Football 10.26.23

The Chris Hatcher Show: Oct. 26, 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Each week during the 2023 season, we will release The Chris Hatcher Show. The show hosted this season by Tyler Brain and featuring head football coach Chris Hatcher, will look back at the previous week's football game and look forward to the upcoming contest.

Entering homecoming week, the Samford Bulldogs are coming off a 27-14 victory on the road at VMI. The head Bulldog is pleased with the way that his squad handled the longest road trip of the season.

"It was a tremendous win for our team considering the long travel, not only the day before but you have to travel a little over an hour to get from the hotel to the game. The field conditions were not ideal and our guys went out and played a really good game. It was 27-14 at half. Defensively, we were outstanding other than when we gave up two big plays. Offensively, I think we scored on every possession but one. Then you get to the third and fourth quarters and then you get to the end of the game and it is still 27-14. So, we should have just quit at halftime and got home a little earlier," Hatcher said. "I would agree on a lot of fronts, offensively first half, tremendous game. Not so great. Defensively, I thought we were very consistent the entire game and then our special teams made some big plays for us to help us win. Lexington, Virginia has not been good to me the last couple of times I have been there. I was extremely excited and proud of our team, how they handled themselves and we came back home with a big victory over VMI."

Jay Stanton was named Southern Conference Offensive Player of the Week thanks to his efforts against the Keydets. The senior ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries to capture his first honor from the league.

"He has been a very consistent performer in his time here at Samford. This season seems, I hate to say it, to be his breakout year. He's had really good games in three of the last four games. Our offensive line blocked well. I was really proud of our receivers. That was as good blocking on the perimeter that we've had all season," Hatcher said. "Then he made a few guys miss and had some big runs there in the first half. Like we always talk about, if you run the ball well, it does a lot of things and allows you to do a lot of different stuff. He is playing at a high level and hopefully, he will continue that this week."

As good as the Bulldogs were on offense and defense against VMI, the Samford special teams unit also showed out in the victory over the Keydets. The efforts of the special teams were highlighted by a fake punt that Joseph Mera ran 35 yards to set up a Bulldog touchdown.

"I thought we had a tremendous day, unfortunately late in the game we gave up a blocked field goal that could have made the game a lot closer there in the whining moments, but the fake punt most defiantly. It was a really tight game. They had just broken a long touchdown run and we got stopped around midfield. That was something that we had worked on all season, we knew it was there and we ended up getting great execution. Picked up some very nice blocks. Midnight Stewart made a key block and that extended the drive that resulted in a touchdown," Hatcher said. "I thought Will Thorley had a really good day. They muffed a punt late in the game that we recovered down there inside the ten, unfortunately led to no points then the two field goals were big. We haven't relied on Wilson Beaverstock to do a lot of field goal kicking this season, but in a tight ballgame, like they always are in the Southern Conference, you better get points when you can. That was awesome. Then late in the third quarter, Johnny Johnson ends up blocking a field goal. A lot of big momentum-shifting plays in the game, fortunately for us most of them came out in our favor."

It is a celebration on the campus of Samford University as the Bulldog football team is slated to host The Citadel Bulldogs as part of the Homecoming 2023 festivities. The Bulldogs from Charleston bring a 0-7 record to Birmingham for the first full game in Pete Hanna Stadium.

"I am excited to be able to play a game at home and our job during homecoming week is to win the game on Saturday. Our preparation won't change whatsoever. We are looking forward to another Southern Conference matchup. The Citadel does a lot of things on offense. They are very dynamic as far as the different shifting and different formations posing a lot of problems. Defensively, they show you a lot of different looks to confuse you," Hatcher said. "Their season hasn't gone like they wanted it to. They have a brand-new football coach who is in his first year in the Southern Conference. They have played a tremendous schedule. They've played the top teams in our league and their out-of-conference schedule was crazy. They have a good team and I know they will come in here, they are coming off a bye week and they are going to be hungry, but I really believe, from what we have seen from our guys, that we are really excited about suiting it up again this week."

The kickoff with The Citadel is slated for 2 p.m. at Pete Hanna Stadium on Saturday. Tickets can still be purchased here.

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

#55 Johnny Johnson: DE; 6' 1"; Sophomore

#35 Joseph Mera: DE; 6' 2"; Senior

#20 Jay Stanton: RB; 6' 0"; Senior

#59 Will Thorley: P; 6' 3"; Freshman

#80 Wilson Beaverstock: K; 6' 0"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

#55 Johnny Johnson
: 6' 1"; Sophomore
: DE

#35 Joseph Mera
: 6' 2"; Senior
: DE

#20 Jay Stanton
: 6' 0"; Senior
: RB

#59 Will Thorley
: 6' 3"; Freshman
: P

#80 Wilson Beaverstock
: 6' 0"; Graduate Student
: K

Samford University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned