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Samford at Western Carolina

Saturday, September 9, 2023

Western Carolina beat Samford 30–⁠7. It was their 16th meeting; after it, Samford led the series 13–⁠3.

AwaySamford6–⁠5 in 2023
7
HomeWestern Carolina7–⁠4 in 2023
30

Final at E. J. Whitmire Stadium, CullowheeTV: ESPN+Attendance 12,410

At kickoff
81°F, partly cloudy, wind 5 mph from the northwestWeather: NOAA NCEI Integrated Surface Database; Macon County Airport (K1A5), 23 km from the stadium
Official
Michael FarmerGame officials: stats.ncaa.org box scores, via SportsDataverse

Scoring by quarter

TeamQ1Q2Q3Q4Final
Samford70007
Western Carolina7133730

Standouts

  • PassingMichael Hiers21 of 34, 315 yards, 1 TDSamford
  • RushingDesmond Reid27 carries, 170 yards, 1 TDWestern Carolina
  • ReceivingTy King3 catches, 96 yardsSamford

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licenses; credits on each player’s page.

Player stats

Samford

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Michael Hiers21/3431510
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Jay Stanton72609
Mychael Hamilton225018
Damonta Witherspoon5503
Chandler Smith1101
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
Ty King396037
D.J. Rias387067
Chandler Smith646018
E. Jai Mason222015

Western Carolina

PassingC/AttYdsTDInt
Cole Gonzales29/3526220
RushingCarYdsTDLong
Desmond Reid27170119
Cole Gonzales1368020
Branson Adams751018
ReceivingRecYdsTDLong
A.J. Colombo579124
Ajay Belanger445014
Branson Adams237019
Censere Lee53619

From CollegeFootballData’s box score. Names lead to each player’s page. ★ a career high on file.

Team stats

SamfordWestern Carolina
361Total yards546
315Passing yards262
46Rushing yards284
9.3Yards per pass7.5
2.0Yards per rush5.8
15First downs34
6–⁠13Third downs7–⁠13
0–⁠3Fourth downs1–⁠2
1Turnovers0
4–⁠55Penalties4–⁠35
18:51Possession41:09

Efficiency

SamfordWestern Carolina
46%Success rate64%
−0.03EPA per play0.29
1.14Explosiveness0.85
−0.27Rushing EPA0.17
0.04Passing EPA0.48
27%Passing-down success50%

From CollegeFootballData.com: each offense’s efficiency, and the havoc each defense caused. The better side of each line is bold.

Before kickoff

Our ratings going in

Our ratings (scores only)

Samford 63% to win. Western Carolina won as Elo’s underdog.

Every drive

Western Carolina end zoneSamford end zoneQ1 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 10 playsQ1 Western CarolinaTurnover on downs, 14 playsQ1 SamfordTouchdown, 7 playsQ1 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 10 playsQ1 SamfordPunt, 3 playsQ2 Western CarolinaPunt, 4 playsQ2 SamfordFumble, 8 playsQ2 SamfordTurnover on downs, 5 playsQ2 Western CarolinaField goal, 15 playsQ2 SamfordTurnover on downs, 10 playsQ2 Western CarolinaField goal, 2 playsQ3 SamfordPunt, 11 playsQ3 Western CarolinaField goal, 13 playsQ3 SamfordPunt, 3 playsQ3 Western CarolinaPunt, 3 playsQ3 SamfordPunt, 5 playsQ4 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 10 playsQ4 SamfordTurnover on downs, 7 playsQ4 Western CarolinaResult not recorded, 9 plays
Solid bars scored; an outline in the other team’s color marks points the defense scored. Western Carolina drives left to right, Samford right to left.
  1. Q1 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 10 plays, 56 yards
  2. Q1 Western CarolinaTurnover on downs, 14 plays, 74 yards
  3. Q1 SamfordTouchdown, 7 plays, 94 yards
  4. Q1 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 10 plays, 73 yards
  5. Q1 SamfordPunt, 3 plays, 7 yards
  6. Q2 Western CarolinaPunt, 4 plays, 12 yards
  7. Q2 SamfordFumble, 8 plays, 20 yards
  8. Q2 SamfordTurnover on downs, 5 plays, 72 yards
  9. Q2 Western CarolinaField goal, 15 plays, 69 yards
  10. Q2 SamfordTurnover on downs, 10 plays, 39 yards
  11. Q2 Western CarolinaField goal, 2 plays, 20 yards
  12. Q3 SamfordPunt, 11 plays, 30 yards
  13. Q3 Western CarolinaField goal, 13 plays, 84 yards
  14. Q3 SamfordPunt, 3 plays, 7 yards
  15. Q3 Western CarolinaPunt, 3 plays, 9 yards
  16. Q3 SamfordPunt, 5 plays, 21 yards
  17. Q4 Western CarolinaTouchdown, 10 plays, 68 yards
  18. Q4 SamfordTurnover on downs, 7 plays, 53 yards
  19. Q4 Western CarolinaResult not recorded, 9 plays, 55 yards

Play by play

1st quarter8 drives, then Tied at 7
Western Carolina Turnover on downs, 14 plays
0:001st & 10 at own 25Desmond Reid run for 10 yds to the WCU 35 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at own 35
0:002nd & 10 at own 35Desmond Reid run for 9 yds to the WCU 44
0:003rd & 1 at own 44Desmond Reid run for 2 yds to the WCU 46 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at own 46Desmond Reid run for 11 yds to the SAM 43 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 43Cole Gonzales run for 10 yds to the SAM 33 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 33Cole Gonzales pass complete to Ajay Belanger for 10 yds to the SAM 23 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 23Cole Gonzales pass incomplete to Desmond Reid, broken up by Josiah Cotton
0:002nd & 10 at opp 23Desmond Reid run for 3 yds to the SAM 20
0:003rd & 7 at opp 20Cole Gonzales pass complete to AJ Colombo for 10 yds to the SAM 10 for a 1ST down
0:001st & goal at opp 10Western Carolina Penalty, false start (Derek Simmons) to the SAM 15
0:001st & goal at opp 15Cole Gonzales run for 11 yds to the SAM 4
0:002nd & goal at opp 4Desmond Reid run for 2 yds to the SAM 2
0:003rd & goal at opp 2Cole Gonzales run for 1 yd to the SAM 1
Samford Touchdown, 7 plays
0:001st & 10 at own 3pass incomplete to Chandler Smith
0:002nd & 10 at own 3Jay Stanton run for 1 yd to the SAM 4
0:003rd & 9 at own 4Michael Hiers pass complete to Ty King for 37 yds to the SAM 41 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at own 41Michael Hiers pass complete to Ty King for 36 yds to the WCU 23 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 23Jay Stanton run for 9 yds to the WCU 14
0:002nd & 1 at opp 14Jay Stanton run for 6 yds to the WCU 8 for a 1ST down
Western Carolina Touchdown, 10 plays
0:001st & 10 at own 24Cole Gonzales run for 5 yds to the WCU 29
0:002nd & 5 at own 29Branson Adams run for 5 yds to the WCU 34 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at own 34Cole Gonzales pass complete to Branson Adams for 19 yds to the SAM 47 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 47Branson Adams run for 6 yds to the SAM 41
0:002nd & 4 at opp 41Cole Gonzales run for 5 yds to the SAM 36 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 36pass incomplete to AJ Colombo
0:002nd & 10 at opp 36Cole Gonzales pass complete to Ajay Belanger for 7 yds to the SAM 29
0:003rd & 3 at opp 29Desmond Reid run for 4 yds to the SAM 25 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 25Cole Gonzales pass complete to Desmond Reid for 4 yds to the SAM 21
Samford Punt, 3 plays
0:001st & 10 at own 24Michael Hiers pass complete to Peyton Ringer for 7 yds to the SAM 31
0:002nd & 3 at own 31pass incomplete to D.J. Rias
0:003rd & 3 at own 31Michael Hiers pass incomplete to R.J. Starkey, broken up by Hayward McQueen Jr.
Western Carolina Turnover on downs, 14 plays
15:001st & 10 at own 35Henry Bishop kickoff for 65 yds for a touchback
9:034th & goal at opp 1Cole Gonzales run for a loss of 2 yards to the SAM 3
Samford Touchdown, 7 plays
7:031st & goal at opp 8Michael Hiers pass complete to Michael Vice for 8 yds for a TD (Wilson Beaverstock KICK)Samford 7, Western Carolina 0
Western Carolina Touchdown, 10 plays
6:531st & 10 at own 35Henry Bishop kickoff for 62 yds , AJ Colombo return for 21 yds to the WCU 24
3:212nd & 6 at opp 21Cole Gonzales pass complete to AJ Colombo for 21 yds for a TD (Richard McCollum KICK)Tied at 7
3:161st & 10 at own 35Paxton Robertson kickoff for 57 yds , D.J. Rias return for 16 yds to the SAM 24
2:404th & 3 at own 31Will Thorley punt for 28 yds
Western Carolina Touchdown, 10 plays
2:401st & 10 at own 41Desmond Reid run for 10 yds to the SAM 49 for a 1ST down
2:401st & 10 at opp 49Cole Gonzales pass incomplete to Ajay Belanger Western Carolina Penalty, Offensive holding (-10 Yards) to the WCU 41
2:401st & 20 at own 41Cole Gonzales run for 2 yds to the WCU 43
2:402nd & 18 at own 43Cole Gonzales pass complete to AJ Colombo for 24 yds to the SAM 33 for a 1ST down
2:401st & 10 at opp 33Cole Gonzales pass complete to AJ Colombo for 12 yds to the SAM 21 for a 1ST down
2:401st & 10 at opp 21Desmond Reid run for 9 yds to the SAM 12
2:402nd & 1 at opp 12Cole Gonzales run for 5 yds to the SAM 7 for a 1ST down
2nd quarter9 drives, then Western Carolina 20, Samford 7
Samford Fumble, 8 plays
0:001st & 10 at own 15Michael Hiers pass complete to R.J. Starkey for 8 yds to the SAM 23
0:002nd & 2 at own 23Michael Hiers pass complete to Chandler Smith for 8 yds to the SAM 31 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at own 31pass incomplete to Chandler Smith
0:002nd & 10 at own 31Jay Stanton run for 3 yds to the SAM 34
0:003rd & 7 at own 34Michael Hiers pass complete to R.J. Starkey for 11 yds to the SAM 45 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at own 45pass incomplete to Qadir Ismail
0:002nd & 10 at own 45Michael Hiers pass incomplete to Chandler Smith Samford Penalty, Offensive holding (Luke Byrne) to the SAM 35
Samford Turnover on downs, 5 plays
0:001st & 10 at own 3Michael Hiers pass complete to D.J. Rias for 67 yds to the WCU 30 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 30pass incomplete to Ty King
0:002nd & 10 at opp 30
0:003rd & 10 at opp 30Michael Hiers pass complete to Chandler Smith
Western Carolina Field goal, 15 plays
0:001st & 10 at own 25Cole Gonzales pass complete to Censere Lee for 9 yds to the WCU 34
0:002nd & 1 at own 34Desmond Reid run for 6 yds to the WCU 40 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at own 40Cole Gonzales run for 5 yds to the WCU 45
0:002nd & 5 at own 45Cole Gonzales pass incomplete to David White Jr. for a 1ST down Samford Penalty, Defensive pass interference (Kourtlan Marsh) to the SAM 40 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 40Desmond Reid run for 1 yd to the SAM 39
0:002nd & 9 at opp 39Cole Gonzales pass complete to David White Jr. for 3 yds to the SAM 36
0:003rd & 6 at opp 36Cole Gonzales pass complete to David White Jr. for 2 yds to the SAM 34
0:004th & 4 at opp 34Cole Gonzales pass complete to AJ Colombo for 12 yds to the SAM 22 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 22Desmond Reid run for 3 yds to the SAM 19
0:002nd & 7 at opp 19Cole Gonzales pass incomplete to AJ Colombo Samford Penalty, Offensive holding ( Yards) to the SAM 19
0:002nd & 7 at opp 19Desmond Reid run for 11 yds to the SAM 8 for a 1ST down
0:001st & goal at opp 8Desmond Reid run for 2 yds to the SAM 6
0:002nd & goal at opp 6
0:003rd & goal at opp 6Cole Gonzales pass incomplete to AJ Colombo, broken up by Noah Martin
Samford Turnover on downs, 10 plays
0:001st & 10 at own 17Jay Stanton run for 6 yds to the SAM 23
0:002nd & 4 at own 23pass incomplete to Michael Vice
0:003rd & 4 at own 23Michael Hiers pass complete to Chandler Smith for 18 yds to the SAM 41 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at own 41pass incomplete to E. Jai Mason
0:002nd & 10 at own 41Michael Hiers pass complete to D.J. Rias for 9 yds to the 50 yard line
Western Carolina Field goal, 2 plays
0:001st & 10 at opp 44Cole Gonzales run for 20 yds to the SAM 24 for a 1ST down
Western Carolina Touchdown, 10 plays
15:001st & goal at opp 7Cole Gonzales pass complete to Corey Washington for 1 yd to the SAM 6
15:002nd & goal at opp 6
13:423rd & goal at opp 6Censere Lee 6 Yd pass from Cole Gonzales (Richard McCollum Kick)Western Carolina 14, Samford 7
13:341st & 10 at own 35Paxton Robertson kickoff for 65 yds , D.J. Rias return for 15 yds to the SAM 15
11:382nd & 20 at own 35Michael Hiers run for 16 yds to the WCU 49 Michael Hiers fumbled, recovered by WCU Jayelin Davis
Western Carolina Punt, 4 plays
11:381st & 10 at own 49Desmond Reid run for 11 yds to the SAM 40 for a 1ST down
11:381st & 10 at opp 40Cole Gonzales pass incomplete to Calvin Jones, broken up by Devin Smith
11:382nd & 10 at opp 40Desmond Reid run for 5 yds to the SAM 35
11:383rd & 5 at opp 35Desmond Reid run for a loss of 4 yards to the SAM 39 Western Carolina Penalty, Offensive holding ( Yards) to the SAM 39
10:094th & 9 at opp 39Stephen Brantley punt for 36 yds
Samford Turnover on downs, 5 plays
8:214th & 5 at opp 25pass incomplete to Chandler Smith
1:384th & goal at opp 6Richard McCollum 23 Yd Field GoalWestern Carolina 17, Samford 7
Samford Turnover on downs, 10 plays
1:311st & 10 at own 35Paxton Robertson kickoff for 63 yds , D.J. Rias return for 15 yds to the SAM 17
0:453rd & 1 at the 50Jay Stanton run for 1 yd to the WCU 49 for a 1ST down
0:451st & 10 at opp 49Michael Hiers sacked for a loss of 6 yards to the SAM 45
0:292nd & 16 at own 45pass incomplete to Chandler Smith
0:293rd & 16 at own 45Michael Hiers pass complete to D.J. Rias for 11 yds to the WCU 44
0:114th & 5 at opp 44Michael Hiers sacked for a loss of 12 yards to the SAM 44
Q3 14:541st & 10 at own 35Paxton Robertson kickoff for 60 yds , D.J. Rias return for 11 yds to the SAM 16
Q3 10:194th & 15 at own 46Will Thorley punt for 39 yds , AJ Colombo returns for no gain to the WCU 15
Q3 4:294th & goal at opp 1Richard McCollum 18 Yd Field GoalWestern Carolina 20, Samford 7
Q3 4:291st & 10 at own 35Paxton Robertson kickoff for 51 yds , Damonta Witherspoon return for no gain to the SAM 14
Q3 3:134th & 3 at own 21Will Thorley punt for 40 yds
Q3 1:394th & 1 at own 48Stephen Brantley punt for 33 yds
4th quarter5 drives, then Western Carolina 30, Samford 7
Western Carolina Touchdown, 10 plays
0:001st & 10 at own 29Desmond Reid run for 7 yds to the WCU 36
0:002nd & 3 at own 36Desmond Reid run for 12 yds to the WCU 48 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at own 48Desmond Reid run for 6 yds to the SAM 46
0:002nd & 4 at opp 46Cole Gonzales pass complete to Ajay Belanger for 14 yds to the SAM 32 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 32Cole Gonzales pass complete to Censere Lee for 7 yds to the SAM 25
0:002nd & 3 at opp 25Desmond Reid run for 13 yds to the SAM 12 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 12Desmond Reid run for 9 yds to the SAM 3
0:002nd & 1 at opp 3
0:003rd & 1 at opp 3Branson Adams run for 1 yd to the SAM 2 for a 1ST down
Samford Turnover on downs, 7 plays
0:001st & 10 at own 22Michael Hiers pass complete to Ty King for 23 yds to the SAM 45 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at own 45Michael Hiers pass complete to Thomas D’Armond for 17 yds to the WCU 38 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 38Michael Hiers pass complete to Chandler Smith for 15 yds to the WCU 23 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 23Michael Hiers sacked for a loss of 2 yards to the WCU 25
0:002nd & 12 at opp 25Michael Hiers pass incomplete to Brendan Jenkins, broken up by CJ Williams
Western Carolina Result not recorded, 9 plays
0:001st & 10 at own 34Cole Gonzales pass complete to Corey Washington for 9 yds to the WCU 43
0:002nd & 1 at own 43Cole Gonzales pass complete to Corey Washington for 3 yds to the WCU 46 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at own 46Cole Gonzales pass complete to Censere Lee for 8 yds to the SAM 46
0:002nd & 2 at opp 46Branson Adams run for 18 yds to the SAM 28 for a 1ST down
0:001st & 10 at opp 28Cole Gonzales pass complete to Corey Washington for 1 yd to the SAM 27
0:002nd & 9 at opp 27Cole Gonzales pass complete to Corey Washington for 7 yds to the SAM 20
0:003rd & 2 at opp 20Branson Adams run for 18 yds to the SAM 2 for a 1ST down
0:001st & goal at opp 2Western Carolina Penalty, illegal formation (-5 Yards) to the SAM 7
Samford Punt, 5 plays
15:003rd & 11 at own 33Mychael Hamilton run for 7 yds to the SAM 40
14:164th & 4 at own 40Will Thorley punt for 31 yds
Western Carolina Touchdown, 10 plays
8:021st & goal at opp 2Desmond Reid 2 Yd Run (Richard McCollum Kick)
7:541st & 10 at own 35Paxton Robertson kickoff for 65 yds , Ty King return for 22 yds to the SAM 22

Play-by-play from CollegeFootballData.com, as its scorers wrote it. The clock is the time left in the quarter; the spot is from the side of the team with the ball.

The series

Every Samford–Western Carolina game

Samford leads 13–⁠5 in 18 meetings, counting the two since this game.

Recent meetings
2025Western Carolina 50, Samford 35
2024Western Carolina 47, Samford 42
2023Western Carolina 30, Samford 7
2022Samford 35, Western Carolina 12
2021Samford 42, Western Carolina 37
2020Samford 55, Western Carolina 27

Around this game

Samford

Western Carolina

Ranked games that day

Every game of Week 2