GAME NOTES--SAMFORD VS. WEST GEORGIA (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Samford University football team will open the 2025 season by playing host to the West Georgia Wolves Thursday evening at 6:30 p.m. at Pete Hanna Stadium.
 
THE SERIES
Samford and West Georgia are meeting for the seventh time all-time, with the series record tied at 3-3. Last season, the teams met in Carrollton, Ga., with West Georgia coming away with a 38-29 win. The teams have previously played in 1984, 1988, 1989, 1992 and 2008, with the home team winning each meeting. The average score of the previous six meetings has been 24-22, in Samford's favor.
 
HATCHER'S OFFENSES PRODUCE
Through the last 10 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 32.96 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 10 seasons under head coach Chris Hatcher, the Samford offense has scored at least 30 points 53 times. The unit has put up at least 40 points 30 times, and at least 50 points a total of 15 times.
 
QUICK STRIKES
In the 10 seasons under head coach Chris Hatcher, Samford has made a habit of quick scoring drives. In Hatcher's time at Samford, the Bulldogs have had 210 scoring drives that lasted two minutes or less and 99 that have lasted one minute or less.
 
SAMFORD AT PETE HANNA STADIUM
Samford has an all-time record of 185-89-4 in games played at Pete Hanna Stadium. This season, Samford has five home games on its schedule, with Thursday night's game marking the first of those contests.
                Last season, Samford posted a record of 3-3 in home games. In 10 seasons under head coach Chris Hatcher, Samford has a record of 38-16 when playing at home.
 
SAMFORD AGAINST GEORGIA TEAMS
Samford has an all-time record of 36-40-2 against teams from the
state of Georgia, including a 3-3 record against West Georgia. Samford
has played the following Georgia teams: Abraham Baldwin (1-0),
Bowdon College (1-0), Clark-Atlanta (1-0), Georgia (0-3), Georgia
Southern (4-5), Georgia State (1-0), Georgia Southwestern (1-2),
Georgia Tech (0-8), Gordon College (1-1), Kennesaw State (2-2),
Mercer (16-14-1), Morris Brown (1-0), Oglethorpe (2-2-1), Shorter
(2-0) and West Georgia (3-3).
 
AGAINST UNITED ATHLETIC CONFERENCE TEAMS
Samford has an all-time record of 19-18-2 against the current members of the United Athletic Conference, including a 3-3 mark against West Georgia. This marks the first of two games against UAC teams on Samford's schedule this season, as the Bulldogs play at Austin Peay on Nov. 15. Samford has played the following UAC teams: Austin Peay (8-1), Central Arkansas (2-0), Eastern Kentucky (1-8), North Alabama (5-6-2) and West Georgia (3-3).
 
ON THIS DATE
Samford has an all-time record of 3-0 in games played on Aug. 28. The last time the Bulldogs played on Aug. 28 came in 2008 when the Bulldogs defeated West Georgia, 21-19. Samford also played on the date in 2004 (West Alabama, W, 34-20) and 2003 (Chattanooga, W, 31-23).
 
SAMFORD IN SEASON OPENERS
Samford has an all-time record of 50-55-4 in season-opening games. Last season, the Bulldogs opened the season at West Georgia, falling by the score of 38-29. In 10 seasons under head coach Chris Hatcher, the Bulldogs are 7-3 in season openers. In season openers at home, Samford has a mark of 37-13-2.
 
FOUR BULLDOGS Headline ALL-SOCON PRESEASON TEAMS
Samford had four players named to the preseason All-SoCon teams, released in July. Defensive lineman Conroy Cunningham and long-snapper Alex Applefield were both named first team preseason All-SoCon, while quarterback Quincy Crittendon and linebacker Jaden Mosley both earned second team honors.
 
PERKINS EARNS NATIONAL ATTENTION
Nahil Perkins, a graduate transfer defensive back from Fordham, has gained national attention in the preseason. Perkins was named third team preseason All-American by Stats Perform, and he was also named to the watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in all of FCS football. Last season at Fordham, Perkins intercepted five passes, including a pair of games with two interceptions each. His five interceptions were tied for the most in the Patriot League. He tallied 56 total tackles, including 5.0 tackles for loss, and was named second team All-American by Blue Blood FCS Central.
 
CRITTENDON NAMED TO WALTER PAYTON AWARD WATCH LIST
Samford senior quarterback Quincy Crittendon was named to the preseason watch list for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the top offensive player in all of FCS football. Last season, Crittendon completed 277-of-394 passes for a Southern Conference best 2,689 yards and 18 touchdowns. He finished second in the SoCon in completion percentage at 70.3 and he threw for over 300 yards four times.
 
BRINGING THE POWER
The 2025 Samford football roster features several Power Four transfers including Deuce Caldwell II (North Carolina), Web Davidson (Virginia Tech), Gumbo Gaskins (Vanderbilt), Jaden Gibson (Virginia), Charlie Gilliam (Wake Forest), Donovan Grayson (West Virginia), Grant Hidalgo (Auburn), Noah Jones (Georgia), Vance Nicklaus (Florida State), Rayf Vinson (Ole Miss) and Hank Weber (Wisconsin),
 
New Faces In NEw places
Not only have there been changes on the roster, but the Bulldog coaching staff has some new faces as well: Scot Sloan (Defensive Coordinator), Cal King (Linebackers), Tyler Zielenske (Special Teams Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator), Thomas Morton (Quarterbacks) and Caysey Colant (Chief of Staff).
 
HATCHER SAMFORD'S WINNINGEST COACH
Samford head coach Chris Hatcher is entering his 11th season at the helm of the Bulldogs' football program. He is the winningest coach in program history with 61 wins at the school and he has earned 182 career wins having previously served as head coach at Valdosta State, Georgia Southern and Murray State. Hatcher has led Samford to three NCAA Division I-FCS Playoff appearances, earning bids in 2016, 2017 and 2022.
 
MOSLEY NAMED WINNER OF CHARLES WILLIAMS MEMORIAL JERSEY
Senior linebacker Jaden Mosley is this season's winner of the Charles Williams Memorial Jersey. The jersey honors former Samford player Charles Williams, who died in a car accident on May 23, 2003.
 
 
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