Johnson's TD pass to Thomas on last play lifts Samford over ETSU 37-35

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) — Gabarri Johnson flipped a 7-yard touchdown pass to Domonique Thomas on the last play of the game lifting Samford to a 37-35 upset of East Tennessee State on Saturday.

The Buccaneers had taken the lead with 57 seconds to go when Mason Mims capped a 59-yard drive with a 10-yard scoring toss to Brandon Winton.

But the Bulldogs came up clutch, starting on their 24-yard line. They converted a 4th-and-2 with an 18-yard pass from Johnson to Kevonte Corbin at midfield. Johnson then ran for 16 yards on third down and followed that with a 26-yard run to the ETSU 7. After an incompletion and each team taking a timeout with three seconds to go, John found Thomas on the right side.

Johnson was 19 of 32 for 168 yards and ran for 41 yards with a touchdown. Will Shields was 4-of-7 passing for 56 yards and a touchdown pass to Corbin for the Bulldogs (4-6, 4-3 Southern Conference).

TJ Peyton, who had 89 yards, Jaiden Daniels, who had 79 yards, and Jason Albritton, who had 45 yards, all had rushing touchdowns for the Buccaneers (6-4, 4-2), ranked No. 19 in the FCS Stats Perform Poll.

ETSU took a 28-16 lead late in the third quarter on an 8-yard pass from Mims to Charlle Browder but Corbin answered with a 100-yard kickoff return. Then on second down Noah Holton forced a Peyton fumble and Sam Dunlap scooped up the loss ball, running it to the 8. On the first play of the fourth quarter Johnson ran it in from the 4.

Up next

Samford: Home against Western Carolina next Saturday.

East Tennessee State: At Wofford next Saturday.

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