Last-Second Field Goal Lifts Samford Football To Dramatic 10-9 Win Over Wofford

Saturday, October 31

Birmingham, Ala.

6 PM

Samford University

3-6 , 3-3

Wofford

5-4 , 3-3

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Wofford	0	3	6	0	9
Samford	0	0	0	10	10

Game Notes Final Game Book (PDF)

10.31.26 | Football

Box Score Final Game Book (PDF)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford junior place-kicker Ty Ippolito kicked a 44-yard field goal as time expired to give the Bulldog football team a thrilling 10-9 win over Wofford Saturday evening at Pete Hanna Stadium.

Samford trailed, 9-0 entering the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs broke through for the first time when Ken Cherry scored on a 41-yard run to cut the Wofford lead to 9-7 with 6:56 left in the game. Wofford had a chance to extend the lead but Conner Deviney's 40-yard field goal attempt went wide right, setting up the game-winning drive.

The Bulldog offense then drove to the Wofford 27-yard line. Ippolito, who had missed an earlier field goal attempt from 53-yards out, knocked through the 44-yard attempt to give Samford the dramatic 10-9 win.

"I'm just excited for our guys," Samford head coach John Grass said. "I'm just truly happy for them, it just shows you, never give up, just keep fighting. This bunch has no quit in them, they just continue fighting until the bitter end."

Ippolito talked about how he approached the game-winning kick.

"I was definitely just calming myself, trusting my process," Ippolito said. "It's just another kick, so I just sort of try to black out and not think too hard about what's going on because that can only cause more pressure."

With the win, Samford improved its record to 3-6 overall and 3-3 in Southern Conference play. Wofford fell to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in league play.

For Samford in the win, Gabarri Johnson completed 19-of-32 passes for 219 yards. Cayden Aukerman led all receivers with five catches for 48 yards. Cherry rushed six times for 46 yards and a touchdown.

Max Steve led the Samford defense with a career-high 20 tackles and one interception. Spencer Conn had 13 tackles, while LaShon Young had an interception. The game marked the second-straight contest that Samford did not allow a touchdown.

For Wofford, Gerald Modest Jr. rushed 38 times for 197 yards. Ky'ree Murphy led the Wofford defense with seven tackles, including six solo stops.

The teams played through most of the first half with neither team able to score. Wofford's Deviney broke the scoreless tie with a 43-yard field goal with 5:43 to go in the second quarter, sending the Terriers to halftime with a 3-0 lead.

Deviney added a 31-yard field goal with 10:44 to go in the third period to make the score 6-0. He then booted a 34-yard field goal to push the lead to 9-0 at the 4:03 mark in the third quarter.

Next up, Samford will play at ETSU on Saturday, Nov. 7. The game is set for a 12 p.m. (CT) start from Johnson City, Tenn.

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