NEWS

 

DAVIDSON — Running backs Dylan Sparks and Coy Williams surpassed the 2,000-yard career rushing mark and the Davidson Wildcats improved to 3-1 in the Pioneer Football League with a 28-26 win over Morehead State Saturday afternoon in Richardson Stadium.

The Wildcats moved to 5-2 overall after Morehead State’s potential game-winning 43-yard field missed as time expired, while the Eagles fell to 2-4 overall and 1-2 in league play.

Sparks (13 carries, 90 yards) and Williams (11 carries, 60 yards, 1 touchdown) became the fifth and sixth Wildcats, respectively, to rush for 2,000 yards and were part of a larger Davidson ground attack that produced 6.4 yards per carry, totaling 467 yards on 73 carries.

Quarterback Jayden Waddell led the way with 92 yards on 19 carries, while Mark McCurdy ran six times for 88 yards and two scores, including a 59-yard touchdown run that made it 21-7 in the second quarter.  

Entering the game 19 yards shy of 2,000, Sparks (2,071) surpassed the milestone on a 17-yard run early in the second quarter. Williams (2,001) was 59 yards shy of 2,000 and got it on his final rush of the day, a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Davidson led 28-10 following Mason Sheron’s 5-yard touchdown run two minutes before halftime, but the Eagles made it interesting late after quarterback Grady Cramer ran for a 2-yard score with 13:05 to play. But his ensuing two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, leaving the Wildcats ahead 28-26.

In the final minutes, the Eagles drove from their own 26-yard line to the Davidson 26 and called timeout with one second remaining to set up the potential game-winner. After two Davidson timeouts, Morehead kicker Nathan Hazlett’s field goal attempt from the left hash missed wide right as time expired.

Daniel Carter led the Davidson defense with nine tackles, while Julian Rawlins had a sack and two tackles-for-loss and Jaden Pask intercepted a pass.

Up Next
The Wildcats will visit PFL foe Drake next Saturday, Oct. 22.