Oct. 4, 2009

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Birmingham, Ala. - Samford running back Chris Evans rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown and kicker Cameron Yaw booted three field goals to lead the Bulldogs over Western Carolina 16-3, Saturday afternoon in Southern Conference action at Seibert Stadium. The Catamounts limited Samford to just the one rushing TD, but could only manage a career-long 44-yard Blake Bostic field goal in the loss.

Bostic's career-best field goal with five minutes remaining in the second quarter represented Western Carolina's first, first half points this season.

Samford's defense, which ranked second in the conference and fourth nationally entering the contest, limited WCU to 163 total yards including just 48 on the ground and 115 through the air. Despite his best completion percentage of the season - 12-of-19 or 63-percent - redshirt sophomore quarterback Zack Jaynes tossed a pair of interceptions including one in the end zone, tallying 115 yards through the air.

Redshirt junior wide receiver Marquel Pittman led seven Catamount receivers that caught passes with five receptions for 61 yards.

But it was turnovers that cost the Catamounts. Samford tallied its first score after a see-saw of events, culminating with WCU's first turnover of the day. After being forced to punt after a three-and-out, which included losing 18 yards on a fumble on an end around, the Bulldogs were whistled for a roughing the kicker penalty in the Catamount end zone which gave Western a new set of downs.

However, Jaynes' first pass on the ensuing series was intercepted by Bryce Smith at the WCU 25-yard line. Four Evans' runs later, including consecutive rumbles of four yards and a 15-yard gallop, the Bulldogs scratched the scoreboard first on a two-yard plunge.

Western Carolina (0-5, 0-3 SoCon) answered, though, with a 12-play drive that covered 38 yards before Bostic's 44-yard field goal to close the margin to four, 7-3.

Samford added a second Yaw field goal on a 13-play, 51-yard drive to stretch its lead to 10-3 and were nearly able to go ahead by two scores as WCU fumbled the ensuing kickoff giving the Bulldogs a short field at the Catamount 16-yard line. However, Western's defense stiffened, limiting Samford to a 26-yard field goal attempt which clanged off the right upright keeping it a one-possession game at intermission.

Out of the halftime locker room, Western Carolina methodically drove down the field, spurred by a 14-yard run by freshman tailback Michael Johnson, who was listed as questionable with a knee injury entering the game. Yet, with the Catamounts knocking on the door from the Samford 15-yard line, Jaynes had a pass picked by Corey White in the end zone while looking for Pittman.

The Bulldogs converted the turnover into three points as again the WCU defense held Samford's offense out of the end zone but led 13-3 with less than three minutes to play in the third quarter.

WCU fumbled twice on the day, losing one, while also throwing two interceptions without creating a takeaway for a minus-3 in turnover margin.

Western Carolina only managed a pair of fourth quarter drives encompassing eight plays and only covering a combined 27 yards, both ending with punts by Blake Cain, who averaged 40 yards per kick on five attempts on the day.

WCU senior Chris Collins led two Catamounts with double-digit tackles, finishing with a game-high 12 tackles including two for loss with a sack. Classmate Adrian McLeod added 10 tackles, all solo stops in the loss.

Evans finished with 179 yards of total offense, adding 39 yards receiving for the Bulldogs. Yaw, a freshman, connected on field goals of 35, 27 and a career-long 47 for the Bulldogs. Quarterback Dustin Taliaferro finished 14-of-24 for 103 yards in the winning effort.

The Catamounts will enjoy their scheduled bye-week next week before returning to action in the first of back-to-back home games on Homecoming, hosting The Citadel on October 17 at 4:00 pm. The game will be broadcast on WMYA-TV 40 out of Asheville.