WATCH/LISTEN Football vs. Morehead State

Davidson Wildcats (1-2, 0-0 PFL) vs. Morehead State Eagles (1-2, 0-0 PFL)

Date: Sept. 20 - 1:00 p.m.

Site: Stephen B. Smith Field at Richardson Stadium (4,500 capacity) - Davidson, N.C.

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4 Downs
1st - The 1 p.m., Saturday afternoon contest at Richardson Stadium is the Pioneer Football League opener for both teams.

2nd - It is also homecoming. After setbacks the past two homecoming games, the Wildcats are looking for their first homecoming win since defeating Morehead State in 2011.

3rd - The 2011 game was a thriller, as the second half featured five lead changes, and then-freshman Tim Hines caught the game-winning touchdown on a 41-yard pass with 47 seconds left in the contest.

4th - Davidson leads the PFL in scoring (29.0) and yardage (416.3) per game.

XP - Several 'Cats are among PFL and national leaders statistically.

The Series
• The Eagles lead the all-time series, which began in 1999, 9-6, but Davidson holds the advantage at home, 4-2.
• Before suffering setbacks the past two seasons in Morehead, Ky., Davidson had won the previous three games in the series, each by a touchdown or less.
• In last season's meeting, William Morris had five catches for 122 yards and Jonathan Carkhuff '14 threw for 192 yards but the Davidson offense stalled in the second half and Morehead State won 45-14.

Scouting Morehead State
• Morehead State was picked eighth in the PFL Preseason Coaches Poll, while Davidson was picked 10th.
• Return specialist Brandon Bornhauser was the Eagles' lone Preseason All-PFL pick.
• The Eagles' lone win this season came against NAIA-member Pikeville, and their losses came against two FCS nationally ranked teams: No. 20 Richmond and No. 25 Eastern Kentucky.
• Morehead State runs an up-tempo offense that leads the PFL in passing, averaging 252.7 yards per game so far.
• MSU has struggled defensively though against its strong opposition, giving up a league worst 535.7 yards and 48.7 points per game.

Last Time Out
• William Morris caught a career-high 16 passes for 208 yards, but miscues proved costly as VMI defeated the Wildcats, 52-24, in Foster Stadium.
• Morris' 16 catches were one shy of the single-game Davidson record of 17, shared by Mike Mikolayunas '70 and Lanny Funsten '13, and his 208 yards ranked as the fifth-most in a single game in Davidson history. J.P. Douglas also enjoyed a career day, as he completed 28 of 41 passing attempts for 317 yards – all career highs – and threw one touchdown to Morris along with one interception when he was hit as he threw.
• David Rogers gained 103 yards on 10 rushes with two touchdowns, helping Davidson rack up 531 yards of offense, it's most since racking up 566 against Johnson C. Smith in 2011.
• However, VMI (1-2) started fast and made big plays to maintain the lead throughout the contest, gaining 597 yards of offense. Davidson was only able to come away with one field goal in three red zone trips in the first half, and surrendered a pair of turnovers in the second half to nullify promising drives.

Rankings Leaders
• Davidson has been strong offensively, totaling 531 yards last week at VMI to lead the PFL in scoring (29.0) and yardage (416.3) per game.
• The 'Cats' defense ranks third in the league with 402.7 yards allowed per game.
• QB J.P. Douglas ranks fifth nationally and first in the PFL with a 70.4 completion percentage. He also ranks second in the PFL and 35th nationally with 562 passing yards.
• WR William Morris leads the PFL in receiving touchdowns (2) and receiving yards (290), ranking ninth in the nation in the latter. His 7.7 receptions per game rank fourth nationally and second in the PFL.
• RB David Rogers leads the PFL and ranks eighth nationally with 7.5 YPC

Schedule Notes
• Davidson is playing 12 games this season for the first time in its history.
• The schedule is front-loaded with home games, as three of the first four will be completed at home, and four of the first six.

Young 'Cats
• The team is very young, with 36 freshmen and just 25 upper-classmen (9 seniors, 16 juniors.) It's the largest freshman class since the 'Cats also had 36 in 2009.
• Of the 22 slots on the offensive two-deep, 10 are occupied by underclassmen (5 sophomores, 5 freshmen), while 14 (10 sophomores and 4 freshmen) are listed on the defensive side. Eight of 12 specialists slots are filled by freshmen.

2014
• The Wildcats return 35 letterwinners and 14 starters (6 offense, 8 defense).
• The top returner on offense is junior WR William Morris. He had 1,090 yards receiving in 2013 – the third most in Davidson history - and 67 receptions - tied for the fourth most in a single season in school history. His 6.1 catches per game ranked second in the PFL, while his 99.1 yards per game led the league. He is on pace to break Davidson's all-time receiving records and was an All-PFL honorable mention last season.
• On defense, LB Matt Casey is the top returner. He finished 2013 with 106 tackles, which ranks as the fourth-most in a single season at Davidson. He was named to the All-PFL second team.

William Morris Milestone Watch
• William Morris is on pace to rewrite the Davidson receiving record books.
• He caught his 100th career reception at VMI (9/13) as part of a 16-catch performance.
• Morris also passed Gary Pomeroy '75 (1329) and Mike Chase '03 (1345) in receiving yards at VMI.
1.   2770   Lanny Funsten (229-2770)   2009-12
2.   2220   Ryan Hubbard (153-2220)      2004-07
3.   2215   Brett Dioguardi (154-2215)   2003-06
4.   2157   Barrett Johnson (147-2157)   2000-03
5.   2154   Mike Kelly (162-2154)        1967-69
6.   2125   Gifford Piercy (109-2125)   1977-80
7.   1948   George Hannen (158-1948)   1967-69
8.   1940   Walt Walker (130-1940)       1971-73
9.   1884   Corey Crawford (119-1884)   1997-00
10. 1830   Mike Mikolayunas (179-1830) 1968-70
11. 1492 William Morris (100-1492)   2012-pres.

Honorary Captain
• Jay Wade '79 started work at an insurance agency in Charlotte – Westbrook-Norton-Keesler in 1979. After the agency was sold in 1992, Jay started his own business at 35 years old. He had one employee and no income.
• Today he is proud of what has been created in JJ Wade & Associates. The company has just moved into a new 14,000 square foot office, across from Flatiron Kitchen and Taphouse, and the company has over 21 employees and almost $3 million in annual revenues with customers throughout the United States.
• Jay has been a loyal Davidson alumnus, supporting the annual fund and the Davidson Athletic Fund. Jay cares deeply about Davidson athletics, particularly football and baseball.

Schedule

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Players Mentioned

Matt Casey

J.P. Douglas

Tim Hines

William Morris

David Rogers

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