Bucs rally past Bulldogs for crucial SoCon win

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) – ETSU football twice found itself trailing by two scores at home on Saturday against conference foe, Samford.

But, some timely big-hitting pass plays and suffocating second-half defense led the Bucs to rally for a 31-28 victory.

The Blue and Gold started with the first possession of the game and wasted no time attacking the visiting Bulldogs.

“I wanted to take a chance on a trick play to start the game,” ETSU head coach Tre Lamb said. “Double pass, which was executed perfectly.”

A backwards swing pass from Jaylen King to Ephraim Floyd was completed, before Floyd flung the ball downfield for Karim Page for a 36-yard gain. However, that opening drive would stall as Ty Anderson was stuffed on 4th & 2 from inside the five-yard line.

Samford struck almost immediately, as Quincy Crittendon connected with Rayf Vinson for a 89-yard score, giving the visitors a 7-0 advantage.

ETSU responded late in the quarter, as King found Hakeem Meggett, who raced in for a 31-yard touchdown.

Samford scored on their next two drives, however, to extend the lead to 21-7. A 41-yard hook-up with E. Jai Mason and a 23-yard connection with Wesley Carlock did the damage.

King found fellow Gardner-Webb transfer AJ Johnson late in the first half on a 15-yard pitch-and-catch to trim the halftime deficit to 21-14.

The Bucs got aggressive to start the third quarter, trying a fake punt in their own territory. But, the conversion failed, giving the visitors a short field with which to work.

Mason’s second TD grab of the evening put Samford up 28-14 with 10:35 left to play in the third quarter.

But, the Blue and Gold kept chipping away.

AJ Johnson caught a 75-yard pass on a deep crosser for his second score of the day, slashing the Samford lead to 28-21 with more than six minutes left in the third frame. Ewan Johnson made it 28-24, as a long Bucs drive was stopped just short of the endzone at the start of the fourth quarter.

Midway through the quarter, Xavier Gaillardetz appeared to take a punt back 49 yards to give the Bucs a lead. However, the officials brought the touchdown back due to a penalty.

Still, the ETSU defense never allowed Samford to find an offensive rhythm down the stretch, holding the visitors without a first down in the final frame.

A lengthy Bucs drive late in the quarter finally led to their first lead of game. Backup quarterback Gino English entered the game to sneak in a touchdown on the goal line for a 31-28 lead.

The Bulldogs got one more chance, but turned the ball over on downs.

“I can’t tell you how happy I am of how we played on defense in the second half and made some great adjustments,” Lamb said. “We got in there and didn’t freak out. You know, we could have gone in there and changed the whole plan and we didn’t. We said what we’re doing is working – just gotta play a little better.”

“Everybody came together,” King said. “Everybody knew that we were better than what we put out in the first half. Coach Lamb came in and spoke and we turned it up a notch.”

The starting quarterback finished 15-of-27 for 269 yards passing, with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He added 80 rush yards on 19 carries, as well.

“Coach just talked about believing, having fun and sticking together and that’s what we did,” senior linebacker Zach West added. “Defensively just playing hard and we knew the offense was going to have our back, get some points and get the win.”

“Like Jaylen said, man, we stuck together,” Johnson explained. “If we continue to stick together, we’re going to have a great program.”

After the game, Lamb also confirmed that senior defensive back Chris Hope will miss the remainder of the season, due to a torn ACL.

“I hate it for that kid, he’s been nothing but a warrior for me,” Lamb said. “It was a non-contact injury. We were in a pass period and just got hit on his knee wrong.”

“Very proud of that kid and I love him to death.”

ETSU (4-3, 2-1 SoCon) has a bye week upcoming, before returning to action at Wofford on Saturday, October 26.

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