Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Andy Summerlin's 12-yard pass to Chris Cephus on fourth-and-goal with seven seconds remaining lifted the 23rd-ranked Samford Bulldogs past the visiting Elon Phoenix by a 33-32 margin on Saturday afternoon at Seibert Stadium.

The Phoenix (2-10, 1-7 Southern Conference) found itself down 27-24 after a 23-yard Warren Handrahan field goal with 1:41 left in the third quarter, but moved back in front with three fourth-quarter scores.  Facing a third-and-10 from its own 10, Summerlin dropped back to pass and was hit and brought down in the end zone by Jordan Jones and Jay Brown for a safety that pulled the Phoenix within one point, 27-26.  The safety was the first for Elon since recording one on Sept. 26, 2009 against Georgia Southern.  John Gallagher then added field goals of 39 and 28 yards to give the maroon and gold a 32-27 edge with just 2:31 to play.

Samford (8-4, 6-2) began its final drive at its own 25 and moved across midfield after completions of 20 and 14 yards.  The Bulldogs moved to the Elon seven after a six-yard completion and then faced second-and-goal at the 12 after a false start.  Edward Burns broke up passes on both second and third down before Summerlin tossed a perfect throw against tight coverage for the winning score.

Elon raced out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.  The first score came when Kierre Brown received a punt, eluded a couple of tacklers early and then received a few key blocks before reaching the open field and returning the kick 56 yards for a touchdown.  It marked the first punt returned for a TD by the maroon and gold since Lance Camp did so against Davidson on Sept. 5, 2009.  After Samford took over at the Elon 45, Jones stripped Bulldog quarterback Andy Summerilin of the ball.  Adrian McClendon scooped the ball up and returned it 51 yards to the Samford six-yard line.  A pass interference call put the ball at the two before a Tracey Coppedge TD run around the left end put the Phoenix up 14-0.

Once both sides traded field goals, the Bulldogs put toghether their best drive of the first half, going 80 yards on 10 plays to pull within seven thanks to a 10-yard touchdown pass from Summerlin to Jeremiaha Gates with 2:02 to play in the first half.  The Phoenix looked to have Gates stopped a few yards shy of the goalline when a slew of Samford players helped to push the pile into the end zone.

Elon responded with a quick touchdown drive of its own that gave the Phoenix a 24-10 lead heading into the break.  The Phoenix drive covered 65 yards in 1:49 and ended when Rasaun Rorie grabbed a pass from Quinn and went in for a 38-yard score with just 5.2 seconds left in the half.

Samford trimmed Elon's lead to 24-17 on its second possession of the second half, going 96 yards in just seven plays as Summerlin hit an open Kelsey Pope for a nine-yard touchdown with exactly eight minutes to play in the third quarter.

The Bulldogs forced Elon to punt on its next drive and pushed downfield to tie the game on a 40-yard toss from Summerlin to Emmanuel Obajimi with just over four minutes left in the third period.

Samford grabbed the lead, 27-24, on a 23-yard field goal by Warren Handrahan following an interception that set the Bulldogs up at the Elon 31.

Elon's defense limited Samford's rushing attack to just 27 yards on 29 carries.  The Phoenix posted three sacks, including 1.5 by Jay Brown, and totaled 12 tackles for a loss.  Chandler Wrightenberry picked off two passes, the first two-INT game of his career, and concluded his time at Elon with eight interceptions.

On offense, Quinn threw for 227 yards and a score while Coppedge toted the ball 21 times for 92 yards and a score.  Coppedge also led the team with 11 receptions for 54 yards to account for 146 all-purpose yards.  Kierre Brown put up 229 all-purpose yards (35 receiving, 139 on kick returns and 55 on punt returns).