Funsten Smashes Records in Loss to Jacksonville

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DAVIDSON, N.C. – Lanny Funsten caught a Pioneer Football League record 17 passes, totaling 246 yards, and also broke Davidson's all-time reception and receiving yardage records in a 34-24 loss to Jacksonville in conference action Saturday afternoon at Richardson Stadium.

Funsten now has 191 career receptions and 2,362 career yards receiving. He broke the career reception record of 179 that had stood for 42 years and was previously held by Mike Mikolayunas (1968-70), and the career receiving yard record of 2,220 that was held by Ryan Hubbard (2004-07).

Funsten's 17 receptions in the game tied a school record, first set in 1969 by Mikolayunas, and his 246 yards was just two yards shy of the school-mark set by Rick Lyon in 1968. The previous PFL record of 14 for receptions was most recently reached by Zach Watkins of Butler in 2011, and the receiving yards in a game is 275 set by Valparaiso's Rob Giancola in 2003.

“It was an outstanding effort on his part,” said Davidson head coach Tripp Merritt. “He's a wonderful player, and I think if he keeps it up and finishes strong, he'll have a chance at the next level somewhere.”

Davidson (0-6, 0-3 PFL) quarterback Jonathan Carkhuff set multiple season highs, completing 34-of-53 pass attempts for 404 yards and three touchdowns. His 400-plus yard performance was just the sixth in Wildcats history. He was also intercepted once and sacked five times.

Davidson linebacker Patrick Moynahan led all defenders with 13 tackles.

Jacksonville (6-1, 4-0 PFL) was led by quarterback Kade Bell, who completed 23-of-36 passes for 313 yards and three touchdowns and wide receiver D'Andre Randle, who caught six passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Eric Baker gained 115 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.

Davidson was the first to score in the game as Funsten's 12-yard touchdown reception to cap a 15-play, 81-yard drive with 3:35 remaining in the first quarter gave Davidson a 7-0 lead, but Jacksonville quickly responded and outscored Davidson 24-3 for a 24-10 lead at halftime. Carkhuff threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, but Jacksonville was able to maintain a double-digit lead throughout the game.

“That's a good football team we played,” said Merritt. “That's probably the fastest team speed we've seen on both sides of the football, and on special teams, all year long.”

A 24-yard Dylan Lynch field goal for JU was the only scoring in the third quarter, and it gave JU its largest lead of the game at 27-10 with 9:41 remaining in the period.

The Dolphins had a chance to put the game out of reach at the start of the fourth quarter, but Bell fumbled the ball into the end zone attempting to run it in for a touchdown, and Michael Corbett fell on it in the end zone for a Davidson touchback.

Carkhuff then led the 'Cats on an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive. After reaching midfield, completions of 26 and 14 yards to Funsten placed the 'Cats in the red zone. Carkhuff completed a seven-yard pass to Reese Williams, who tapped his toe inbounds to complete a spectacular catch, for the touchdown with 6:25 to go.

JU was able to restore its 17-point lead though when Eric Baker rushed nine yards for a touchdown to cap a 13-play, 68-yard drive.
The 'Cats answered on their next possession with three-straight first-down completions to Funsten before a roughing-the-passer penalty placed the 'Cats in scoring range at JU's 21-yard line. On 4th-and-10 from the 21, another completion to Funsten gave the 'Cats the ball at the nine, and Carkhuff found Garrett Diehl in the end zone on the next play to pull the 'Cats back within 10 at 34-24 with 3:29 to go.

Davidson's Zach Clark forced a JU fumble with 2:11 remaining, and he recovered it to give the 'Cats one more chance but Jacksonville was able to stop Davidson on downs and seal the victory.

Spencer Perry led Davidson on the ground with 38 yards on 11 carries, but Jacksonville was able to sack Carkhuff five times for a loss of 43 yards to leave the 'Cats with seven net yards rushing. Jacksonville finished with 509 yards of total offense to Davidson's 411.

Diehl matched his career high with six receptions and totaled 71 yards.

Funsten caught five passes on Davidson's first scoring drive to match the school's career reception yards record, including a 19-yard play on 3rd-and-12 from Davidson's 34-yard line and a 10-yard play on 4th-and-8 from JU's 24. However, a 21-yard return by Terrance Bryant on a short kickoff gave the Dolphins good field position on Davidson's 47, and Bell completed a 17-yard pass to Randle on the third play of the drive for a touchdown to tie the game at 7-7 with 2:27 to go in the first quarter.

Jacksonville scored on its next two possessions, as Lynch converted a 38-yard field goal with 14:35 remaining in the second quarter, and then Bell found Randle for a 62-yard touchdown with 11:40 remaining in the quarter. Davidson answered with a 32-yard field goal by Robert Schick after a 34-yard reception by Funsten and a JU personal foul allowed the Wildcats to move into the red zone. The seven-point margin was as close as Davidson would come though.

Bell found Dorian Guy on a 12-yard touchdown reception to cap a nine-play, 64-yard drive with 4:54 remaining in the second quarter to give Jacksonville the 24-10 lead it would take into the locker room. JU had a chance to pad its lead before the break when Jordan Dewhirst forced a fumble in Davidson territory, but the 'Cats defense stepped up and reclaimed the ball on downs. In a drive starting with 1:41 remaining in the half, Carkhuff drove the 'Cats deep into Dolphin territory, but Schick missed a 21-yard field goal to conclude the half.

After playing its last three games at home, the 'Cats will play three of their next four on the road, starting at Campbell Saturday at 6 p.m.

Notes: Chazzo Habliston appeared to have set a new Davidson punting record with a 73-yard boot that rolled into the end zone in the third quarter, but it was called back on a holding penalty … Habliston followed with a 53-yard punt that was returned for just three yards … entering the game, Jacksonville led the nation only allowing 129.3 yards per game … Carkhuff now has 7,008 yards passing for his career as he pursues Ryan Alexander's (2004-08) record of 9,376 … Funsten is now tied for fourth at Davidson with Mike Kelly (1967-69) and Ryan Hubbard (2004-07) with 17 career receiving touchdowns, and is two shy of the record of 19 … after entering the game scoring on just four of 11 red zone opportunities, the 'Cats converted four of five attempts in the game … Davidson has added signs commemorating its 1926 State Championship, 1969 Southern Conference Championship and Tangerine Bowl appearance, and 2000 undefeated season.

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