Samford's advantage in total offense was only 448-430 as the Catamounts relied on a balanced attack. They gained 223 yards on the ground and 207 through the air.
WCU's Brad Hoover carried 27 times for 159 yards. Shawn Snyder completed 18 of 33 passes for 207 yards. Michael Banks caught six passes for 96 yards.
Western had the first possession of overtime and went ahead 35-32 on a 30-yard field goal by Josh Jones. It was his sixth field goal of the game setting school and Southern Conference records.
The Bulldogs wasted no time on their possession as Russell carried on all three plays to cover the 25 yards. The game-winner came from seven yards out.
Snyder's 60-yard scoring pass to Banks along with Jones' extra point tied the score 29-29 with 23 seconds left in regulation. The Cats took just 48 seconds to go 80 yards behind the passing of Snyder.
Samford trailed most of the game but scored twice in the fourth quarter to take the lead.
David Hill's 44-yard punt pinned the Bulldogs on their one, but they went the length of the field in seven plays. Russell ripped off runs of 10, 11, 12 and 14 yards, but the Cats aided the drive with three personal foul penalties totaling 41 yards. Kadell Wright scored from the three then ran for the conversion and a 22-22 tie at the 7:42 mark.
The Bulldogs forced a punt, and Gray Reed's 16-yard return gave his team possession at its 49. Russell's 12-yard run to the one came on the 11th play of the drive, and Wright scored from there. Brian Holmes kicked the extra point putting Samford on top 29-22 with 1:12 on the clock.
The Cats led 19-7 at halftime, but Russell quickly got going after intermission. His 12- yard run the first play was followed by a 12-yard pass from Josh Kellett to Terry Salter. On the next play, Russell broke loose for a 56-yard scoring jaunt. Holmes added the point after cutting the gap to 19-14 with 14:17 to go in the third stanza.
Both teams punted on their next two possessions, but Western went up 22-14 when Jones kicked a 27-yard field goal with 14:10 to go in the game.
Samford took a 7-0 lead with 8:49 to go in the first quarter on a three-yard run by Wright and Holmes' PAT. Mitch Williams had a 10-yard run in the 11-play drive that covered 50 yards and was aided by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Cats.
Hoover runs of 49 and 14 yards keyed an 88-yard march in eight plays as Western drew even. Darius Hooks went over from the one, and Jones kicked the PAT for a 7-7 tie with 5:29 to go in the first period.
Jones kicked field goals on WCU's remaining four possessions of the half. The Cats reached the three before settling for his 25-yard field goal with 14:12 remaining in the half.
Western again drove inside the five before being pushed back, and Jones hit a 30-yarder for a 13-7 advantage at the 9:02 mark.
The Cats led 16-7 after Jones booted a 47-yarder with 2:12 on the clock.
Seth Hanssen picked off a Kellett pass at the Samford 47. Snyder's 17-yard pass to Cesar Campana led to a 33-yard field goal by Jones with five seconds to play sending the Cats to the dressing room with a 19-7 advantage.
Hanssen paced WCU's defense with 10 tackles. Matthew Forester, Fred Bishop and Alvin Garrett were all in on seven tackles for Samford.
Western will be on the road Saturday for a 1 p.m. game against arch rival Appalachian State.
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- Photo by Mark Haskett