The Samford Bulldogs scored the final 28 points of the game, en route to a 49-13 win over the VMI Keydets in Southern Conference football action Saturday afternoon at VMI’s Foster Stadium.
A Dillon Christopher field goal pulled VMI (1-5, 0-2 SoCon) within eight, 21-13, with 10:24 left in the third quarter. Samford (3-2, 1-1) got the ball back, however, and five plays into its next drive, launched a 57-yard Michael Eubank to Emmanuel Obajimi touchdown pass to make it a 28-13 game. The Keydets would not score again.
The performance of Eubank boosted Samford, as the quarterback went 31 of 42 for 337 yards and three touchdowns. Obajimi hauled in seven catches for 109 yards, as the visitors completed passes to nine different receivers.
Turnovers were the other story of the game, as the Keydets turned the ball over four times to just one for Samford. All four turnovers were interceptions on the log of Al Cobb, as he was held to a 19 for 35, 183-yard day. Cobb did throw a second quarter TD to Dontae Mauck.
Samford jumped ahead early, taking a 7-0 lead on a Eubanks touchdown that capped an 11-play, 60-yard drive. Obajimi hauled in a 15-yard reception to cap that push.
The Keydets cut that margin to four in the second quarter, when they ate up nearly six minutes with a 13-play drive. Christopher booted a field goal through from 20 yards out to make it a 7-3 game.
Samford seemingly pulled away, with touchdowns on its next two drives to take a 21-3 lead, but Cobb found Mauck for a 27-yard touchdown in the final minute of the half to make it a 21-10 game at the break.
Christopher then booted through a 35-yard field goal on VMI’s first drive of the third quarter, setting up Samford’s 28-point run that began with Eubank’s 57-yard pass to Obajimi.
Denzel Williams had a touchdown run early in the fourth, and Omari Williams put the game away by returning Cobb’s fourth interception 59 yards for a score, making it 42-13 with 9:51 remaining. Jake Wilks had a one-yard touchdown run in the final moments to account for the final margin.
Allan Cratsenberg had 12 tackles to lead VMI defensively, while Forlines had seven receptions for 106 yards and posted a career-high 266 all-purpose yards. That included a career-long 49-yard punt return in the second quarter, VMI’s longest punt return since 2010.
Samford, however, limited the Keydets to just 46 yards rushing on 34 attempts, while the Bulldogs gained 174 yards on the ground.
VMI football will return to action next Saturday, when the Keydets play host to the #6 Chattanooga Mocs at Foster Stadium. Game time is set for 1:30 p.m.
Press conference: VMI Head Coach Scott Wachenheim
“I think their defensive line took over the game. They are very physical, and number 98 (Michael Pierce) in the middle was very difficult for us to handle. We knew that going into the game. We had some schemes designed to avoid that, but it is hard to run away from a nose guard for the entire game.”
“The defense fought hard and kept us in the ball game early, and we got some great special teams play. Our punt return unit was outstanding and I thought Dane Forlines did an excellent job.”
“I’m very proud of our guys. They fight, they play hard and they play hard until the whistle. We are going to continue to do that. I think the wins are going to come, but we have to stay together, stay hungry and keep the desire to get better and improve.”
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