Hodges goes off in Samford’s 66-28 win

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Samford senior quarterback Devlin Hodges set program and Southern Conference records, including his six touchdown passes, while leading the Bulldogs to a 66-28 win over Western Carolina on Saturday.

Hodges, who had eight carries for 24 yards and a touchdown, completed 44 of 60 passes for 562 yards, setting Samford and SoCon records for passing yards and total offense (586 yards).

He had touchdown passes of 26, 23, 16 and 32 yards in the first quarter plus a 19-yard run to stake the Bulldogs (2-4, 1-2) to a 45-0 lead. After 68- and 3-yard scoring passes in the third quarter, Hodges accounted for seven touchdowns, tying the school record.

DeMarcus Ware added a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter that gave Samford its most points in a SoCon game. Roland Adams had rushing and receiving touchdowns, with both covering 3 yards.

Western Carolina (3-2, 1-2) had 362 yards and four turnovers while allowing the Bulldogs to rack up 736 yards. Will Jones threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score.

› ETSU 45, Gardner-Webb 0 JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — Quay Holmes rushed for three touchdowns and former Marion County High School standout Jacob Saylors ran for two as East Tennessee State University (5-1) cashed in on turnovers to rout Gardner-Webb and run its winning streak to four games.

Holmes is the first Buccaneer to rush for three touchdowns in a game since Gavin Varner in 2003. That was the final season before the program was discontinued. The Bucs returned to competition in 2015.

Holmes scored on a 2-yard run on ETSU’s opening drive, an 11-yarder in the second quarter and a 10-yarder in the third. He gained 105 yards on 20 carries.

Saylors’ 37-yard touchdown run in the third quarter was set up by Karon Delince’s fumble recovery, and his 1-yard touchdown run in the fourth followed Titus Tucker’s interception. Saylors had 101 yards on 16 carries.

ETSU, off to its best start since going 5-1 in 1999, held the Big South Conference’s Bulldogs to 221 total yards, including 59 on the ground.