Saturday, September 1
Davidson, N.C.
6:00 pm
Davidson College Athletics
vs
Georgetown
Senior Brad Johnson
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Davidson Football Begins 2012 Campaign Saturday Against Georgetown
8/31/2012 10:47:00 AM | Football
Davidson Wildcats (0-0) vs. Georgetown Hoyas (0-0)
Date: Sept. 1, 2012 - 6 p.m.Site: Richardson Stadium (4,500 capacity) - Davidson, N.C.
Audio: Mark Plemmons (play-by-play) and Ryan Arnold '06 (color) call the action on the Davidson Radio Network (1350 AM, online at DavidsonWildcats.com and mobile with the TuneIn Radio App)
Video: Available on Davidson All-Access at DavidsonWildcats.com
Web sites: Davidson (DavidsonWildcats.com), Georgetown (GUHoyas.com)
Today's Game
• For the third consecutive season, Davidson opens its season against Georgetown.
• The 6 p.m., Saturday night contest opens Davidson's 114th season of football.
• The Wildcats return 12 starters and 43 lettermen from last year's squad that went 4-7 overall and 2-6 in the PFL.
• Senior WR Lanny Funsten was named first-team All-America by BeyondSportsCollegeNetwork.com and second-team All-Pioneer Football League by the conference's coaches after a school-record 100-reception season a year ago, in which he led the PFL with 1,107 yards receiving. He also caught eight touchdown passes and ranked seventh in the PFL in all-purpose yards in 2011.
• Funsten was recognized as a Preseason All-PFL honoree in addition to preseason FCS All-American honors by College Sporting News, The Sports Network and BeyondSportsCollegeNetwork.com.
• The Wildcats were 4-2 at home last season, only falling to Marist by four points and Campbell in triple overtime.
• Georgetown returns 17 starters and 72 letterwinners from a team that finished 8-3 overall and 3-2 in the Patriot League, its best record since 1999.
• The Hoyas were 4-2 on the road last season.
• The 'Cats were picked ninth in the PFL preseason poll while Georgetown was picked fourth in the Patriot League.
• Davidson has an even record in 113 season openers at 54-54-5 (.500).
• The Wildcats have lost nine of their last 10 season openers overall.
Series Record
• Davidson trails the all-time series, which began in 1999, 3-6.
• The 'Cats won the first two games, and the Hoyas responded with four straight wins from 2001-04. Davidson last won in 2005. The two teams did not resume their series until 2010.
• Isaiah Kempf rushed for 73 yards and threw for 172 and a score to lead Georgetown to a 40-16 football win over Davidson in the season opener for both teams last season (Sept. 3, 2011) at Multi-Sport Field.
• Jonathan Carkhuff passed for a then-career-high 364 yards and two TDs for Davidson, and Lanny Funsten caught eight passes for 102 yards. Reese Williams caught eight passes for 46 markers.
• The Hoyas won the field position battle all night long with an average starting drive at their own 47 in the game, scored on all five trips to the Red Zone and won the turnover battle 4-1.
Head Coach Tripp Merritt
• Eighth season, 30-43 (.411), 21-28 in PFL games (.417).
• Climbing the all-time victory list at Davidson. With 30 wins, he is in sole possession of fifth.
• Coached his 50th career game at Davidson Nov. 7, 2009, a 34-27 Wildcat victory over San Diego.
• Only Matt Ballard at Morehead State has been coaching in the PFL longer than Merritt.
• Born with spina bifida occulta, which resulted in deformities in his lower spine and nerve damage in his left leg. Doctors told his parents he would never be able to run. He was a two-sport lettermen at Burns High School and still runs 3-4 miles daily.
• 2006 PFL?Co-Coach of the Year. The first Davidson bench boss to earn Conference Coach of the Year honors since Homer Smith in 1969.
• In his second coaching stint at Davidson having served as an assistant for the 'Cats for seven years (1993-99).
• Served as defensive coordinator beginning in 1994, and the Wildcat defense ranked fourth among I-AA?(now FCS) schools in total defense and second in scoring defense in 1998 as Davidson won eight games, then a school record.
• After another eight-win season the following year, Merritt left with head coach Tim Landis for St. Mary's (Calif.) for three years, then Bucknell for two seasons.
• 1990 graduate of Charlotte.
• Collegiate coaching career began as a graduate assistant at Western Carolina from 1991-92.
• Graduated from Burns High School in 1986 and coached at Garinger High School in 1990.
• He and his wife, Sara, were married in July of 2007 and reside in Davidson with their daughter, Ellie.
2026 Davidson Football Spring Zoom Call
Thursday, March 19
WEEK 12: Coaches Corner with Head Coach Saj Thakkar presented by Atrium Health.
Tuesday, November 18
WEEK 11: Coaches Corner with Head Coach Saj Thakkar presented by Atrium Health.
Tuesday, November 11
DC Football The Final Push, A Gridiron Club Check (11-04-25)
Friday, November 07
