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Sunday, Nov. 08, 2009

Georgia products get best of Eagles

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Georgia Southern’s storied tradition usually makes the program a target, but the Eagles had to deal with a double whammy Saturday at Seibert Stadium.

Location, location, location.

“All week long, I told everybody that it was personal for me, because I’m from Georgia,” said Samford linebacker Bryce Smith, who hails from the Atlanta suburb of Lawrenceville. “They recruited me a good bit, but they didn’t offer me. So it was definitely personal — for me and for everyone on this team from Georgia.”

Samford defeated Georgia Southern 31-10 before a homecoming crowd of 7,730, snapping a three-game losing streak.

Samford improved to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the Southern Conference. Georgia Southern dropped to 4-5 and 3-3, losing in back-to-back games for the first time since September 2008.

Smith led a smothering defense with 12 tackles, one for loss, and two interceptions against an old high school rival.

Samford quarterback Dustin Taliaferro threw for 151 yards and two touchdowns. He’s from Roswell.

And cornerback Corey White of Dunwoody helped put the game out of reach with an interception early in the fourth quarter, stepping in front of a wide receiver screen intended for Patrick Barker, setting the Bulldogs up in prime field position near midfield.

A snap later, Samford used a 56-yard reverse pass to put the game away.

“The story of the day was that we got nothing going offensively,” Georgia Southern head coach Chris Hatcher said. “We couldn’t get any consistency or any rhythm.”

Samford’s defense had a lot to do with that. Quarterback Lee Chapple — Bryce Smith’s former Gwinnett County high school rival — was sacked eight times and forced into throwing three interceptions.

That gives him 13 interceptions for the season, tying Tracy Ham’s 25-year-old school record.

“They’re one of the best defenses in the country,” Hatcher said. “They had a good game plan.”

Frankly, Georgia’ Southern’s offensive line was in shambles.

Right guard Jonathan Loving re-aggravated an injury before the game, and right tackle Josh Petkovich left with another injury early in the second quarter.

“We’ve used nine different combinations this season,” Hatcher said. “It’s nothing new.”

The youthful Eagles sputtered most of the night, although Samford’s final edge in total offense was relatively small (341 yards to 291).

Hatcher realizes Georgia Southern’s history is, for right now, in the past.

“We’re trying to get back,” he said. “But it’s been a long, three-year building process.”

The Eagles continue to depend more and more on newcomers. Junior college transfer Brandon Nolley provided one of Georgia Southern’s best offensive jolts with a 26-yard touchdown fun in the second quarter.

Youth has been served, but not served up as an alibi.

“Youth is not an excuse any more, and it can’t be,” Chapple said. “We were just inconsistent (Saturday). I can’t tell you why or how, but we’ve just to evaluate ourselves and find a way to be consistent. Consistency will win big games.”

Nor is revenge an excuse. But Samford’s Peach State players admittedly wanted vengeance. Hatcher is used to that.

“I know these Georgia players are good,” Hatcher said. “We recruited a lot of them. But we can’t sign them all.”