Appalachian State Prepares To Host League's Best Defense on Saturday

Appalachian State may be still licking its wounds after yielding 522 yards and 40 points in a loss against McNeese State a little over a week ago. With defensive adjustments having been made during the bye week to shore up at least some of those defensive mishaps, fans can expect to see at least one well-schooled defense on Saturday afternoon when they arrive at Kidd Brewer Stadium—and that’s the one of the Samford Bulldogs.

The Mountaineers and the Bulldogs will be meeting in Boone for the first time in 39 years, squaring off on the gridiron for just the fourth all-time meeting between the two programs. Samford won the only other game in Boone, 42-35, back in the 1970 campaign.

The Bulldogs, who had the top defense in the SoCon last season, leading the lead in total defense (318.3 YPG.), scoring defense (18.8 PPG.) and rushing defense (103.6 YPG.). With six starters returning on the defensive side of the ball for the ‘09 season, the Bulldogs have again been up to their old tricks on the defensive side of the football, leading the league in total defense (181.0 YPG.), scoring defense (13.3 PPG.) and rushing defense (62.0 YPG.).

After yielding 28 points in the season-opener in a 28-24 loss to Central Florida, the Bulldogs have allowed a total of 12 points over the past two weeks in wins over Miles (31-12) and Jacksonville (28-0).

The Bulldogs return two of three starters from a year ago, which includes First-Team All-SoCon defensive tackle Patrick Hatcher. Hatcher is one of the top defensive tackle in the SoCon and, so far in ‘09, Hatcher has contributed four tackles, two tackles-for-loss, a pass break-up and 1.5 sacks in limited action in three games this fall for the Bulldogs.

He is the unquestioned leader of the defensive line for Samford, and possesses good quickness and power on the defensive interior.

Joining Hatcher as a returning starter along the defensive line for the Bulldogs for the ‘09 season is John Michael-Clay. He will start at one of the defensive end positions for the Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon against the Mountaineers.

Clay has been one of the leaders of the defense so far during the ‘09 season, having recorded eight tackles and is tied for the team-lead in sacks this season, with three quarterback hits. Clay has good pass-rushing instincts and is on pace to be one of the better pass-rusher’s in the SoCon before season’s end.

Set to start at the other defensive end position for the Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon will be senior Rumiko Foster, who’s one of rookie starters along the defensive line this season. Foster is one of the best athletes on the defensive side of the football for the Bulldogs this season and he has lived up to his pre-season billing which allowed him to win that job in fall camp. He has yet to produce as a pass-rusher, however, this season, having added four tackles and three quarterback hurries.

Rounding out the starters along the defensive line for the Bulldogs will be defensive tackle Jason Gaines.

The 6'3", 285-pound Gaines is another of the rookie starters along the defensive line for the Bulldogs this season, and the junior is off to a flying start to the ‘09 season, putting up numbers that would put him on pace to garner all-league accolades as a defensive tackler for the Bulldogs this season. In three games this season, Gaines has registered eight tackles, 2.5 tackles-for-loss, and 1.5 sacks.

Samford brings perhaps the league’s most-talented trio of linebackers to Boone on Saturday afternoon, led by All-American candidate Bryce Smith at middle linebacker. The 6'1", 245-pound junior is the heartbeat of this defense and one of the premier middle linebacker’s in all of FCS football this season.

For his size, he has tremendous athleticism and is quick on his feet.

He also has good pass-coverage skills, as evidenced by his team-leading five interceptions last fall. So far in ‘09, Smith is leading the team in tackles, with 17 stops, along with four tackles behind the line-of-scrimmage this fall. Smith, however, is the lone returning starter at linebacker from a unit that was also extremely talented last fall.

One of those newcomers at linebacker this season has been weak side linebacker C.J. Brown. The 6'1", 240-pound redshirt senior, is another large, physical linebacker who runs well.

Brown, who won the starting nod last spring, has been one of the ringleaders of the Samford defense so far in ‘09, ranking second only to Smith in tackles this season. He has been able to amass 15 tackles, two tackles-for-loss, and a forced fumble.

The starting trio at linebacker will be completed by strong-side linebacker Ryan Anderson. Anderson—a 6'0", 210-pound redshirt senior—has been the starter in all three outings for the Bulldogs this season, and adds experience as a reserve and overall athleticism to the LB unit this fall.

He has managed to put up an impressive stat line in ‘09, recording 11 tackles, two sacks, two pass break-ups, and a 41-yard interception return for a score. Anderson might be the most athletic of the three linebackers and, like Smith, plays the passing lanes extremely well.

If there’s an area that might be able to be exploited on Saturday afternoon on the secondary, it might be the secondary, which has yet to be really be tested, other than the season opener against Central Florida.

Leading the returnees in the Samford defensive backfield, is strong safety Andy Davis. Davis, a Second-Team All-SoCon selection last fall, is another of the catalysts on the defensive side of the football for Samford. Last season, Davis had 45 tackles and two interceptions. Davis is a heady defensive back, possessing the ability to come up and make plays against the run, as well as provide support against the pass. In three games so far this season, Davis has recorded a total of 10 tackles.

Set to start at the free safety position for the Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon, will be talented junior veteran Thomas Broussard.

Broussard is one of the hardest hitters in the league and is another experienced player in the secondary for the Bulldogs, having started every game for Samford over the past couple of seasons to date. Broussard finished third on the team in tackles in ‘08, completing the season with 51 tackles to go along with five pass break-ups.

He could also contend for All-SoCon honors this season as a part of the Bulldogs secondary. This season, Broussard has accumulated six tackles so far this season, but has seen only limited action as a result of some lopsided wins against Jacksonville and Miles.

Anchoring the respective cornerback positions for the Bulldogs heading into Saturday afternoon’s clash with the Mountaineers, are Ty Levie and Jamael Lett.

Levie, another senior, is the team’s top cover-corner, and he is a player that adds a physical edge to the Samford secondary. Levie currently ranks third on the team in tackles, having posted 12 tackles to go along with two pass break-ups and a fumble recovery this season.

Lett rounds out the starters on the defensive side of the football for the Bulldogs and is a player that possesses good overall speed and athleticism.

He has the potential to be a real asset to the Samford defensive backfield down the stretch this season and as a senior next fall. In three games this season, Lett has six tackles and a pass break-up.

Samford possesses a physical, conservative offense that puts the game in the hands of All-American running back Chris Evans and a talented, veteran offensive line, while also featuring a heady quarterback, who’s a calculated passer, rarely taking chances through the air.

That kind of mindset has allowed sophomore signal-caller Dustina Taliaferro to become one of the league’s most-efficient passers, and also enabled him to claim the SoCon’s prestigious Freshman of the Year honor last fall.

In his inaugural season as the starting signal-caller for head coach Pat Sullivan, a former Heisman Trophy winning quarterback at Auburn, Taliaferro showed the pedigree of his mentor, as a young QB, connecting on 151-of-225 passes for 1,745 yards, 13 TDs and just five interceptions.

Taliaferro has picked up where he left off last season, putting together a solid campaign thus far for Samford, having connected on 43-of-79 passes for 451 yards, with four TDs and a couple of interceptions. He helped lead the Bulldogs to their first six-win season since 2003 last fall. In last season’s 35-24 loss to the Mountaineers in Birmingham, Taliaferro connected on 18-of-30 passes for 166 yards, without an interception, while also accounting for a couple of one-yard TD runs for the Bulldogs.

Leading the running game is one of the best in the FCS, in junior tailback Chris Evans.

The transfer from Auburn introduced himself into the SoCon in a big way last season, claiming the league’s rushing crown after finishing the ‘08 season with 1,284 yards and 14 TDs on 280 rush attempts. Evans was also effective as a receiver coming out of the backfield for the Bulldogs, catching 26 passes for 151 yards. Evans put forth a strong effort against the Black and Gold in last season’s inaugural SoCon clash between the two schools, finishing the day with 144 yards and a TD on 28 rushing attempts.

In last week’s victory over Miles College, Evans had his best outing of the ‘09 season-to-date, finishing the afternoon with 162 yards and a TD.

If there’s one good thing about the loss to McNeese State a week-and-a-half ago, it’s the fact that the Mountaineers faced a running back, in McNeese’s Todd Pendland, that will prepare the Mountaineers for facing a back of Evans’ talent and versatility.

However, one area that Samford might have a real advantage on Saturday is along the offensive line, which is the largest O-Line in the SoCon.

Anchoring the massive offensive front for the Bulldogs in ‘09 has been senior center Jon Weber, who finished the ‘08 season, garnering Second-Team All-SoCon honors.

He will team with another of the league’s top lineman, Thomas Gray—a massive 6'4", 332-pound right tackle, who should also compete for All-SoCon honors this fall. George Allers (LT), Charlie Sanford (LG) and Paul Selmon (RG) round out an offensive line that has averaged 330 yards of total offense (186 passing, 144 rushing) and 27.3 yards per game in ‘09.

The passing game has a couple of big-play wide receivers, who possess tremendous speed, in Jonathan Lowery and Riley Hawkins.

Hawkins is the fastest player on the team and is the team’s biggest deep threat in the three primary receivers for the Bulldogs.

So far this season, Hawkins has seven receptions for 224 yards and three TDs, averaging an amazing 32.0 YPR. He also accounts for the longest scoring play in the passing game this season, hauling in a 67-yard pass for a score in the season-opening loss to Central Florida.

Hawkins led the Bulldogs in receiving in last season’s 35-24 loss to the Mountaineers, hauling in seven passes for 59 yards. The wide receiver also had three rushes for 34 yards for the Bulldogs last season, proving Sullivan will look to use his speed in a variety of different ways if he has to do so.

Lowery provides the biggest matchup problem for the Appalachian State secondary, at 6'5", 193-pounds. Lowery, like his teammate Hawkins, also possesses great speed and has possibly the best hands in the team. Lowery entered the ‘09 season as the team’s leading returning receiver, having caught 27 passes for 457 yards and five TDs in ‘08, averaging an impressive 16.9 YPR.

So far in the ‘09 season, Lowery has again been an effective target in the aerial attack for the Bulldogs, he has hauled in eight passes for 86 yards and a score, but has yet to really get untracked this season.

Lowery is averaging an impressive 10.8 YPR.

The Mountaineers managed to hold Lowery in check last fall, holding the Bulldogs’ leading receiver to just one reception for 14 yards in the 11-point win.

DeMarcus Covington has been the surprise on the offensive side of the football for the Bulldogs so far this season, and comes into Saturday’s matchup with the Black and Gold as the team’s leading receiver. Like his teammates, Covington has outstanding speed and could prove to be problematic for Appalachian State, in a Samford passing game, predicated on stretching the field. Covington, a 6'2", 200-pound junior, has hauled in nine passes for 86 yards and a TD this season.

Noting Last Year’s Meeting:

Appalachian State traveled to Samford’s Seibert Stadium and escaped with a 35-24 victory over the SoCon’s newest member, using 21 unanswered second-quarter points to overcome a 14-7 deficit at the end of the opening quarter and take a 28-14 lead to the half, which it would never relinquish.

The turning point in the contest came early in the second quarter, when Mountaineer junior cornerback Cortez Gilbert blocked a 32-yard field goal attempt. The Mountaineers got a big afternoon from Payton Award winning signal-caller Armanti Edwards, who completed 22-of-29 passes for 307 yards and three TDs, while also rushing for 63 yards, which included a 25-yard fourth-quarter TD scamper, to clinch the victory for the Mountaineers.

Extra Notes:

Last Saturday, Samford overcame a 12-3 halftime deficit to defeat the Miles College Golden Bears, 31-12, on Saturday afternoon at Seibert Stadium.

Chris Evans led the Samford offense with 23 rushes for 162 yards and a touchdown. Dustin Taliaferro passed for one touchdown and ran for two more in the win. Defensively, Ryan Anderson and John Michael Clay had two sacks each. C.J. Brown led the team in tackles with seven.

 

Samford has yet to allow any first-quarter points this season and have out-scored opponents by an, 82-40, margin so far in ‘09. The Bulldogs have also allowed only a meager seven fourth-quarter points in three outings so far in ‘09.

 

In three previous meetings between Appalachian State and Samford, the Mountaineers hold a 2-1 all-time series edge.

 

Samford’s 16 sacks on the season is easily a league standard, leading the next closest conference team, Elon, by seven QB hits.

Appalachian State has won 12-consecutive SoCon tilts and hasn’t lost a SoCon opener, since dropping a 24-21 decision at The Citadel to begin its 2003 SoCon slate. The Mountaineers will be opening conference play against an opponent not named The Citadel for just the 12th time in 30 seasons.

The Mountaineers are 28-8 all-time in conference openers, including an impressive 15-4 under the direction of Jerry Moore.