Samford University used a career-record setting effort from Efrem Hill to knock off host UTM 57-22 in an OVC football game at Hardy Graham Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Samford’s wide receiver hauled in a career-high 11 catches for 223 yards and two touchdowns. Along with Hill, Samford picked apart the UTM defense and piled up 609 yards of offense, 93 on the ground and 516 in the air.

It was the air assault of Ray Nelson in the first half and a perfect 11-for-11 effort from backup quarterback Kevin Tooker that led to the Skyhawks demise.

Nelson completed 12-of-24 attempts for 303 yards and two touchdowns. Tooker completed all 11 of his attempts for 134 yards and a pair of scores. Hill also threw a 79-yard touchdown to add to the Skyhawk misery.

“Big plays hurt us,” said Matt Griffin, UTM’s first-year head coach. “Our kids were out worked.”

Samford didn’t waste any time striking with the big play. On the second play of the game, Nelson connected with Ossi Buchannon for an 84-yard touchdown.

UTM answered the big play with one of its own as sophomore QB Brady Wahlberg hooked up with Sanders Trent for a 60-yard scoring play. Samford enjoyed a 10-6 lead with 8:29 to play.

Nelson and Hill teamed up to make it 17-6 with 7:26 to play in the opening quarter. This time Nelson went 81 yards to Hill. By the time the scoring stopped in the first half, the Skyhawks closed the gap to 17-16.

Justin Glover scored on a 1-yard run, while Brent Harris added a 19-yard field goal.

Samford tacked on 10 unanswered points in the third quarter and then outscored the Skyhawks 30-6 in the fourth quarter. Hill went 79 yards to Buchannon to open the final period.

Sophomore Jason Coleman took the ensuing kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown, but when the point after was blocked, Samford’s Cortland Finnegan picked up the loose ball and scored. Samford led 36-22 with 14:33 to go.

Tooker replaced Nelson and threw two TD scores, one to Hill and the other a 39-yarder to Josh Brennard. John Williams added a 4-yard scoring run to the Samford tally to close out all the scoring in the game.

In the first half, the Skyhawk defense denied Samford the run as it stuffed the Bulldogs for minus three yards on five carries.

The Skyhawks added one sack to their league-leading total (23), and they also picked off Nelson twice. Russell Gambrell had one interception with an 18-yard return, while Chad McMahan had the other INT with a 22-yard return.

“This is a team we should have beat,” Griffin said. “We are better than they are physically, and (Samford) Coach Bill Gray would tell you the same thing. Unfortunately the scoreboard doesn’t show that today.”

Kickoff at Eastern Illinois is set for 1:30 p.m. tomorrow. The game can be heard locally on WCMT 101.7 and on the Internet at www.utmsports.com.