Norfolk, VA – Spartanburg, SC (SportsNetwork.com) - Samford won the head-to-head matchup of the two Southern Conference leaders on Saturday, holding off Wofford, 34-27.
The 22nd-ranked Bulldogs were led by quarterback Andy Summerlin, who completed 26 of his 35 pass attempts for 259 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw three interceptions.
One of Summerlin's first passes was intercepted by Terriers linebacker Alvin Scioneaux and returned for a touchdown and a 7-0 lead, but that was the only lead 12th-ranked Wofford enjoyed all day.
Two Samford touchdown passes (one from Summerlin and the other from Jeremiaha Gates) went to receiver Chris Cephus, both in the first quarter, as the Bulldogs (6-2, 4-0) took the lead for good.
Wofford running back Donovan Johnson led the way for the Terriers, gaining 151 yards on the ground. Ray Smith punched in a 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for Wofford.
Wofford (5-3, 4-1), a very run-heavy team featuring the triple option attack, outgained the Bulldogs 258-133 rushing on the day, but only managed to account for 82 passing yards.
Saturday, Oct. 26
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No. 1 North Dakota State (8-0, 5-0 Missouri Valley) 56,
Indiana State (1-7, 0-4) 10
After the news that star running back Shakir Bell would miss the rest of the season, the host Sycamores were blasted by the top team in the nation.
The Bison got a lot of help in the return game, as Christian Dudzik scored twice on punt returns while Ryan Smith raced in on a 100-yard kickoff return. Brock Jensen passed for four touchdowns and helped his team improve to 8-0.
No. 2 Eastern Illinois (7-1, 4-0 OVC) 34, No. 21 Tennessee State (7-2, 4-1) 16
Tennessee State's second-in-the-nation scoring defense hadn't faced anything like Eastern Illinois's offense yet this season. Only a few have.
The nation's best offense was on display again as Jimmy Garoppolo passed for 410 yards and added to his touchdown total with four more passing scores. He now has 35 touchdowns on the year. Keiondre Gober and Jeff LePak has two touchdown receptions each.
No. 3 Eastern Washington (6-2, 4-0 Big Sky) 42,
No. 10 Montana (6-2, 3-2) 37
For the second time this season, Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams passed for six touchdowns in a game.
Adams and the Eagles came into Washington-Grizzly Stadium and handed Montana its second loss this season and second in Big Sky play. Freshman receiver Cooper Kupp caught 11 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns in the win.
Montana quarterback Jordan Johnson threw four touchdowns, including three in the final quarter of a comeback attempt, but his squad fell short.
No. 4 McNeese State (7-1, 3-0 Southland) 55, Nicholls (4-4, 1-2) 30
It appears more and more likely that the Cowboys' loss to Northern Iowa at the end of September was merely a fluke.
The Cowboys held off Nicholls and Tuskani Figaro with the help of an Khalil Thomas kickoff return for a touchdown and several Marcus Wiltz rushing scores. The Cowboys didn't turn the ball over once in their 31 minutes time of possession.
No. 5 Montana State (6-2, 4-0 Big Sky) 34, UC Davis (3-6, 3-2) 17
Montana State continues to get solid production from its run game as senior back Cody Kirk rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns in the win against UC Davis.
Junior running back Shawn Johnson caught one of DeNaius McGhee's two touchdown passes. McGhee had a productive game for the second straight week, passing for 230 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He added 51 rushing yards on 10 carries.
No. 6 Coastal Carolina (8-0, 3-0 Big South) 66, VMI (1-7, 0-3) 27
It didn't matter that Coastal Carolina was missing its starting quarterback against VMI on Saturday because the Chanticleers seemed just fine with Michael Church under center.
Church completed 12-of-16 pass attempts for 164 yards and three touchdowns in the lopsided win over the Keydets. Recently added Walter Payton Award candidate Lorenzo Taliaferro added to his resume with 126 rushing yards and a touchdown.
The Chanticleers are one of three unbeaten teams in the country, along with North Dakota State and Fordham.
No. 7 Sam Houston State (6-2, 2-1 Southland) 44,
Northwestern State (3-5, 0-3) 10
One week after being held to 84 rushing yards in a loss to McNeese State, the nation's former top rushing offense was at it again in Sam Houston State's win against Northwestern State.
Senior Timothy Flanders ran for 80 yards and a touchdown, and the Bearkats gained 233 rushing yards. Quarterback Brian Bell threw for 189 yards and three touchdowns, while the Demons turned the ball over twice.
No. 8 Towson (8-1, 4-1 CAA) 48, Richmond (2-6, 0-4) 32
Terrance West became Towson's all-time leader in rushing yards (3,747) in his 30th collegiate game with his 272-yard, five-touchdown effort in the Tigers' win over Richmond.
West had four rushing touchdowns as well as a receiving score in the first quarter. He has 67 career touchdowns.
Towson also got defensive touchdowns on Christian Carpenter's 34-yard interception and Telvion Clark's 32-yard fumble return.
No. 11 Maine (7-1, 4-0 CAA) 37, No. 18 Villanova (4-4, 3-2) 35
For the second week in a row, Villanova quarterback John Robertson's efforts weren't enough, this time with the Black Bears handing the Wildcats their second straight loss.
Robertson rushed for 214 yards and four touchdowns and passed for another score, but Maine senior Marcus Wasilewski stole the show with 337 passing yards and two touchdowns, adding a rushing touchdown that proved to be the deciding score.
No. 14 Bethune-Cookman (7-1, 4-0 MEAC) 14, South Carolina State (5-3, 3-1) 3
The battle for MEAC supremacy turned into a defensive showdown in Daytona Beach, as the Wildcats clipped the streaking Bulldogs, who had won five straight games.
Quentin Williams accounted for two touchdowns - a pass to running back Isidore Jackson and a 6-yard quarterback run - to help lift Bethune-Cookman to victory. The Wildcats are unbeaten in MEAC play this season, and have won 17 straight conference games dating back to the 2011 season.
Bucknell (3-4, 1-2 Patriot) 48, No. 15 Lehigh (6-2, 1-1) 10
The Bison racked up 509 yards of total offense and forced five turnovers in their stunning win over Patriot League giant Lehigh, which lost starting quarterback Brandon Bialkowski to an injury in the third quarter.
Lehigh surrendered 48 points to Bucknell - the most since the team's loss to Fordham on Oct. 5 - and scored only 10, by far their lowest total this season. The Bison jumped out to a 27-3 halftime lead and C.J. Williams finished with 154 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.
No. 16 Northern Arizona (6-2, 4-1 Big Sky) 17, Cal Poly (3-5, 2-2) 13
Bobby Zalud's 33-yard field goal to open the fourth quarter gave Cal Poly a 13-10 lead, but Marcus Alford returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown, and the lead stood up for Northern Arizona.
The Lumberjacks, a half game out of first place in the Big Sky, lost four turnovers and was held to 277 yards.
No. 25 South Dakota State (5-4, 2-3 Missouri Valley) 37,
No. 17 Northern Iowa (4-4, 0-4) 34
After losing four of the team's last five games prior to this weekend, South Dakota State bounced back and won a double-overtime thriller against Northern Iowa.
The Panthers have lost four straight - including three in a row in overtime - all in Missouri Valley Conference play. Brandon Hubert's second touchdown catch on the day was the one that gave the Jackrabbits the win in the second OT period. Hubert had 118 yards on nine receptions, while Zach Zenner rushed for 106 yards and a score.
William & Mary (5-3, 2-2 CAA) 17, No. 19 James Madison (5-3, 2-2) 7
William & Mary's third-ranked scoring defense in the nation was hard at work in limiting the visiting Dukes to seven points and 298 total offensive yards.
Brent Caprio's 28-yard pass to Tre McBride proved to be the only offensive touchdown for the Tribe, as JMU quarterback Michael Birdsong was picked off in the fourth quarter by Jared Velasquez, who returned the interception 90 yards for another touchdown.
No. 20 New Hampshire (4-3, 3-1 CAA) at Stony Brook (3-4, 1-3) 13
After dropping to an early 1-3 record on the season, New Hampshire has rebounded with three straight wins over CAA Football opponents.
Sophomore quarterback Sean Goldrich got the start again with Andy Vailas out, and Goldrich delivered with 186 passing yards and three touchdowns. Senior receiver Justin Mello caught all three of Goldrich's touchdown tosses.
Seawolves quarterback Lyle Negron passed for 129 yards and a touchdown with two interceptions.
No. 23 Central Arkansas (5-3, 2-1 Southland) 66,
Stephen F. Austin (3-5, 1-2) 31
The two teams accumulated identical offensive yards, racking up 681 yards a side. But Central Arkansas, without quarterback Wynrick Smothers, found the end zone much more frequently.
Junior signal caller Ryan Howard had 403 passing yards and four touchdowns for the Bears, while running back Kelton Warren had 106 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Lumberjacks quarterback Brady Attaway passed for 442 yards and two touchdowns, butturned the ball over twice on interceptions.
Appalachian State (2-6, 2-3 Southern) 38,
No. 24 Georgia Southern (4-3, 2-3) 14
Is this the Mountaineers team we were all expecting to start the season?
Appalachian State completed dominated in this contest, gaining 515 yards of total offense, getting four total touchdowns from quarterback Kameron Bryant. Freshman Marcus Cox rushed for 104 yards on 20 carries, adding a touchdown.
The Mountaineers trailed at the end of the first quarter, 7-0, but mounted a second-quarter comeback and led 17-7 at halftime. Tony Washington and Andrew Peacock both went over 100 yards receiving for the Mountaineers.
Idle This Weekend
No. 9 Fordham (8-0)
No. 13 Youngstown State (7-1)
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