The East Tennessee State University football team is preparing for battle in their final game of the season and their final game at Kermit-Tipton Stadium.
The new ETSU football stadium is set to be open next football season, so fans will be saying their final goodbyes to good ol’ Science Hill.
“We’re very, very appreciative of Johnson City and Science Hill for allowing us to use Kermit-Tipton Stadium the last two seasons,” said Head Coach Carl Torbush. “I don’t know what we would have done if it wasn’t for their help.”
The Bucs played their first two seasons at Kermit-Tipton since the program has been back.
The Bucs will host Samford who is currently No. 3 in Southern Conference ranking. They have an overall record of 7-3 and they are 5-2 in SoCon play.
Samford leads the SoCon in scoring offense (38.3 ppg), total offense (469.3), pass offense (369.9) kickoff coverage (43.1), first downs (23.1), and they lead in red zone offense right in front of ETSU.
Behind the numbers in pass offense, Samford brings in quarterback Devlin Hodges. Hodges is a red-shirt sophomore and averages 359.4 passing yards so far this season and has completed 33 touchdowns in the air.
“We can’t get all bent out of shape and frustrated because of their completions, because they are going to complete their passes,” Torbush said. “They’re completing about 70 percent of their passes. We have to limit the big play and get off the field on third down.”
The Bucs are coming off a 23-16 homecoming win over Cumberland last week and want to bring that energy into the game on Saturday.
ETSU is currently 4-6 overall and 1-6 in SoCon play entering Saturday’s game.
“This is a great opportunity for us to see where we are at the end of the season and where we need to go as we prepare for spring practice,” Torbush said. “Again, we’re taking baby steps right now, but I think we took a big step last week with the win because it was a game we could have lost.”
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
