Big Plays Lead Marist Past Davidson In PFL Opener

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POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Davidson linebacker Patrick Moynahan made a school-record 22 tackles but Marist fended off a late Davidson rally to hang on for a 34-21 win in the Pioneer Football League opener for both teams Saturday afternoon at Tenney Stadium.

A Davidson (0-3, 0-1 PFL) touchdown with 5:31 remaining pulled the Wildcats within two scores, and then on Marist's next possession, AJ Pignone came in unblocked to sack Marist quarterback Chuckie Looney and force a fumble that was recovered by Davidson's Weston Hawkins at the Marist 13-yardline with 4:03 remaining. Attempting to pull within a touchdown, a scramble by quarterback Jonathan Carkhuff moved the 'Cats inside the 10-yard line, but Carkhuff's fourth-down pass bounced off the intended receiver as he was hit by a defender in the end zone, and it was intercepted by Paul Sakowski at the one-yardline. Marist (2-2, 1-0 PFL) was able to run out the clock to seal the win.

Looney and receiver Mike Rios connected on three touchdown plays. Looney completed 17-of-26 passes for 403 yards and four touchdowns, while Rios made eight catches for 244 yards and three touchdowns.

"At times we played well, but we gave up a lot of deep balls today," said head coach Tripp Merritt.

Carkhuff completed 25-of-45 pass attempts for Davidson for a season-high 274 yards and was intercepted twice. Chris Trinetti was his top target with four receptions for 36 yards and Reese Williams led the team with 59 yards receiving and scored a touchdown. Five different players had three receptions each with Danny Martinez leading that group with 50 yards and Garrett Diehl also hauling in a touchdown pass. Spencer Perry led with 35 yards rushing on seven carries.

Following Moynahan, Bryant Bednarek and Ben Prater each had nine tackles. Dan Casey had a team-best 3.0 tackles for loss and a forced fumble and Hawkins had two fumble recoveries. Moynahan, Pignone and Casey had one sack each.

Four different Marist players had over 30 yards rushing, with Calvin McCoy leading the group with 17 carries for 46 yards. Anthony Calcagni caught five passes for 91 yards and a touchdown and Armani Martin caught four passes for 68 yards. Zach Adler and Darius Hill led the team with nine tackles each.

Marist drove 87 yards on nine plays on its first offensive possession, scoring on a 30-yard touchdown pass. Looney found Calcagni over the middle, and Calcigni slipped a tackle to run into the end zone.

Marist was in Davidson territory twice more in the first quarter but came up empty. Carkuff fumbled while running with the ball trying to convert a third-and-2 to give the Red Foxes the ball at the Davidson 32-yardline, but Hawkins pounced on a botched Marist snap to get the ball back. The Wildcats punted on the ensuing possession and Marist drove to Davidson's 27-yardline, but Adam Dulberger got a hand on a throw to the end zone and the 'Cats came up with a third down stop after a holding penalty moved Marist out of field goal range and forced a punt.

A key third-and-7 scamper by Carkhuff to conclude the first quarter and a short pass to Desi Dockery to start the first quarter that turned into a 32-yard gain setup Davidson's first touchdown drive. The Red Foxes held Davidson to fourth-and-8 from the 25-yardline, but the 'Cats went for it and Carkhuff found Williams near the goal line for a touchdown reception. Trinetti, serving as the holder, then ran around the left side for a two-point conversion to give Davidson an 8-7 lead with 12:31 to go in the second quarter.

Marist went back ahead with 8:08 remaining in the first half with an 80-yard touchdown reception by Rios down the left sideline on the first play of a new drive. The Red Foxes then put together a seven-play, 87-yard drive capped by a 16-yard touchdown run by Max Jacques, but missed the extra point, to go to halftime with a 20-8 lead.

Marist scored on its first possession of the second half as Rios hauled in a 14-yard touchdown reception, but Davidson answered with nine-play, 71-yard drive capped by a one-yard Chris Gorman touchdown run to make the score 27-15 in favor of the home team.

The remainder of the third quarter would go scoreless but Looney and Rios connected again for a 71-yard touchdown reception on third-and-9 with 9:53 remaining in the game. Trailing 34-15, Davidson's Dan Casey forced a fumble that was recovered by Matt Casey near midfield, and the Wildcats were then able to score on two plays as Carkhuff connected with Williams on a 34-yard pass and then Diehl with a 21-yard touchdown pass. The extra point attempt failed, making the score 34-21.

Pignone's forced fumble and Hawkins' recovery gave Davidson a chance late, but the Red Foxes stopped Davidson and ran out the clock.

Davidson returns home to Richardson Stadium for their final non-conference game of the season Saturday at 6 p.m. against Presbyterian.

Notes: Gorman scored Davidson's first rushing touchdown of the season … Dockery's 32-yard reception was the first of his career … Chazzo Habliston boomed a career-long 54-yard punt … both teams lost three fumbles, but Marist had two interceptions to win the turnover battle.

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