SPORTS
Wildcat Football Blanks West Virginia Wesleyan
Quarterback Tyler Phelps runs for a first down.
[Visit our full photo album of images from the game]
DAVIDSON, N.C. – A scrappy Davidson defense kept the West Virginia Wesleyan College Bobcats off the scoreboard in a non-conference clash Saturday night at Richardson Stadium, 41-0.
Davidson improves to 3-0 for the second consecutive season and posted its first shutout since a 56-0 victory over the College of Faith in 2014.
Freshman Aris Hilliard scored a 9 yard touchdown in the 41-0 win.
“Our defense, couldn’t be prouder of the way we’re playing football right now and getting after it. We’re really playing fast on that side of the football,” said head coach Scott Abell after the game.
The ‘Cats jumped on the scoreboard with a pair of first quarter touchdowns. Senior quarterback Tyler Phelps tossed a 14-yard scoring strike to sophomore Eli Turner Jr. Senior slot receiver Kahleel Shaw capped the Wildcats second drive with a 15-yard scoring scamper.
Freshman kicker Caden Bonoffski hit his first of two field goals in the second quarter, a 23-yard make. His fourth quarter attempt was good from 35 yards. The Huntersville, N.C., native was also a perfect 5 for 5 on extra points.
Davidson held their third straight opponent scoreless in the first half, taking a 17-0 advantage into the locker room.
On the opening play from scrimmage in the second half, Turner Jr. broke one up the far sideline for 67 yards, his second of the game. Freshman Aris Hilliard found the end zone for his first career touchdown in the final minute of the third.
Junior Pat Tabor
Wildcat junior quarterback Louis Colosimo broke free for a 24-yard rushing touchdown to cap the scoring effort in the final frame.
Eli Turner Jr. finished with 124 all-purpose yards – 110 coming on the ground. Davidson posted a season-best 357 yards rushing on 54 carries.
“Offensively, we’re playing with a lot of different parts, got some injuries, but we really started to come into our own in that game,” said Abell.
The stout Wildcat defense sacked Bobcat quarterbacks on four occasions including a pair of sacks from junior Steven Wolfe. Sophomore Chibuike Odo posted a sack for the second straight week, while senior Bryce Perry-Martin also got to the WVWC QB.
Senior defensive end Harrison Hill led the unit with 8 tackles, 1.5 for a loss of 17 yards. The ‘Cats also made 13 tackles for loss.
Davidson turned over the Bobcats twice with a pair of picks from senior’s Rayshawn McCall and Stephen Shank. McCall’s was his second in as many games and was deflected up by sophomore linebacker Jalen Jefferson.
Davidson hits the road for the first time in 2019 next week when they travel to Campbell for a non-conference clash with the Camels. Kick off from Buies Creek is slated for 6 p.m.
Editor’s Note: At halftime, Davidson President Carol Quillen presented the family of Joshua Harris with the game ball from the Wildcats’ 2018 game at San Diego. Josh played football at Davidson, and graduated in 1994 as an Art Major. In 2001, Josh became a U.S. Navy SEAL. Tragically, he was killed in Afghanistan in 2008. An exhibition of his art work is currently on display in the Wall Academic Center.