Samford football earned its first win of the 2025 college football season on the back of freshman quarterback Brady Stober.
The Bulldogs traveled to Foster Stadium in Lexington, Virginia, for a matchup against the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Cadets. Going into the game, there was one win between the two teams, with VMI having beaten Ferrum at the start of the season. Samford was coming off a bye week and the announcement of a change at quarterback.
Samford began the game with the ball and quickly got down the field with a mix of run and pass plays, ending the drive with a 15-yard touchdown to wide receiver Calvin Jones, marking the first time Samford got in the end zone on the opening drive of the game this season.
After a missed field goal by VMI, the two teams traded punts for the remainder of the quarter. When VMI tied the game at the start of the second quarter, Stober quickly responded with a 44-yard touchdown to wide receiver Preston Bird. The offense kept on the gas scoring one more touchdown in the air to close out the half.
The second half of the game was a defensive bout with six punts and two interceptions between the two teams. By the fourth quarter, VMI had taken a 22-21 lead. Despite throwing an interception, Stober was able to remain poised on a 14-play drive to kick the go-ahead field goal. The Cadets were able to drive at the end of the game but missed the game-winning field goal to make three missed kicks on the day. The game ended Samford 24, VMI 22.
Stober had played five games this season with this being his first collegiate start of his career. In high school he was a three-star and was named both Conference Player of the Year and Western North Carolina Player of the Year. Against VMI he threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns as well as leading the team in rushing with 45 yards.
Preston Bird also had a big day with nine receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown.
Samford now looks for its second win against 3-4 Chattanooga home on Oct. 25
Sports Editor
