Football 10.5.23

The Chris Hatcher Show: Oct. 5, 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.

Samford got back in the win column on Saturday with a 42-28 victory over the ETSU Buccaneers and split the longest homestand of the season. Coach Hatcher is pleased with how his squad took care of business on Saturday.

"It was a great day for us. We appreciate the support that our university and fans gave us on Saturday. It was an extremely hot afternoon. I was really proud of our conditioning and I thought our guys held up really really well and I think it took a toll on our opponent, especially late in the ball game," Hatcher said. "It was a lot closer at halftime than I wanted it to be, but I did feel like we were in control of the game pretty much from the start and we were able to come out in the second half, put some good drives together, have some big stops on defense and then come out with a big, much-needed win after the way that the previous three weeks have gone for our football team."

Senior running back Jay Stanton had a career day against the Buccaneer defense rushing for 177 yards on 25 carries. The 177 yards is not only a career-high for Stanton but is also the best performance on the ground since Denzel Williams rushed for 178 yards against VMI in 2014.

"Jay is a guy that I think came here when I got here. I think that he's been here for nine years. He has just been so solid and so consistent throughout his career. To see him throughout his record-breaking day, it was really good," Hatcher said. "I know he'll give all the credit to the offensive line who blocked good and our receivers blocked good on the perimeter. He made some outstanding moves and some outstanding cuts in the open field. What a fine young man and a great representative of Samford and very deserving of having a day like that. When you can run the ball each and every week, you got a chance to be successful offensively."

On the defensive side of the ball, the Bulldogs held ETSU to only 118 passing yards after not allowing a single passing yard in the first quarter of action. Turnovers and getting off the field on third down is what coach Hatcher gives the credit to.
"Defensively, the number one thing is that we got off the field. We were very good at third down, something we have been harping on," Hatcher said. "We had a big turnover on the first drive of the game that really shifted the momentum of the ball game to our favor. I thought we were able to play a lot of people, some backups got in early in the game and really shined. Other than the two-minute drive at the end of the second quarter and then late in the ball game ETSU had a one-play 80-yard drive, our defense held their offense in check. When I keep saying it felt like we had the game in control, it was due to how our defense."

The Bulldogs hit the road on Saturday for an all-dog altercation with the Wofford Terriers. Samford has topped the Terriers the last eight times that the squads have met. Despite the recent history between the two programs, Hatcher is prepping his team for a 60-minute battle on Saturday.

"Each and every week it is about us being the best that we can be and I know that sounds like a broken record to the people that listen to me talk, but it is the truth. It is about us being ultimate and being the best achievable team that we can possibly be week in and week out. Wofford has had some struggles" Hatcher said. "They had a coaching change in the middle of last season, actually the week that we played them, but I'll tell you what. They are a well-coached team. They are a very proud program that has had a lot of tradition and a lot of Southern Conference championships over the years. Defensively, they might be the best defense in the league if you look at their scores. All their scores are very close. We are going to have to do a really good job of playing defense like we did last season and like we did this past week, but offensively we're going to have to find a way to get creative and move the ball better than we did last season on them. Anytime you go on the road in Southern Conference play, it is always a battle. I say it each and every week, everybody in this league athletically is pretty close to the same. You better bring your lunch pail and hard hat every time you go on the road in the Southern Conference. This week I expect to be no different."

Kickoff for the Bulldogs and Terriers is slated for 12:30 p.m. CT on Saturday and be streamed on ESPN+.

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

Samford University Athletics

Players Mentioned

#20 Jay Stanton

Players Mentioned

#20 Jay Stanton