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Saturday, October 27
Indianapolis, Ind.
1:00 p.m.
Davidson College
44
at
32
at Butler
Ryan Alexander set a new Davidson career passing record (photo by Brian Westerholt).
Alexander Breaks School Passing Record, Williams Runs for 4 TDs in 44-32 Win
10/27/2007 3:33:20 PM | Football
Marc Gignac
Box Score
Indianapolis, Ind. - Senior Ryan Alexander threw for 218 yards to set a new school career passing record, and freshman Justin Williams logged 25 carries for a career-high 225 yards and tied a school record with four rushing touchdowns in leading Davidson to a 44-32 Pioneer Football League victory over the Bulldogs at the Butler Bowl Saturday afternoon.
Alexander's record-breaking pass came on the Wildcats'(5-3, 3-2 PFL) third possession of the game. After he hit senior Ryan Hubbard with a 10-yard pass, Alexander found #D.J. Singleterry# for an 8-yard gain, which put him over Paul Nichols' career mark of 5,822 yards.
Hubbard caught seven passes for 100 yards, and senior Beaux Jones finished the contest with four catches for 47 yards. Junior linebacker Peter Bakke had a tremendous game, posting 20 tackles, including a sack, and a pass break-up.
“Three weeks ago, Justin was our third-string tailback, so for him to come in here and put up those kinds of numbers in this kind of environment is a credit to him,” said Davidson coach Tripp Merritt. “We had an outstanding running game today, and that's ultimately what put us over the top. Our offensive line did a great job with that and a good job protecting the quarterback as well.”
Two plays were the keys in this one and the second came midway through the fourth quarter after Butler's Jacob Fritz had just returned an interception 35 yards for the touchdown to pull the Bulldogs (4-5, 0-5 PFL) to 37-32.
Butler got a stop on Davidson's next drive but roughed Wildcat senior Cody Elder during his punt attempt to give the 'Cats a first down at the Bulldog 22-yard line. Two plays later, Williams ran in from 14 yards out as Davidson got some separation at 44-32. Butler moved the ball to the Davidson 28-yard line, converting one fourth down along the way, but seniors Jeff Scott and Zach Long broke up a Matt Kobli pass on 4th-and-12 to halt the drive and preserve the win.
The other game-changing play came right before halftime and gave momentum to the 'Cats after the teams had been locked in a tug of war for a majority of the contest. Leading 21-17 late in the first half following a Butler field goal, the 'Cats benefited from an incredible bounce, resembling the Pittsburgh Steelers' “Immaculate Reception.”
On 2nd-and-4 from the Davidson 44-yard line, Alexander hit Kirk Benedict with a pass in the flat. As the sophomore rumbled for some extra yardage, a hit by Butler's Tadd Dombart forced a fumble, which flew right into the waiting hands of Hubbard near the left sideline. Hubbard turned on the jets, cut across the field and went 45 yards for the touchdown and a 28-17 lead with 1:02 left in the half.
Williams opened the third quarter with a 40-yard run, and on 3rd-and-4 from the Bulldog 10 yard line, Alexander found Jones alone in the flat for a score. But on the point after attempt, Mike Bennett blocked the kick, and Fritz returned it for the defensive 2-point conversion, making the margin 34-19.
Elder kicked a 20-yard field goal to extend the cushion to 37-19, but Butler would not go quietly. Derek North's 1-yard touchdown run with 4:11 left in the third quarter trimmed the margin to 37-26.
An Alexander pass slipped through the hands of Singleterry and into the arms of Bennett on the Wildcats' next play to give Butler the ball at the Davidson 25-yard line. The Davidson defense got a big stop on 3rd-and-4, and Jordan Quiroz hit the right post with his field goal try.
After the 'Cats stopped a Butler drive on 4th-and-13 from the Davidson 25 in the fourth quarter, Fritz intercepted an Alexander pass and went 35-yards for the touchdown. The Bulldogs went for the two-point conversion but their pass attempt was intercepted in the end zone, making the score 37-32 with 10:55 remaining.
Butler took the opening kickoff of the game and promptly went 75 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 1-yard run by Kobli on a bootleg as the Bulldogs took an early 7-0 lead.
Williams tied the scored 7-7 with 1:21 left in the first quarter on an 8-yard touchdown run, the first of his career. The play capped an 11-play, 94-yard drive that took 4:07 off the clock. Alexander led the methodical march, completing 5-of-7 passes for 52 yards, including a 21-yard completion to sophomore Andrew Aldrich.
Senior Patrick FitzGerald's 10th career interception gave the Wildcats the ball at the Bulldog 39-yard line late in the frame. The pick came after sophomore Tyler Lemons tipped a pass, and FitzGerald dove and caught the ball before it hit the ground. That set up a 2-yard TD run by Williams, giving Davidson a 14-7 advantage.
A couple of holding calls forced the Wildcats to punt from their own 6-yard line into a strong wind, which resulted in a Butler drive that started at the Davidson 37. Seven plays later, North scored on a 5-yard run to tie the game with 5:41 left in the half.
Consecutive Bulldog kickoffs went out of bounds, allowing Davidson field position at its own 40. A 23-yard pass from Alexander to Singleterry started the drive, and Alexander then hooked up with Jones for a 25-yard gain on 4th-and-2 from the Bulldog 29. On 1st-and-goal, Williams went in from four yards out as Davidson re-took the lead at 21-14.
A good return and a personal foul facemask penalty on the ensuing kickoff gave Butler the ball at the Davidson 47. Kobli began the possession by running 21 yards on the keeper, but on 3rd-and-7 from the 13, the Wildcats stopped the Bulldogs a yard short. Quiroz banged home a 26-yard field goal, making the margin 21-17 with 1:30 left in the half.
Davidson travels to San Diego for a 5 p.m. (EST) contest next Saturday.
Notes: Williams became just the fifth Wildcat to rush for 200 yards or more and the first since John Leverett had 259 against Jacksonville in 2004… Williams is the third different Wildcat to rush for over 100 yards in a game this season; the other two are Chad Barnes and Kenny Mantuo… Hubbard now has 31 receptions for 416 yards in his last three games… Elder's first punt was a 55-yarder that rolled to the 5-yard line; it was the longest of the senior's career… The Wildcats have now had seven scoring drives of 80 or more yards, including three that were 90 or more… Davidson has scored after receiving the opening kickoff of the second half four times this season… Butler's defensive PAT was the first in school history… The Wildcats improved to 4-0 against Butler… It was the Bulldogs' senior day.
Indianapolis, Ind. - Senior Ryan Alexander threw for 218 yards to set a new school career passing record, and freshman Justin Williams logged 25 carries for a career-high 225 yards and tied a school record with four rushing touchdowns in leading Davidson to a 44-32 Pioneer Football League victory over the Bulldogs at the Butler Bowl Saturday afternoon.
Alexander's record-breaking pass came on the Wildcats'(5-3, 3-2 PFL) third possession of the game. After he hit senior Ryan Hubbard with a 10-yard pass, Alexander found #D.J. Singleterry# for an 8-yard gain, which put him over Paul Nichols' career mark of 5,822 yards.
Hubbard caught seven passes for 100 yards, and senior Beaux Jones finished the contest with four catches for 47 yards. Junior linebacker Peter Bakke had a tremendous game, posting 20 tackles, including a sack, and a pass break-up.
“Three weeks ago, Justin was our third-string tailback, so for him to come in here and put up those kinds of numbers in this kind of environment is a credit to him,” said Davidson coach Tripp Merritt. “We had an outstanding running game today, and that's ultimately what put us over the top. Our offensive line did a great job with that and a good job protecting the quarterback as well.”
Two plays were the keys in this one and the second came midway through the fourth quarter after Butler's Jacob Fritz had just returned an interception 35 yards for the touchdown to pull the Bulldogs (4-5, 0-5 PFL) to 37-32.
Butler got a stop on Davidson's next drive but roughed Wildcat senior Cody Elder during his punt attempt to give the 'Cats a first down at the Bulldog 22-yard line. Two plays later, Williams ran in from 14 yards out as Davidson got some separation at 44-32. Butler moved the ball to the Davidson 28-yard line, converting one fourth down along the way, but seniors Jeff Scott and Zach Long broke up a Matt Kobli pass on 4th-and-12 to halt the drive and preserve the win.
The other game-changing play came right before halftime and gave momentum to the 'Cats after the teams had been locked in a tug of war for a majority of the contest. Leading 21-17 late in the first half following a Butler field goal, the 'Cats benefited from an incredible bounce, resembling the Pittsburgh Steelers' “Immaculate Reception.”
On 2nd-and-4 from the Davidson 44-yard line, Alexander hit Kirk Benedict with a pass in the flat. As the sophomore rumbled for some extra yardage, a hit by Butler's Tadd Dombart forced a fumble, which flew right into the waiting hands of Hubbard near the left sideline. Hubbard turned on the jets, cut across the field and went 45 yards for the touchdown and a 28-17 lead with 1:02 left in the half.
Williams opened the third quarter with a 40-yard run, and on 3rd-and-4 from the Bulldog 10 yard line, Alexander found Jones alone in the flat for a score. But on the point after attempt, Mike Bennett blocked the kick, and Fritz returned it for the defensive 2-point conversion, making the margin 34-19.
Elder kicked a 20-yard field goal to extend the cushion to 37-19, but Butler would not go quietly. Derek North's 1-yard touchdown run with 4:11 left in the third quarter trimmed the margin to 37-26.
An Alexander pass slipped through the hands of Singleterry and into the arms of Bennett on the Wildcats' next play to give Butler the ball at the Davidson 25-yard line. The Davidson defense got a big stop on 3rd-and-4, and Jordan Quiroz hit the right post with his field goal try.
After the 'Cats stopped a Butler drive on 4th-and-13 from the Davidson 25 in the fourth quarter, Fritz intercepted an Alexander pass and went 35-yards for the touchdown. The Bulldogs went for the two-point conversion but their pass attempt was intercepted in the end zone, making the score 37-32 with 10:55 remaining.
Butler took the opening kickoff of the game and promptly went 75 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 1-yard run by Kobli on a bootleg as the Bulldogs took an early 7-0 lead.
Williams tied the scored 7-7 with 1:21 left in the first quarter on an 8-yard touchdown run, the first of his career. The play capped an 11-play, 94-yard drive that took 4:07 off the clock. Alexander led the methodical march, completing 5-of-7 passes for 52 yards, including a 21-yard completion to sophomore Andrew Aldrich.
Senior Patrick FitzGerald's 10th career interception gave the Wildcats the ball at the Bulldog 39-yard line late in the frame. The pick came after sophomore Tyler Lemons tipped a pass, and FitzGerald dove and caught the ball before it hit the ground. That set up a 2-yard TD run by Williams, giving Davidson a 14-7 advantage.
A couple of holding calls forced the Wildcats to punt from their own 6-yard line into a strong wind, which resulted in a Butler drive that started at the Davidson 37. Seven plays later, North scored on a 5-yard run to tie the game with 5:41 left in the half.
Consecutive Bulldog kickoffs went out of bounds, allowing Davidson field position at its own 40. A 23-yard pass from Alexander to Singleterry started the drive, and Alexander then hooked up with Jones for a 25-yard gain on 4th-and-2 from the Bulldog 29. On 1st-and-goal, Williams went in from four yards out as Davidson re-took the lead at 21-14.
A good return and a personal foul facemask penalty on the ensuing kickoff gave Butler the ball at the Davidson 47. Kobli began the possession by running 21 yards on the keeper, but on 3rd-and-7 from the 13, the Wildcats stopped the Bulldogs a yard short. Quiroz banged home a 26-yard field goal, making the margin 21-17 with 1:30 left in the half.
Davidson travels to San Diego for a 5 p.m. (EST) contest next Saturday.
Notes: Williams became just the fifth Wildcat to rush for 200 yards or more and the first since John Leverett had 259 against Jacksonville in 2004… Williams is the third different Wildcat to rush for over 100 yards in a game this season; the other two are Chad Barnes and Kenny Mantuo… Hubbard now has 31 receptions for 416 yards in his last three games… Elder's first punt was a 55-yarder that rolled to the 5-yard line; it was the longest of the senior's career… The Wildcats have now had seven scoring drives of 80 or more yards, including three that were 90 or more… Davidson has scored after receiving the opening kickoff of the second half four times this season… Butler's defensive PAT was the first in school history… The Wildcats improved to 4-0 against Butler… It was the Bulldogs' senior day.
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