CULLOWHEE, N.C. (AP) — Chris Evans rushed for 131 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries and Samford used a 24-point second quarter to break the game open in a 38-7 victory over Western Carolina.
Evans scored touchdowns of 5, 4 and 7 yards, the second one giving the Bulldogs (3-3, 1-2 Southern Conference) a 17-0 lead. Connor Lowery added a 75-yard scoring pass to Jacob Rodriguez, his only catch, and Jamael Lett returned an interception 59 yards on the final play of the first half to make it 31-0.
The Catamounts (2-4, 1-2) didn’t score until the fourth quarter, when Zac Brindise found Jacoby Mitchell with a 25-yard scoring pass.
Michael Johnson gained 117 yards on 14 carries for Western Carolina, but starting quarterback Brandon Pechloff was intercepted three times, two by Lett, and Brindise was intercepted once.
Lowery was 13-for-28 passing for 167 yards.
