Game #3 - Samford Bulldogs

For the season's third game, the Cats return home for the SoCon Game of the Week and Family Weekend in Cullowhee, as they face the Samford Bulldogs.  This game also opens the Southern Conference season for both the Cats and Dogs.

Since Samford joined the Southern Conference in 2008, Western is 3-15 against the Bulldogs after last February's 27-55 beatdown by Samford in Homewood, AL.

Game #3 - Samford Bulldogs

When: Saturday, September 18, 2021 

Time:  3:30 pm
Where: EJ Whitmire Stadium, Cullowhee, NC
Radio: Catamount Sports Network

-announcers: Gary Ayers, PxP; Greg McLamb, color;

TV/video:  Nexstar / ESPN+

 - WCBD (Charleston), WGHP (Greensboro/High Point), WJHL (Johnson City), WMYT (Charlotte), WWCW (Lynchburg/Roanoke), WYCW (Greenville/Spartanburg/Asheville), WBTW (Myrtle Beach)

Live Stats:  WCU Live Stats

Bulldog Message Board:  The Dog Pound

Game Notes:      Western Carolina   -    Samford

The Series: The Cats are 3-15 overall against the Bulldogs since winning the first outing back in 1969. Samford owned an eleven-game winning streak against Western until 2015 when the Cats broke that streak in Cullowhee with a 56-36 win over the Dogs. The Cats are 1-9 in games played in Birmingham. Coach Speir is 2-6 as a head coach vs. Samford.

Chris Hatcher's record vs. Western Carolina: 4-2

Kerwin Bell's record vs. Samford:  0-0

Last game played vs. Samford: February 27, 2021 - Strong Second Half Leads Samford Past WCU, 55-27 - Birmingham, Ala. – Samford quarterback Liam Welch rushed for three touchdowns while throwing for two scores as the Bulldogs broke open a one-point game at halftime, outscoring Western Carolina 34-7 in the second half to hand the Catamounts a 55-27 setback in Southern Conference football action at Seibert Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Chris Hatcher's Record:  157-86 overall (22d season)

Last Season's Record - 2020-21 (Samford): 4-3 overall, 3-1 home, 1-2 away,  4-3 SoCon

Offensive Formation: Multiple
Defensive Formation: 4-3

Nine Samford players were named to Phil Steele's preseason All-SoCon teams. Samford had four players named to the first team, with Armond Lloyd (DL), John Staton (LB), Mitchell Fineran (PK), and Montrell Washington (PR) earning first-team nods. Washington was also named second-team as both a wide receiver and all-purpose performer. The other second-team members were Mike Williams (OL) and Bradley Porcellato (P). Samford's third team members were Chris Oladokun (QB), Jai'Rus Creamer (WR), and Nathan East (LB). Montrell Washington was named first-team preseason All-American as a punt returner by Phil Steele.

Samford comes to Cullowhee with a 1-1 record. In the first game of the season against Tennessee Tech, the Bulldogs looked invincible, winning the game 52-14 at home.  However, in the second game of the season, this time on the road, a much different team played.  The Bulldogs lost to UT Martin 33-27, however, the game was not as close as the score indicated. The Dog rushed out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter, then the Skyhawks came back with 24 points in the second quarter and holding the Bulldogs to one field goal in the entire quarter.  UTM racked up 460 total yards against Samford, with 229 yards passing, and 240 on the ground, while holding Samford to only 37 yeads rushing in the game.  

Samford was held to 11 first downs and went just 4 for 12 on 3rd down conversions, and 0-2 in 4th down attempts. While the Samford passing game was more productive than the ground game, the Bulldogs did give up two interceptions.  

2021 Samford Statistics (2 games)
Rushing Offense: 142 yards
Yards per game: 71
Yards per rush: 3 yards
Rushing 1st downs:  9
TDs rushing: 3
Passing Offense: 587 yards or 293 yards per game
Passing 1st downs: 22
Passing Att-Comp-Int:  84-57-2

TDs Passing: 5
Total Offense: 729 yards or 364 yards per game
Fumbles-Lost: 2 - 0
3d Down Conversions: 10 of 28 (35.7%)
4th Down Conversions: 4 of 7 (57%)
Field goal attempts:  3 of 4
PAT-Attempts:  10 of 10
Red Zone Scores: 9 of 10
Red Zone Touchdowns: 5 of 10
On-Side Kicks:  0 - 0
Penalties-Yards:  10 - 81 - Avg. per gm 40.5
Punts-Yards: 6 - 327 - Avg. per gm 40.8
Sacks:  3