Homewood, Alabama – In one of the greatest individual performances collegefootballfan.com has ever witnessed, Quincy Crittendon a redshirt freshman subbing for injured starter Michael Hiers after the opening series, led his Stamford Bulldogs (11-1) in a thrilling FCS second round game to win in OT, 48-42. He threw for 314 yards and four TDs connecting on 26 of 40 passes against the Southeast Louisiana Lions. He also led the Bulldogs in rushing with 94 yards on 20 carries. His capper came as he burst up the middle unscathed into the end zone from 10-yards out to win in overtime. His Bulldogs and move into next week’s quarterfinals at No. 3 seeded North Dakota State.
It was the second straight walk-off, overtime touchdown for Samford’s back-up, walk-on quarterback. Crittendon repeated the last-minute heroics in the final regular season win over Mercer. Previously, he stepped in for Hiers who left injured in the first OT period in that one. The freshman scored on a 25-yard run for a touchdown in the second overtime period to win, 50-44, to finish their regular season at 10-1.
Hiers out, Samford calls in back-up
On the initial Samford drive, Crittendon stepped in for the ailing Hiers (2 of 3, 27 yards) on a third and eight. On the next play, a run by Jay Stanton kept the drive alive on a fourth down run. Next, Crittendon connected with Judd Crockett (4 catches for 90 yards, 2 TDs) on a nice over-the-shoulders grab for his first TD pass. The SE Louisiana Lions (9-4) retaliated with a scoring drive of their own. RB Carlos Washington (9 for 88 yards, 2 TDs) capped a 12-play, 69-yard drive to tie it up on an eight-yard run.
On the next Bulldog possession, maybe because the up-tempo caught the coaching staff off-guard, Samford went for a first down on a quick snap on fourth and short from their 34. SELU stopped Crittendon cold and took over on downs. QB Cephus Johnson III followed up Washington’s 21-yard run to the one into the end zone. On the next Bulldog series, Crittendon connected with WR Kendall Watson who made a diving catch for a 46-yard gain to the one. Jay Stanton took it over for the deadlock of 14-14 at the end of one!
Second frame belongs to defenses
Two sacks by the Lions forced the Bulldogs to punt from their 22. SELU started with good field position from their 43 and drove to the Samford 17. They faked the field goal attempt with holder Nick Kovacs’ run. The Dogs stopped him short of a first down. Their ensuing drive started from their 12. A key conversion came on fourth and three at SELU’s 41. Crittendon completed a nine-yard pass to Chandler Smith for a first down. The drive resulted with a 10-yard pass over the middle into the end zone to Kendall Watson (7 snags, 110 yards, 1 TD) to put Samford up, 21-14.
With 3:23 remaining in the first half, the Lions looked to even the score. Like Samford, Lion QB Johnson III fired a pass for a first down to WR Gage Lavardain for nine yards on a fourth and three at the Samford 37. A 14-yard run by Johnson (19/30 passing, 173 yards, 1 INT; 15 carries for 123 yards, 3 TDs) took SELU to the 13. For what turned out to be the defensive play of the game, DB Fred Flavors wrestled the ball away from the intended Lion receiver for an INT in the end zone. He negated the scoring opportunity with 44 second left. The Lions took the long walk back up the hill to their locker room trailing at halftime, 21-14.
Samford turns on the lights
To start the third, the Seibert Stadium lights came on as the sun was setting on Alabama. SELU punted after an unusual, quick three and out to start the third. However, Samford turned up the lights on the turf of Bobby Bowden Field starting the third. Crittendon lofted a pass bobbled by Crockett who pulled it in for a 48-yard scoring play down the right sideline. Trailing 28-14, SELU drove to the Samford 26. On third and two, Johnson III broke off left tackle for the first. However, instead he took it all the way for six points.
The Bulldogs’ subsequent possession ended quickly with a solid shot to Crittendon who fumbled. DL Tainano Gaulua recovered at Samford’s 22. On fourth and goal after advancing to the one, Johnson took it over to tie the score at 28-all. The Bulldogs punted after an unusual three-and-out, but their defense held the Lions to the same. Heading into the fourth, the Bulldogs proceeded to the Lion 25.
Untied and re-tied
On the first play of Q4, Jaylan Thomas caught a 25-yard pass from Crittendon to retake the lead, 35-28. The Bulldog defense stiffened once again. The offense took over on another punt from their 27. They fired on all cylinders mixing passes and runs. Stanton took in it from the two to give the Bulldogs another supposed, comfortable two-touchdown lead, 42-28.
No quit in these Lions from Southeast Louisiana. RB Jessie Britt (12 rushes, 83 yards, TD) provided the big spark with a 47-yard run to the Samford 20. Washington ran it in from the eight for his second score of the day. With 5:22 left to play, the Lions stalled to the Bulldog drive with two time-outs before forcing a punt. An SELU assistant called his offense over to the bench to review plays being drawn up on marker boards before they would take the field again.
Fresh off the board?
With 2:40 left, the Lions started from the eleven with one time-out left. On a first and ten at their 38, they must’ve called the play drawn up on the sideline. Johnson III hooked up with Lavardain ( 8 catches, 94 yards) for a 44-yard pass down to the Bulldog 18. The next play found Britt for a 17-yard gain to the one. Two plays later, Britt took in it from the two. With 37 seconds remaining, the score was tied at 42. Samford started deep in their own territory, and HC Chris Hatcher determined to run out the clock.
OVERTIME!
SELU got the football first. On a second and one at the 16, Johnson III had open space ahead of him. He headed for the right pylon. DB Hakeem Johnson jarred his arm. The ball came out and crossed through the end zone out of bounds for a touchback. No score. The Lion defense had to hold. Three snaps gave the Bulldogs a first and goal at the ten. One play later, Crittendon sailed through the defense for the final score to take the win in Round Two of the FCS playoff, 48-42.
It turned out to be a great, exciting down-to-the-wire game that we always hope for. Glad we took the three-hour drive down to see this game in Homewood. This turned out to be our 23rd playoff game and our 18th overtime game. Seibert Stadium became our 171st college football venue attended, and our 64th non-FBS game decided by seven points or less. Check these out these and all our records on our Milestones page.
NEXT!
SELU returns home to Hammond to take some time off before getting back together with HC Frank Scelfo to get ready for next season. The Lion roster is full of many talented underclassmen including Soph QB Eli Sawyer. He didn’t play today, but played much this year to fill in with experience for Senior QB Cephus Johnson III. Also, we’ll keep an eye out in the future for Soph S Jake Henderson. He was all over the field, an aggressive hitter who impressed us.
The Bulldogs face perennial FCS Champs North Dakota State up in Fargo next week. The FCS Championship always runs through Fargo. They would have to probably get there at some point in order to win it all. Might as well go for it now.
For collegefootballfam.com, we head to Philly for the greatest rivalry in college football despite what others think – Army vs. Navy. Looking forward to it. Go Navy!
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