Wofford Drops 10-9 at Samford After Final-Second Field Goal

Wofford College football lost its hold on a 9-0 lead on Saturday night when a Samford University field goal as time expired secured a 10-9 victory at Pete Hanna Stadium in Birmingham. The Terriers had outgained the Bulldogs and controlled the clock for most of the contest, but two late defensive stops failed to hold, allowing Samford to strike in the final seconds.

The game featured a stark contrast in scoring efficiency. Wofford entered the fourth quarter with a nine-point cushion built entirely on special teams and rushing plays. The Terriers did not score a touchdown all game. Samford, meanwhile, relied on a single 41-yard rushing touchdown by Ken Cherry and a 44-yard field goal to erase the deficit and take the lead.

Head coach Shawn Watson expressed frustration over the missed opportunities in the red zone. "I really hurt inside for the kids," Watson said. "They played hard today. We did a lot of things well, and we did some things we’re going to look back on, such as maximizing the red zone opportunities." He noted that while the defense performed well, the final drive would likely define the memory of the game for the players.

Wofford's offensive production was led by running back Gerald Modest Jr., who rushed 38 times for 197 yards. This marked his fourth game with over 100 rushing yards this season. On the other side, Samford quarterback Gabarri Johnson completed 19 of 32 passes for 219 yards. The Bulldogs' passing attack moved the chains effectively, though they struggled to finish drives in the early quarters.

The Terriers controlled the flow of the game for the first three quarters. Kicker Conner Deviney connected on three field goals, making the team's lead 9-0 with 13:31 left in the fourth quarter. Wofford's defense forced several punts and turnovers, including an interception in the first quarter that halted a Samford drive. The Terriers held a 38:28 time of possession advantage over the Bulldogs.

The final drive proved decisive. After a 44-yard field goal attempt by Wofford went wide right with 13:31 remaining, the Terriers punted. Samford capitalization on the short field came via a 24-yard run for a first down, followed by Cherry's 41-yard touchdown run with 6:56 left. The lead changed to 9-7. Wofford's subsequent drive stalled on the 28-yard line after two penalties. A 40-yard field goal attempt was wide left with 1:05 remaining.

Samford took over possession at the 22-yard line. They converted a fourth-and-two with a 23-yard pass. A pass interference penalty moved the ball to the 32-yard line with 19 seconds on the clock. The final play was a 44-yard field goal that sailed through the uprights as time expired, giving Samford the 10-9 win.

The loss drops Wofford to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the Southern Conference. Samford improves to 3-6 overall and 3-3 in the SoCon. The teams have met 24 times since 1949, with Samford holding a 17-7 series lead. Attendance at Pete Hanna Stadium was 3,073.

Wofford travels to Western Carolina next week. The Terriers return home on Saturday, November 14, to face East Tennessee State.