On Sept. 25, the Bucs remain undefeated after an overtime thriller on the road vs the (2-1) Samford Bulldogs.
The Bucs entered the day with a red-hot offense, averaging over 40 points per game and 400+ yards per game and Saturday would be no different.
The Bucs started strong in the first quarter with the dominant backfield of Jacob Saylors (Jasper, Tenn.) and Quay Holmes (Powder Springs, Ga.). Both running backs would find the endzone in the first quarter. The Bucs entered the second quarter with a 14-3 lead.
The Bulldogs made up lost ground by outscoring the Bucs 10-3 in the second quarter. The Bucs kicker, Tyler Keltner (Tallahassee, Fla.), would score the only points for the Bucs and begin the campaign for his eventual SoCon Player of The Week honor.
The third quarter saw the Bulldogs offense take the lead after answering an early touchdown pass by Tyler Riddell (Tampa, Fla.) to WR Will Huzzie (Duluth, Ga.). The Bulldogs scored 13 unanswered points and entered the fourth quarter with a two-point lead over the Bucs.
The Bulldogs came out swinging with an early score in the fourth, putting the Bucs down 24-33. The Bucs answered with a 71-yard kick-off return by Saylors that set the Bucs up for a quick touchdown to cut the Bulldogs lead down to two. The next drive for the Bulldogs saw the Bucs defense quickly leave the field after only five plays. The Bucs scored on their following drive to go up 38-33 with 6:22 remaining in the game. The Bulldogs were not finished as they would also score on their next drive after quickly marching down the field.
38-41 was the score with 4:00 remaining in the game. Saylors would put the Bucs in great field position with a 50-yard return and Holmes would gain 41-yards on first down for the Bucs and set Riddell up for a 5-yard rushing touchdown. The Bucs were back on top 45-41 with 1:51 remaining. The Samford Bulldogs would answer back within 1:00 of game time and regain the lead, 48-45.
On the final drive of the game, the Bucs would change up the game plan and gain their yardage in the air with several consecutive passing plays and an 18-yard rush by Holmes would put Keltner in position to hit the game-tying 27-yard field goal as time expired.
Overtime
The Bucs received the ball to begin overtime and wasted little time in scoring. Quay Holmes would run the ball into the endzone on a 13-yard touchdown and put the Bucs up 55-48 and send the defense back onto the field. The Bulldogs had amassed over 700 yards on offense and only needed 25 more to tie the game or go for the win on a two-point conversion; however, the Bucs defense would stop them and force a turnover on downs securing a victory for ETSU and give them their first 4-0 start since 1999.
The Bucs special teams were lights out with Saylors earning 157-yards on his returns. SoCon Player of The Week, Tyler Keltner was a perfect 2/2 for field goals and 7/7 on extra points. Quay Holmes carried the ball 24 times for 168-yards and two touchdowns. QB Tyler Riddell was 21/35 with 291 passing yards and three touchdowns.
The Bucs will return home to protect their undefeated record as they face-off against SoCon rival Wofford on Oct. 2 at William B. Greene Jr. Stadium.
