by ASHLEY DAVIS
Sports Editor

Seibert Stadium may have scorch marks on the field following this Saturday’s Southern Conference match-up between

Samford University and Appalachian State University.

The SoCon’s best in speed, defense, and accuracy from last week will be matched, as all four SoCon Players of the Week take the field.

To add intensity to talent, the two teams have never faced before.

“It’s hard going into a situation like that where you’ve never seen a team like Samford before,” Appalachian receiver CoCo Hillary said.

“We have to prepare a lot physically this week, got to work on getting tougher and tougher, making opponents fear us when we step out on the field, knowing that we’re going to play hard and give them all we’ve got,” Hillary said.

New SoCon member, Samford, defeated Appalachian conference-rival Western Carolina University 21-6 last week, led by

Freshman SoCon Player of the Week Dustin Taliaferro who completed 14 of 16 passes for two touchdowns and 154 yards.

Running back Chris Evans led Samford’s rushing with 166 yards and the Bulldog’s other touchdown of the game.

Defensively, Appalachian head coach Jerry Moore compared Samford to Louisiana State University.

“They are a well-coached, fine football team,” Moore said. “They are a big football team, they have one of the biggest offensive lines. They are almost as big as LSU. We don’t usually see that [size] unless we’re playing another Division I football team.”

Moore said he attributed much of quarterback Armanti Edwards’ success last week against The Citadel to Appalachian’s offensive-line.

“We all know that [Samford] is going to give it all they’ve got,” Hillary said. “Usually when people play Appalachian you know they’re going to play their best.”

Samford’s Bob Hooper was named the SoCon’s Special Teams Player of the Week for punting six times against Western

Carolina and averaging 44.3 yards per kick.

In addition to Taliaferro, Hooper and Edwards’ accolades, Mountaineer cornerback Cortez Gilbert also received SoCon Player of the Week for defense, marking a game-high-tie 11 tackles against The Citadel last week and disrupting two passes.

While coach Moore said Samford was “a little bit of an unknown,” senior linebacker Pierre Banks said he was confident in Appalachian’s ability.

“It’s nothing different,” Banks said in regards to Samford’s offense. “We’re just going to get 11 guys to the ball and wrap up.”

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (0)

Show/Hide comments