Samford 41, Gardner-Webb 14

Published Oct. 1, 2011 8:24 p.m. ET

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Dustin Taliaferro threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns to lead Samford to a 41-14 victory over Gardner-Webb on Saturday.

The Bulldogs (2-2) of the Southern Conference led 7-0 before Taliaferro and the offense got their hands on the ball. Phillip Ketcham blocked Graham Purvis' punt on the first possession by the Runnin' Bulldogs (1-3) of the Big South Conference and Stanley Robinson returned it 13 yards for a score.

Taliaferro found Kelsey Pope for a 60-yard touchdown in the first quarter and Chris Cephus for a 25-yard score on a fourth-down play in the second quarter as Samford built a 27-7 halftime lead.

Taliaferro, who completed 16 of 29 passes, got his third touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, a 7-yarder to Kelvin Clay.

Gardner-Webb's Kenny Little had 27 carries for 162 yards, including a 42-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.