Samford Bulldogs

On Saturday, the Catamounts (6-3, 4-1 SoCon) travel to Birmingham for the second straight year to meet the Samford Bulldogs (5-3, 3-2 SoCon).

This contest sets up the SoCon's number 2 and 4 teams, with the Catamounts needing a victory to preserve the slim possibility of a three way tie for the league lead and a share of the SoCon crown. The Bulldogs are out of contention with two conference losses, but can play the roll of spoiler against the Catamounts.

Samford is coming off a 55-0 win over the USCAA's Concordia College and a 45-0 win over the Furman Paladins.  The Bulldogs seem to be on the upswing after losses to Chattanooga and Wofford.  At this point in the season, the Bulldogs are leading the conference both in scoring (36.8 ppg) and defense (18.6 ppg).  Samford's Michael Eubanks is second in the conference in passing, averaging 194 yard per game, and the Dog's Karel Hamilton leads the conference in both receptions and receiving years.

When: November 6, 2014 at 3:30 pm (EST)

Where: Seibert Stadium, Birmingham, AL

Radio:  Catamount Sports Network

TV:  American Sports Network
        -WMYA/My40 in Asheville-Greenville-Spartanburg
        -WMYV/MyTV in Greensboro-Winston-Salem-High Point
        -WLFL/CW in Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill

Series history: The Cats are 1-10 against the Bulldogs since winning the first outing back in 1969. Samford owns an nine game winning streak against Western and the Cats are 1-5 in games played in Seibert Stadium. The Bulldogs own a 10 game winning streak against the Catamounts.

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, all of which ended the season with identical 6-2 conference records.

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

Offensive starters - Returning/Lost: 5 - 6

Defensive starters - Returning/Lost: 6 - 5

Specialist Returning/Lost: 3 - 0

2014 Samford Statistics:
Rushing Offense: 180.3 yards per game
TDs rushing: 22 on the season
Passing Offense: 220 yards per game
TDs passing: 8 on the season
Total Offense: 400 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 12-5 lost
Penalties-Yards: 41 - for 440 yards
On-side kicks: 0 - 2
3rd Down Conversions: 42 of 109 (39%)
4th Down Conversions: 3 of 8  (38%)
Field Goals - Attempts: 19 of 24
Red-Zone Scores: 24 of 28  (86%)
Red-Zone Touchdowns: 20 of 28   (71%)


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