Game #12 - Samford

In Western Carolina's final regular season and conference game, the Cats will travel to Homewood, AL to face the Samford Bulldogs. At stake is a possible share of the SoCon crown (with a Mercer loss) and a possible trip to the NCAA playoffs. 

Game #12 - Samford Bulldogs

The Bulldogs finished the 2023 season with an 6-5 overall record, finishing the season with a 4-4 conference record, and tied with VMI for fifth place in the standings. Currently the Bulldogs are 4-6 overall and 3-3 in SoCon play, with wins over Mercer, Chattanooga, and VMI.

   

When: Saturday, November 23, 2024

Time: 3:00 pm (ET)  (2:00 Central)
Where: Pete Hanna Stadium, Homewood, AL
Radio: Catamount Sports Network

   -Play-by-Play: Gary Ayers • Color Daniel Hooker • Producer: Jeff Bryson

TV / video:    ESPN+
Live Stats: SU Live Stats

Game Notes:  Western Carolina   -   Samford    -   SoCon Notes

Colors: Red and Blue

Bulldog Message Board: The Dog Pound 

The Series: The Cats are 4-17 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 brok another 5 game losing streak last season in Cullowhee, with a 30-7 win over the Bulldogs. The Cats are 1-10 against Samford in games played in Homewood.  

Last game played vs. Samford: Sep. 24, 2023 - Catamounts Upset No. 7/8 Samford to Open SoCon Play - Sophomore QB Cole Gonzales threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns while classmate Desmond Reid rushed for 170 yards and a score as a part of a balanced offensive attack as Western Carolina outlasted and upset defending Southern Conference champion No. 7/8 Samford 30-7 on Saturday at E.J. Whitmire Stadium / Bob Waters Field in the league opener for both squads. 

Chris Hatcher's record vs. Western Carolina: 9-3

Kerwin Bell's record vs. Samford: 1-2

Head Coach: Chris Hatcher. Chris Hatcher was named Samford’s 36th head football coach on Dec. 11, 2014. Entering his tenth season at Samford in 2024, Hatcher boasts a career record of 178-100 in 24 years as a college head coach, having previously coached at Murray State, Georgia Southern, and Valdosta State. 

Hatcher's Record at Samford (Years): 51-38 (9th season)
Hatcher's Record vs. WCU:  9 - 3

Last Season's Record - 2023 (Samford): 6-5 overall, 4-2 home, 2-3 away, 4-4 SoCon

This Season's Record - 2024 (Samford):  4-6 overall, 3-2 home, 1-4 away, 3-3 SoCon

Offensive Formation: Multiple
Defensive Formation: 4-3

In SoCon preseason polls, the Bulldogs were picked fifth in the coaches poll.  Samford placed two players on the preseason All-SoCon squads, LB Noah Martin a senior and OL -Chris Noble, a graduate player.

Samford has easily become the portal transfer capital of the SoCon, with 13 FBS transfers and 7 FCS transfers this season.  Coming from the FBS are: Jonathan Bennett (RB) Alabama; Samuel Willoughby (WR) Alabama; Vance Nicklaus (TE) Florida State; Jaylon Barden (WR) Georgia Southern; Corey Warren (DL) Georgia State Samford Rayf Vinson (WR) Ole Miss Samford Micah Kelly (RB) Toledo Samford Xavier Lainer (DB) Tulsa; Teddy Davenport (WR) UAB; Damon Miller (DB) UAB; Stephen Martin (WR) UCF; Mack Howard (QB) Utah; Gumbo Gaskins (DB) Vanderbilt. Picked up from the FCS is: Malik Gaither (LB) Alcorn; Conroy Cunningham II (DL) Bethune-Cookman; Seth Parker (DB) Columbia;  Jaylin Rainey (DL) Dartmouth; Edwin Dearman Jr. (DB) Northern Iowa; Nazir Sy (DL) Northwestern State; and Ryan Skinner (RB) The Citadel.   

The Bulldogs have become very unpredictable this season, from opening the 2024 season with a loss to FCS newcomer West Georgia, to knocking off top 10 Mercer and top 25 ranked Chattanooga. 

2024 Samford Statistics (10 games)

Rushing Offense: 894 yards
Yards per game: 89
Yards per rush: 2.5 yards
Rushing 1st downs: 61
TDs rushing: 9
Passing Offense: 2486 yards or 249 yards per game
Passing 1st downs: 113
Passing Att-Comp-Int: 364-257-9
TDs Passing: 17
Total Offense: 3380 yards or 338 yards per game
Fumbles - Lost: 18 - 4
3d Down Conversions: 47 of  149 (32%)
4th Down Conversions: 10 of 16 (63%)
Field goal attempts: 6 - 13
PAT-Attempts: 23 of 27
Red Zone Scores:  26 of 35 
Red Zone Touchdowns: 20 of 35 
On-Side Kicks: 0 - 1
Penalties-Yards: 39 - 361