State college football roundup: Samford squashes VMI

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Quincy Crittendon threw three touchdown passes to help Samford beat VMI 27-3 on Saturday in the Southern Conference opener for both teams.

VMI (0-5) is off to its worst start since the 2018 team lost its first eight games.

Crittendon completed 26 of 30 passes for 196 yards for Samford (2-2), which led 17-3 at halftime.

Midnight Steward intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards to set up a 5-yard touchdown pass from Crittendon with 4:36 left in the third quarter.

VMI was held to 129 yards of total offense, including 42 rushing. The Keydets were just 4 of 17 on third down.

VMI true freshman Brady Hammonds, making his starting debut, completed 14 of 28 passes for 87 yards with one interception. VMI coach Danny Rocco had pulled starter Chandler Wilson in favor of Hammonds in the second quarter of VMI's previous game.

Hunter Rice (Lord Botetourt) ran for 58 yards for VMI.

W&L 35, Averett 0

Anthony Crawford ran for 92 yards and four touchdowns on 10 carries to lead the host Generals (2-2, 1-0 ODAC) past the Cougars (2-2, 0-1) on Saturday.

W&L had 410 yards of total offense, including 364 rushing. Averett was held to 155 yards of total offense.

Brevard 55, SVU 21

Ethan Beamish threw for 315 yards and five touchdowns with one interception to lead Brevard (2-1, 2-0 USA South) past the host Knights (0-5, 0-3) on Saturday.

Zackary Orr scored on an 88-yard punt return and also had two TD catches for Brevard.

Devin Watson completed 13 of 22 passes for 255 yards and one TD with one interception and also ran for a TD for SVU.

No. 21 Richmond 20, N.C. A&T 17

Zach Palmer-Smith ran for 200 yards and a touchdown to lead host Richmond (4-2, 2-0 CAA) past North Carolina A&T (1-5, 0-2) on Saturday.

Justin Fomby's 38-yard touchdown pass for North Carolina A&T capped the scoring with 8:20 remaining. The Aggies' last possession stalled at the Richmond 48 on an incomplete pass on fourth-and-2 with 4:32 left.

Rhode Island 46, Hampton 44, 2 OT

Devin Farrell ran 2 yards for a touchdown and then ran for the mandatory two-point conversion in the second overtime as visiting Rhode Island (4-1, 2-0 CAA) rallied for a wild victory over Hampton on Saturday.

Rhode Island's Malik Grant scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with 24 seconds remaining to force overtime.

Farrell opened the first OT with a 12-yard scoring toss. Malcolm Mays answered for Hampton (3-3, 0-2) with a 25-yard touchdown pass.

Hampton scored on Mays' 8-yard toss to begin the second extra period, but his conversion pass was incomplete, setting the stage for Farrell.

Sacred Heart 10, Norfolk State 3

Quarterback John Michalski rushed for the lone touchdown and Sacred Heart (3-3) beat Norfolk State (2-5) on Saturday in Fairfield, Conn.

Norfolk State drove to the SHU 8-yard line late in the game. A touchdown was called back for a holding penalty and then Vinson Berry threw three incomplete passes in the closing seconds.