Football 9.6.23

Bulldogs Head To Western Carolina For SoCon Opener

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After a non-conference tune-up in the season opener, the No. 8 Samford football hits the road and travels to Western Carolina for the first game of Southern Conference action.

The first SoCon showdown of the season is slated for a 1:30 p.m. CT kickoff in Cullowhee, N.C. and be streamed on ESPN+. Pete Yanity and Jay Sonnhalter will call the action.

For this week's complete game notes, click here.

In the season opener, Samford pummeled the Shorter Hawks by a score of 69-14. Michael Hiers tossed a career-best five touchdowns in the victory en route to his first SoCon Offensive Player of the Week Award of the season.

Samford and Western Carolina have met 20 previous times on the gridiron with the Bulldogs winning 17 of those matchups including the last five contests.

Hiers Named SoCon Player of the Week
After throwing a career-high five touchdowns in the season opener against Shorter, Micheal Hiers was named SoCon Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 4. It was Hiers' sixth career SoCon OPOTW and first in 2023.

Second Quarter Fireworks
Samford broke in the new scoreboards at the south end of Seibert Stadium by scoring 35 points in the second quarter against Shorter. The 35 points are the most in a single quarter surpassing the 32 scored in a 80-0 victory over Troy in 1961

Hatcher's Offenses Produce
Through his first eight seasons, Samford head coach Chris Hatcher's offenses have averaged more points than under any other head coach in program history. Entering the season, Hatcher's teams have averaged 34.53 points per game, ahead of Bobby Bowden's 28.57 average. Terry Bowden (1987-1992) averaged 27.92 points per game during his tenure while Bill Gray (2001-06 / 25.68) and Pat Sullivan (2007-14 / 25.50) round out the top five.

Putting Up Points
Over the last eight seasons under head coach Chris Hatcher, the Samford offense has scored at least 30 points 49 times. The unit has put up at least 40 points 27 times, and at least 50 points a total of 14 times.

Quick Strikes
In eight seasons under head coach Chris Hatcher, Samford has made a habit of quick scoring drives. In Hatcher's time at Samford, Samford has had 182 scoring drives of two minutes or less and 82 that have lasted one minute or less.

Samford In Season Openers
Samford has an all-time record of 50-54-4 in season-opening games. In season openers at home, Samford has a mark of 37-13-2. The Bulldogs are 7-2 in season openers under head coach Chris Hatcher. The team has won all seven of the season openers at home under Hatcher.

Samford Against North Carolina Teams
Samford has an all-time record of 38-22-1 against teams from the state of North Carolina, including a mark of 17-3 against Saturday's opponent, Western Carolina. The Catamounts are the team from North Carolina on Samford's regular season schedule.

Against Gulf Southern Conference Teams
Since joining the Southern Conference in 2008, Samford has posted a record of 67-50 in conference games. All-time against each current member of the SoCon, Samford has a mark of 93-80-4, including a 14-13-1 record against Mercer. Samford's all-time record against each current SoCon team is: Chattanooga (11-33-3), The Citadel (9-7), ETSU (7-3), Furman (12-13), Mercer (15-13-1), VMI (7-3), Western Carolina (17-3) and Wofford (15-5).

On This Date
Samford has an all-time record of 1-3 in games played on Sept. 9 with the first game being played in 1972. The last time that the Bulldogs played on Sept. 9 was a 38-6 loss at Georgia Tech in 2006. The lone victory on Sept. 9 came in 1995, when Samford topped Austin Peay 42-32.

Moving The Chains
In 2022, Samford set a program record with 312 first downs on offense. The Bulldogs beat the previous record of 298 that was set by the 2018 team. Samford averaged 24 first downs per contest last season and ranked sixth nationally in first downs.

Seven Bulldogs Headline All-SoCon Preseason Teams
Led by the SoCon Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Michael Hiers, seven different Bulldogs landed on the All-SoCon Preseason teams. Hiers, Jabari Brooks, Chandler Smith, Joseph Mera, Noah Martin and Kourtlan Marsh landed on the first team with Jay Stanton landing on the second team.

Hier Power
After a breakout campaign in 2022, Samford signal-caller spent the summer collecting almost every possible honor that an FCS quarterback could have gotten. In total, the Birmingham native was named to seven different watch lists and All-American teams including the Senior Bowl Watch List, the Walter Payton Award Watch List and the Manning Award Watch List while being named an All-American by Athlon Sports, Hero Sports, Phil Steele and Stats Perform.

Smith Joins Hiers As All-American
Graduate Student Chandler Smith joined his QB on the Stats Perform All-American as Smith was named to the second team. Smith Ranked in the top 100 nationally in receptions per game (7.7/4th), receiving touchdowns (11/10th), receiving yards (1,071/11th), receiving yards per game (82.4/24th), total touchdowns (11/51st) and All-Purpose yards (87.54/96th). Along with former Bulldog teammate Kendall Watson, Smith and Watson were one of two pairs of teammates in the country to have 1,000+ receiving yards and 10+ touchdowns during the 2022 season.

Staton Leaving His Mark
Despite the #HatchAttack offense being synonymous with throwing the ball all over the field, senior running back Jay Stanton has shot to leave Samford as the second-best rusher in program history. After rushing for 690 yards and seven touchdowns in 2022 and 27 yards in the season opener, Stanton needs 580 yards on the ground to surpass Jerome Russell's 3,122 yards for the second-most career rushing yards. Chris Evans holds the Bulldog record with 4,575.

Traversing Red Mountain
The 2023 Samford roster features four transfers from nearby UAB, this is the most transfers from a single school on the current roster. The former Blazers include Chris Noble, Brett Johnson, Jayme Motley-Simmons and Wilson Beaverstock.

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

#62 Jabari Brooks: OL; 6' 3"; Junior

#1 Kourtlan Marsh: CB; 5' 11"; Junior

#32 Noah Martin: LB; 6' 1"; Junior

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

#75 Jayme Motley-Simmons: OL; 6' 7"; Junior

#58 Chris Noble: OL; 6' 4"; Junior

#0 Chandler Smith: WR; 5' 10"; Senior

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

#84 Kendall Watson: WR; 5' 10"; Graduate Student

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

Players Mentioned

#62 Jabari Brooks
: 6' 3"; Junior
: OL

#1 Kourtlan Marsh
: 5' 11"; Junior
: CB

#32 Noah Martin
: 6' 1"; Junior
: LB

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

#75 Jayme Motley-Simmons
: 6' 7"; Junior
: OL

#58 Chris Noble
: 6' 4"; Junior
: OL

#0 Chandler Smith
: 5' 10"; Senior
: WR

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

#84 Kendall Watson
: 5' 10"; Graduate Student
: WR

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

Samford University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned