Can We Just Play Top 25 Teams? Samford Beats #19 Chattanooga
A complete effort as Samford gets back into the win column after the road drubbing of 19th-ranked Chattanooga, 36-13 on the Mocsβs Senior Day. The Bulldogs special teams unit accounts for 14 points of their own as they outscored the Mocs as a team. Samford never trailed and guess they just like to play top 25 teams.
This is the Samford team we expected to see albeit maybe at the most unexpected time after dropping three straight contests.
Samford QB Quincy Crittendon finished with just under 400 total yards along with a touchdown in the air and on the ground. WR Brendan Jenkins had 93 receiving yards and a TD. WR DJ Rias had 87 receiving yards including a 100-yard kickoff return for a score. RB Damonta Witherspoon also found the end zone.
The Samford defense was great, limiting the Mocs to under 200 total yards and just 2.8 yards a play. The Bulldogs elite linebacker duo in Noah Martin and Jaden Mosley finished with 16 combined total tackles and four tackles for loss. Martin also had his second interception on the season late in the first half.
The first half in this game was a wild one that had absolutely everything. On one end, the Samford special teams had a kickoff return TD of their own thanks to DJ Rias. Bulldogs punter and holder Will Thorley had an 18 yard rushing touchdown on a fake field goal. Samford missed two extra points and gave up a kickoff return for a touchdown.
Samfordβs season reached its lowest point last week, losing at home to Tennessee Tech. What a turnaround this week beating the number 25 team in the country while eliminating the preseason Southern Conference favorite from playoff contention on their home turf in this kind of fashion.
Over the last three weeks in the losing streak, Samford scored 31 points. Today Samford as a team scored 36 points and left no doubt on the scoreboard. This game leaves you wondering what could've been but for now there is no denying this is a big win for this football team.
Samford is back at home next weekend for the season finale against Western Carolina.
