NEWS

 

Due to the effects of Hurricane Helene, the Wildcats’ Pioneer Football League opener with Presbyterian has been moved to Davidson College Stadium and will kick off Sunday at 5 p.m.

Admission for the week five match-up will be FREE.

GAME 4 | SEPT. 29, 2024 | 5:00 PM | DAVIDSON COLLEGE STADIUM (5,000) | DAVIDSON, N.C. 

DAVIDSON WILDCATS
2024 Record: 2-1 (0-0 PFL)
2023 Record: 7-4 (6-2 PFL)
Head Coach: Scott Abell
Davidson Record (Yrs): 43-24 (7)
Career Record (Yrs): 82-48 (13)

PRESBYTERIAN BLUE HOSE
2024 Record: 2-2 (0-0 PFL)
2023 Record: 4-7 (2-6 PFL)
Head Coach: Steve Englehart
PC Record (Yrs): 7-19 (3)
Career Record (Yrs): 77-68 (19)

INSIDE THE SERIES
Meetings: 34
Series Record: Davidson leads, 18-14-2
First Meeting: Tied, 0-0 (11/22/1919)
Last Meeting: Davidson Won, 45-28 (10/28/2023)
Streak: Won 3
In Davidson: 7-7-2
In Clinton: 11-7-0
Abell vs. PC: 4-1

1ST AND 10

• Coming off a week four bye, Davidson will open Pioneer Football League action against Presbyterian.
• Originally scheduled for Saturday, the game was moved to Davidson College Stadium due to the effects of Hurricane Helene.
• The two teams have met 34 times on the gridiron with Saturday’s meeting being the fourth Carolina Border Clash / Battle for the 1919 Cup.
• The Wildcats enter 2-1 overall following a 42-12 win over Point University Sept. 14.
• Mari Adams led the ‘Cats with 207 yards on the ground and a pair of touchdowns against the Skyhawks.
• The junior running back is the just seventh player in school history to go over the 200-yard mark in a contest.
• Adams and backfield mate Mason Sheron are tied for fourth nationally with five touchdowns each.
• The duo has also combined to rush for 611 yards.
• The Wildcats are 5-1 in conference openers under head coach Scott Abell, who has a 31-14 PFL mark, while capturing two regular season crowns and leading the ‘Cats to three FCS Playoff appearances.
• In addition, Abell ranks tied for second on Davidson’s career wins list with 43 victories and is just one shy of tying William Younger (1923-1931) for the most all-time.
• Davidson, which leads the nation in rushing offense at 368.0 yards per game, also ranks among FCS leaders in total offense (461.3 / 5th), scoring offense (38.3 / 9th), passing yards allowed (151.0 / 10th), 1st down defense (52 / 15th) and time of possession (34:48 / 5th). 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Davidson and Presbyterian first met on Nov. 22, 1919. The game ended in a scoreless tie.
• Saturday’s meeting will be the 35th all-time, with the Wildcats leading the series, 18-14-2.
• Since Presbyterian joined the PFL in 2020, Davidson is 4-1 against the league foes.
• In 2021, the two teams formed the Carolina Border Clash / Battle for the 1919 Cup. 

LAST TIME OUT | DAVIDSON 42, POINT UNIVERSITY 12 — SEPT. 14, 2024 | DAVIDSON, N.C.

• Mari Adams rushed for a career-high 207 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns as the Wildcats pulled away from Point University 42-12 September 14 inside Davidson College Stadium.
• The first since Wesley Dugger (231 vs. San Diego, 11/10/18), Adams is just the seventh back in program history to go over the 200-yard mark in a contest.
• Davidson finished the night with 482 yards on the ground on 68 carries (7.1 yards per carry). 
• After Point made it a two-point game to open the third quarter, the Wildcats responded with 28 straight points highlighted by three scoring plays of 25 yards or more — an Adams 28-yard rush, Jaleel Sales’ 27-yard pass from LJ Phillips Jr. and Will Jones’ 29 rush.
• Davidson, which led 14-6 at the half, needed just six plays on its opening drive, capped by a Brody Reina 7-yard reception from Luke Durkin to grab the early lead.
• Adams’ first score came on an 11-yard scamper that finished off a 13-play, 90-yard drive. He had a long run of 40 yards on the opening drive, and his 33-yard run in the third quarter helped set up Mason Sheron’s 3-yard score.
• Point cut the deficit to 14-12 when Michael Gossett connected with Quintravious Teasley on a 15-yard pass in the corner of the end zone. Davidson’s Daniel Carter intercepted the Skyhawks’ two-point attempt in the end zone halting their momentum. 

LAST MEETING | DAVIDSON 45, PRESBYTERIAN — OCT 28, 2023 | DAVIDSON, N.C.

• The 1919 Cup is staying in Davidson. The Wildcats made sure of that with a 45-28 victory over Presbyterian in the Third Annual Carolina Border Clash Saturday night at Richardson Stadium.
• Running back Mason Sheron rushed 23 times for 139 yards, and his 43-yard touchdown made it 21-10 early in the second quarter.
• Fellow back Mari Adams added 43 rushing yards and provided the Wildcats’ first two scores on 1- and 4-yard touchdown runs.
• Quarterback Coulter Cleland was efficient through the air, finishing 7-of-8 passing for 69 yards and three scores. He hit Brody Reina for a 12-yard touchdown with 1:04 left in the half, making it 31-13 at the break, and started the second half with a 27-yard Cleland touchdown pass to Mark McCurdy to push the lead to 25. In the fourth, Cleland connected with Aaron Maione on a 4-yard scoring play.
• Davidson kicker Adam Zouagui capped a 12-play drive in the second quarter with a 50-yard field goal, his longest to date.
• Defensive end Jonathan Hammond led the defense with eight tackles and a sack, while defensive back Amare Hill added seven tackles.
• Presbyterian quarterback Tyler Wesley was the top Blue Hose threat, rushing for 198 yards and a score and throwing for two touchdowns. 

UP NEXT

• Davidson will continue its stretch of eight straight conference games to conclude the regular season when Marist comes to town for a 1 p.m. kick off next weekend.