Looking at Game 10, Samford

Who:  Samford Bulldogs

When:  November 6, 2014 at 2:00 pm (CST)

Where:  Seibert Stadium, Birmingham, AL

Series history:   The Cats are 1-9 against the Bulldogs since winning the first outing back in 1969. Samford owns an eight game winning streak against Western and the Cats are 1-4 in games played in Seibert Stadium.

Their coach:  Pat Sullivan  - Heisman Trophy winner Pat Sullivan enters his seventh season as head coach of the Samford Bulldogs. Coming off their most successful season since joining the SoCon, Sullivan led his Bulldogs to a share of the 2013 SoCon Football Championship.

Last year’s record:   8-5 overall,  6-2 Southern.   The Bulldogs shared the SoCon Championship with Chattanooga and Furman, both of which ended the season with identical 6-2 conference records.

How they got there:   Samford opened the 2013 season on the road at Georgia State where they picked up their first FBS win over hapless Georgia State,  31-21.  The next week was not so kind to the Bulldogs as they dropped a game to Arkansas , 21-31 in Little Rock, AR.  Samford remained on the road the following week, traveling to Tallahassee, FL, where they picked up win #2 with a seven point win over Florida A&M.  Week number four brought the Bulldogs back to Birmingham to meet Southeastern Louisiana, however the Dogs dropped the contest by 3 points in a loss to the Lions.  The following week, the Cats traveled to Birmingham and suffered the second largest defeat of the season, a 62-23 loss.  Georgia Southern was next to travel to Birmingham, and suffered the same outcome as the Cats in a 44-24 loss at the hands of the Bulldogs. Samford traveled to Boone the following week, and  beat the Apps 34-10, then traveled the following week to Spartanburg and knocked off the Terriers 34-27. Remaining on the road the next two games the Bulldogs drop to conference games, first at the Citadel (26-28), then at Furman (17-35). The Bulldogs returned home for their last two conference games, beating both Chattanooga and Elon.  The Bulldogs closed out the season at Jacksonville State, getting blown out, 14-55.

Last season's game vs. Chattanooga:  September 28, 2013 - The Catamounts overcame an early 14-0 deficit with 10 straight points including quarterback Troy Mitchell's first rushing score of the season and a 27-yard field goal by Richard Sigmon. But the Bulldogs pulled away from there as on the ensuing kickoff after Sigmon's boot, dangerous all-purpose back Fabian Truss returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and Summerlin completed a 52-yard touchdown pass to Chris Cephus late in the second quarter. The Bulldogs led at halftime, 28-10. Samford added to its advantage in the second half as Summerlin threw two more touchdown passes, including a 68-yard strike to Gavin Sinclair.

Offensive Formation:  Multiple

Defensive Formation:  4-3

Starters Returning/Loss:  11 - 11

Offensive starters - Returning/Lost:    5 - 6

Defensive starters - Returning/Lost:   6 - 5

Specialist Returning/Lost:   3 - 0

2013 Statistics:
Scoring:  30.1 points per game
Rushing Offense:  122.8 yards per game
TDs rushing:  16 on the season
Passing Offense:  292.8 yards per game
TDs passing:  29 on the season
Total Offense:  415.6 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost:  19 - 11 lost
Penalties-Yards:  72 -  for  636 yards (48.9 ypg average)
On-side kicks:  0 - 2
3rd Down Conversions:  75 of 186  (40.3%)
4th Down Conversions:  6 of 10 (60%)
Field Goals - Attempts:  19 of 24
Red-Zone Scores:  46 of 56  (82%)
Red-Zone Touchdowns:  29 of 56   (51.7%)

Losses/Weaknesses: -  The Bulldogs must replace 6 starters, most notably the SoCon player of the year in quarterback Andy Summerlin as well as All American running back Fabian Truss.  At wide receiver Samford will be without the services of two seniors.

Key Losses - All American Fabian Truss (RB), the 2013 SoCon Offensive Player of the Year - QB Andy Summerlin, Wide Receivers Kelsey Pope & Chris Cephus

Strengths:  Arizona State transfer Michael Eubank and junior Carson Barnett will compete for the starting QB position.  Eubank spent two season as a backup QB for Arizona State, while Barnett served as back up to Summerlin.  At running back Jereiha Gates and Stanley Robinson are leading candidates to replace Truss

Returning Leaders: All American Safety Jaquiski Tartt, Kyle Champion - OL, CH Scruggs - OL, Jordan Boatright - OL, Gunnar Bromelow - OL, Karel Hamilton - WR, Michael Pierce - DL, Jerry Mathis - DL, Cavin Ruff - DL, Justin Cooper - LB, Clavin Ruff - LB, James Bradberry - CB


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