QB; 6' 1"; Junior

#6 Jaylan Thomas: RB; 5' 9"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#5 Nathan East
: 6' 2"; Graduate Student
: LB

#7 Bradley Porcellato
: 5' 11"; Graduate Student
: P

#8 J.R. Tran-Reno
: 6' 1"; Senior
: WR

#10 Michael Hiers
: 6' 1"; Junior
: QB

#6 Jaylan Thomas
: 5' 9"; Senior
: RB

Samford University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned