NEWS
Football Defeats Stetson in Double Overtime Thriller, 56-48
Dylan Sparks scoring the game winning touchdown in double overtime.
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson’s Dylan Sparks scored from three yards out and Maxwell Weaver made a diving catch on the two-point conversion to lift the Wildcats over Stetson, 56-48, in double overtime Saturday afternoon inside Richardson Stadium.
The win was the 12th straight at home for Davidson, which improves to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in Pioneer Football League play, while the Hatters fall to 3-5 and 1-4.
After Caden Bonoffski’s 38-yard field goal put the ‘Cats up 41-34 with 7:48 left in the fourth quarter, Stetson’s Brady Meitz connected with Michael Carley on a 30-yard touchdown pass to tie the game, 41-41, and force overtime.
Both teams, which totaled over 500 yards of offense, scored touchdowns and were successful on their point after attempts in the first overtime.
Following Sparks’ eventual game-winning score to start the second extra session, the Wildcats’ defense stepped up when it mattered most, forcing a turnover on downs.
Playing in its first overtime contest since 2018, Davidson, the nation’s top rushing team, finished with 350 yards on the ground.
Mark McCurdy led the Wildcats with 157 total yards (111 rushing / 46 receiving). The junior slot receiver scored on a 46-yard catch and run a minute before the half and later found the end zone on a 66-yard run to put Davidson back in front 30-27.
The Wildcats’ running back duo of Sparks (97 yards) and Coy Williams (71 yards) added two touchdowns each, while combining for 168 yards on the ground. Senior tight end Lucas Raber was Davidson’s top receiver with 89 yards on three catches to go along with a touchdown.
Luke Durkin, making his second straight start at quarterback for the Wildcats, finished 7-of-12 for 160 yards and two scores.
Stetson, which entered with the nation’s eighth-best passing offense, got 379 yards in the air and six touchdown passes from Meitz.
Coming off a game in which he had five tackles for a loss and three sacks, Jonathan Hammond moved into fifth on Davidson’s all-time sacks list with two more this afternoon. The junior defensive end also added three more tackles for a loss.
Up Next
The Wildcats will travel west for a 5 p.m. (ET) contest at conference rival San Diego on Saturday, Nov. 12.