Football 12.16.22

The Chris Hatcher Show: Dec. 16, 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.

The historic 2022 Samford football came to an end on Friday night as the Bulldogs fell 29-7 to the defending FCS national champion North Dakota State in the quarterfinals for the FCS playoffs.

"It takes an army to run a football program and we are very fortunate that we have a great administration, a great team of coaches and support staff and more importantly a special thanks to our team. They performed at a high level all year," Hatcher said. "You have heard me use words like 'professional', 'enjoy playing together', 'ultimate team', and 'find a way', they were all of that, and what a season it was. We had 10 straight wins, were Southern Conference champions outright, and we had some great games. Two overtime wins to conclude our home stretch, the first home playoff game. There was a lot of first and we finally got to enjoy that yesterday in our final team meeting of the semester. We had a lot of seniors that was the last time that they suited up on Friday night that will be sorely missed. I told them 'Don't be said that it is over, be glad that it happened' and what a season it was. I am very blessed to be the coach and it was probably one of the most fun seasons that I have ever had because of the way our guys conducted themselves on a daily basis to prepare to play well each and every Saturday."

The Samford defense was the story on Friday night holding the Bison out of the end zone for most of the first half before allowing 29 points overall in the game.

"That was probably one of our best defensive efforts that we have had all season. You look at the two defeats that we have had it has been just a lack of offense that got us. The Georgia game was 33-0 and then the other night we had a very difficult time moving the ball. Tip your cap to North Dakota State. Not only were they big, but they were also extremely fast. One of the fastest teams that we have played all season long," Hatcher said. "Defensively, I thought our guys held up to the physicality that North Dakota State brings. We could not hold on to the ball very long offensively. I thought we wore down some and that was due to the lack of offense. The biggest difference to me in the entire game to me was that we stopped them on a fourth down then drove it down and got a field goal blocked. If we were able to punch that one in for a touchdown, momentum would have definitely been on our side."

Quincy Crittendon made his first career against North Dakota State under center and threw for 52 yards in the first half before SoCon Offensive Player of the Year Michael Hiers came in and tossed a fourth-quarter touchdown to get the Bulldogs on the board.

"I left it up to Mike to decide if he felt comfortable going. Mike has a broken wrist on this throwing hand for him even to attempt to play just tells you how tough he is and how much of a competitor that he is," Hatcher said. "He didn't feel like he was quite ready to go at the beginning of the game. It's one of those injuries, where at practice he'd throw four or five really good balls and then maybe he would throw a bad ball and he would have to rest until he got feeling back in his hand. About midway through the second mention that he thought he could go. We were not doing very well, so we threw him on out there and he played extremely well."

Up next for the Samford squad will be National Signing Day on Dec. 21 as coach Hatcher and his staff looks to bring the next wave of champions to Birmingham.

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

#2 Quincy Crittendon: QB; 5' 11"; Freshman

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

Players Mentioned

#2 Quincy Crittendon
: 5' 11"; Freshman
: QB

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

Samford University Athletics

Players Mentioned

#2 Quincy Crittendon

#10 Michael Hiers

Players Mentioned

#2 Quincy Crittendon

#10 Michael Hiers