Eagles overmatched in 62-0 loss to Samford
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September 6, 2008
by Joshua Pendergrass
Birmingham, Ala. - Before the start of the game, Coach Jim Nichols said he wanted his team to come out strong. The fulfillment of that wish started early as the Eagles won the toss and elected to receive.
That good luck didn’t continue however as, on the first play of the 2008 season, freshman running back Ryan Williams fumbled and Samford recovered.
The Bulldogs would go on to outlast the Eagles taking the win 62-0.
"Obviously, we have to work at taking care of the ball," commented Faulkner head football coach Jim Nichols after the game; the Eagles gave the ball away six times with four lost fumbles and two interceptions. "Anytime you take on a team a couple of levels ahead of you, the game is going to be difficult."
The momentum didn’t stay with Samford for long as sophomore Edmund Curry intercepted Samford’s Dustin Taliaferro in the end zone on the first play of the series and possession again changed hands on a turnover.
The Eagles weren’t able to capitalize on the turnover though, as they were forced to punt going three and out. After a Faulkner punt, Samford’s offense took the ball at their own 48 and quickly stuck first blood as they were able to score on a 52 yard touchdown run by Brock Johnson with 11:53 left in the first.
On their second drive of the contest Faulkner was able to gain a first down and 26 yards mainly on the legs of sophomore quarterback Philip Moore. The Eagles were forced however to punt after two consecutive sacks by the bulldogs.
Samford kept the momentum in their favor as they drove 55 yards in ten plays and recorded a touchdown on a six yard run by Chris Evans. With the successful extra-point, Samford extended their lead to 14 with 4:29 remaining in the first.
Nichols’s Eagles fought back, as on the ensuing kickoff freshman Ryan Williams broke a 33 yard return. The offense stalled again however, as the Eagles were forced to punt. Nichols mixed things up though as Philip Moore’s quick-kick pushed the Bulldogs to their own 22.
Samford seemed to stall on their next offensive possession as a penalty and a botched run gave the Bulldogs third and very long. Quarterback Dustin Taliaferro saw an opening however as the Bulldogs were successful on a screen to running back Alex Barnett which resulted in a 44 yard touchdown pass.
Continuing their good work on kick returns, Faulkner’s Da’Dreiko Hughes ran back a Samford kick for 62 yards. Another turnover though negated the great field position as Phillip Moore’s pass was picked off on the first play of the drive, by Samford’s Rumiko Forrester.
On Samford’s fifth possession they continued to move the ball as Chris Evans added his second touchdown on the ground making the score 28-0 with 12:48 remaining in the second quarter.
Faulkner went three and out and attempted to punt but Jared Corder’s punt was blocked at the 20 by Samford’s Jeremy Richardson. Omar Johnson recovered the live ball at the four and returned it for a touchdown. With the extra-point, Samford extended their lead to 35-0 with 11:25 remaining in the first half.
After another fourth and long, Faulkner was forced to again punt to the Bulldogs who took possession after the kick at their own 49 yard line. On the next drive Stamford went for six plays and 51 yards all on the ground. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 41 on a five yard run by Marcus Rice, John Paul Fraites missed the extra point. Rice was responsible for all of Samford’s yards on the drive.
Faulkner was able to get a first down on a 12 yard run by Ryan Williams on their next drive but wasn’t able to capitalize as the next three plays netted only three yards.
Samford took possession at their own 37 as Faulkner turned the ball over on downs with 3:44 remaining in the half. A Matt Malouf pass gave Faulkner a ray of hope as it was picked of at the 23 by Faulkner sophomore Frank Chinoski.
Two plays later Faulkner’s David Jones, in at quarterback, fumbled the ball at the Faulkner 20, Samford’s Jeremy Towns recovered with less than a minute to play in the second quarter.
Samford led at the half 41-0.
At halftime Faulkner had just 47 total yards while Samford had 346. Faulkner had three turnovers including one interception and two fumbles. Samford had just two turnovers, both of which were interceptions.
Faulkner was led in passing at the half by Philip Moore who was 3-9 with one interception and 35 yards. Ryan Williams led on the ground with 19 yards on 6 attempts. Colton Terry collected two catches for 29 yards. Faulkner’s bright spot at the half was Da’Dreiko Hughes’s five kick-returns for 98 yards. Sean Thom led the Eagles with 9 tackles while Frank Chinoski added five tackles including one for a loss.
Samford was led in passing by Dustin Taliaferro who was 5-7 with one interception and 95 yards. Marcus Rice led on the ground with 75 yards on five attempts; he also added a touchdown. Alex Barnett collected one reception for 64 yards. Alex Davis led Samford with three tackles including 2.5 sacks.
Faulkner’s opening kick in the second half went out of bounds giving Samford the ball at their own forty. The Bulldogs used the good field position to drive 60 yards on 9 plays to extend their lead to 48-0 after the extra point with 9:29 left in the third.
Faulkner’s David Jones was intercepted on the following drive by Samford’s Ty Levie; the Bulldogs took over at the Faulkner 38. Faulkner’s defense was able to stop the Bulldogs for the first time since Samford’s opening drive forcing a punt which gave the Eagles the ball at their own 14. The Eagles went three plays and were also forced to punt.
As they had most of the night, the Bulldogs were able to move down the field fairly easily going 64 yards in 10 plays. With a 16 yard Richie Fordham touchdown run and the extra point, Faulkner trailed the Bulldogs 55-0 with 13 minutes remaining in the contest.
Faulkner lost ten yards before, on third down, Steven Johnson fumbled the ball on the Faulkner 22 where Samford recovered. Samford was unable to use the turnover in their favor turning the ball over on fourth down at the Faulkner 19. Three plays later Scotty Pennington fumbled the ball, which was recovered at the Faulkner five by Samford’s Jeremy Towns.
The Bulldogs again put together a successful drive moving the ball five yards in four plays for a touchdown. With the extra point, Samford pushed their lead to 62-0 with 4:45 remaining in regulation.
After going three and out Faulkner was forced to punt away their final possession of the game giving Samford the ball at the Faulkner 49 with 2:13 remaining to play. In a show of sportsmanship, Samford ran the ball for two short gains and then allowed the clock to expire with a final score of 62-0.
At the end of the contest, Faulkner was led in passing by Philip Moore who was 3-9 for 35 with one interception. Ryan Williams led on the ground with 23 yards on 6 attempts. Colton Terry collected two catches for 29 yards. Da’Dreiko Hughes’s finished with five kick-returns for 83 yards while Ryan Williams had three kick-returns for 63 yards. Sean Thom led the Eagles with 11 tackles while Jason Evans added 10 tackles including one for a loss.
For Samford, Dustin Taliaferro finished 5-7 for 95 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Marcus Rice ran for 75 yards on five attempts with a touchdown. Adrian Bradley led the Bulldogs in receptions with 2 while Alex Barnett led in receiving yards with 64. Alex Davis, Rodney Shepherd, and Ty Levie each finished with a team high three tackles.
"I know it’s hard to see," said Nichols, "but this game is good for us. This is what we needed to work on and we can use it to get better. We are going to start preparing for next week’s game against Huntingdon. Our guys have not forgotten our loss to them last year and I know they are going to work hard to be ready."
Faulkner’s home opener is Saturday Sept. 13, at Cramton Bowl when the Eagles host cross-town rival Huntingdon at 7 p.m.