Saturday, September 20
Davidson, N.C.
1:00 p.m.
Davidson College
1-3 , 0-1
32
vs
40
Morehead State
2-2 , 1-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Morehead State
7
14
6
13
40
Davidson
11
7
0
14
32
Matt Casey only had to fend off his own teammate when he pulled in an interception.
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
Morehead State Outlasts Davidson, 40-32
9/20/2014 6:18:00 PM | Football
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DAVIDSON, N.C. – Morehead State fended off a hot Davidson start and a fourth quarter rally to win, 40-32, in the Pioneer Football League opener for both teams Saturday afternoon in Richardson Stadium.
Led by William Morris' three catches for 129 yards, Davidson (1-3, 0-1 PFL) leapt out to an 11-0 lead in the first six minutes, and held an 18-7 lead early in the second quarter, but Morehead State (2-2, 1-0 PFL) answered with the next four scores – two first-half touchdowns and two second-half field goals – to take a 27-18 lead late in the third quarter. The Eagles maintained the lead despite allowing the 'Cats back within two points early in the fourth quarter, and within a touchdown and two-point conversion with 1:19 to go.
Davidson totaled 485 yards of offense, with quarterback J.P. Douglas gaining 282 in the air by completing 20-of-36 passes with a touchdown and interception, and six different rushers, led by quarterback John Cook (six carries, 56 yards, two touchdowns) and running back Austin Wells (8 carries, 56 yards), totaling 203 yards.
Morris was limited to just two more receptions, but finished with 163 yards for the third-most prolific game in his career.
Morehead State was able to run 94 plays and totaled 549 yards of offense. The attack was led by a strong running game that gained 273 yards and scored four touchdowns. Rees Macshara carried the ball 27 times for 129 yards and had a 22-yard reception, while quarterback Austin Gahafer gained 75 on the ground with one rushing touchdown. Two of Brandon Bornhauser's seven carries ended in the end zone, while Rob Harden also scored on the ground.
Gahafer threw for one touchdown, as he connected with 11 different receivers amongst his 24 completions on 41 attempts, totaling 276 yards with an interception.
Senior linebacker Matt Casey led the 'Cats' defense, making a career-high 15 tackles (nine solo,) including a sack, and an interception on a deflected pass. However, MSU converted 11-of-22 third downs and possessed the ball for 34 minutes, 47 seconds, while Davidson went 5-for-16 on third down and only controlled the ball for 25:13.
Two big rushes got Davidson back into the game on its first offensive possession of the fourth quarter, as freshman Jeffrey Keil broke off a 21-yard run to advance to MSU's 39, and Cook, who was leading his first drive of the game, ran a career-long 39 yards for a touchdown to bring the Wildcats back within two points.
However, the 'Cats yielded a 58-yard punt return by Justin Cornwall on their next drive, which gave Morehead State the ball on the Davidson 22. Gahafer capped a four-play drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. The Eagles then scored on their next possession, as Bornhauser capped a seven-play, 70-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run for a 40-25 lead.
Douglas returned under center for Davidson and went 8-for-11 on a 70-yard drive that concluded with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Cam Cheuvront, who finished with a team-high six receptions, with 1:19 left in regulation.
Trailing by eight, the 'Cats attempted an onside kick. The ball was up for grabs after it bounced off a Morehead State player, but Macshara was able to pounce on it and secure the game for the Eagles.
The Wildcats had a big start, as Wells returned the opening kickoff 33 yards to the Morehead State 40, and Douglas connected with Morris on a season-long 49-yard pass that setup a field goal.
After a Morehead State punt was downed on the Davidson 4, Douglas and Morris moved to midfield on the first play of the drive, as they connected on a 41-yard reception. After a pair of David Rogers rushes, Douglas found Morris wide open in the middle of the field for a 39-yard completion. Cook capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, and Rogers snuck into the end zone for two points and an 11-0 Davidson lead.
The Eagles offense got going on the ensuing possession, as Gahafer found Tanner Napier for a 50-yard reception that keyed a seven-play, 80-yard drive, which was capped by Harden's 4-yard touchdown run. Morehead State also found its footing defensively after allowing Douglas to go 8-for-11 for 167 yards in the first quarter, as Douglas was held to just two completions for 16 yards on nine attempts in the second. However, Douglas did score on a 23-yard touchdown run for an 18-7 Davidson lead early in the second frame.
The Wildcats defense came up with a big fourth down stop deep in their own territory in the second quarter, but the Eagles were able to score a touchdown with 8:36 remaining in the half with three-straight passes to Cyrus Strahm on a 50-yard drive. The 'Cats were unable to take advantage of Casey's interception, and Bornhauser then gave MSU its first lead, and one it would not relinquish, at the end of a nine-play, 65-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run with 56 seconds remaining in the half.
Davidson will play its final non-conference game of the season at Princeton Saturday at 6 p.m.
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Morehead State fended off a hot Davidson start and a fourth quarter rally to win, 40-32, in the Pioneer Football League opener for both teams Saturday afternoon in Richardson Stadium.
Led by William Morris' three catches for 129 yards, Davidson (1-3, 0-1 PFL) leapt out to an 11-0 lead in the first six minutes, and held an 18-7 lead early in the second quarter, but Morehead State (2-2, 1-0 PFL) answered with the next four scores – two first-half touchdowns and two second-half field goals – to take a 27-18 lead late in the third quarter. The Eagles maintained the lead despite allowing the 'Cats back within two points early in the fourth quarter, and within a touchdown and two-point conversion with 1:19 to go.
Davidson totaled 485 yards of offense, with quarterback J.P. Douglas gaining 282 in the air by completing 20-of-36 passes with a touchdown and interception, and six different rushers, led by quarterback John Cook (six carries, 56 yards, two touchdowns) and running back Austin Wells (8 carries, 56 yards), totaling 203 yards.
Morris was limited to just two more receptions, but finished with 163 yards for the third-most prolific game in his career.
Morehead State was able to run 94 plays and totaled 549 yards of offense. The attack was led by a strong running game that gained 273 yards and scored four touchdowns. Rees Macshara carried the ball 27 times for 129 yards and had a 22-yard reception, while quarterback Austin Gahafer gained 75 on the ground with one rushing touchdown. Two of Brandon Bornhauser's seven carries ended in the end zone, while Rob Harden also scored on the ground.
Gahafer threw for one touchdown, as he connected with 11 different receivers amongst his 24 completions on 41 attempts, totaling 276 yards with an interception.
Senior linebacker Matt Casey led the 'Cats' defense, making a career-high 15 tackles (nine solo,) including a sack, and an interception on a deflected pass. However, MSU converted 11-of-22 third downs and possessed the ball for 34 minutes, 47 seconds, while Davidson went 5-for-16 on third down and only controlled the ball for 25:13.
Two big rushes got Davidson back into the game on its first offensive possession of the fourth quarter, as freshman Jeffrey Keil broke off a 21-yard run to advance to MSU's 39, and Cook, who was leading his first drive of the game, ran a career-long 39 yards for a touchdown to bring the Wildcats back within two points.
However, the 'Cats yielded a 58-yard punt return by Justin Cornwall on their next drive, which gave Morehead State the ball on the Davidson 22. Gahafer capped a four-play drive with an 8-yard touchdown run. The Eagles then scored on their next possession, as Bornhauser capped a seven-play, 70-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run for a 40-25 lead.
Douglas returned under center for Davidson and went 8-for-11 on a 70-yard drive that concluded with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Cam Cheuvront, who finished with a team-high six receptions, with 1:19 left in regulation.
Trailing by eight, the 'Cats attempted an onside kick. The ball was up for grabs after it bounced off a Morehead State player, but Macshara was able to pounce on it and secure the game for the Eagles.
The Wildcats had a big start, as Wells returned the opening kickoff 33 yards to the Morehead State 40, and Douglas connected with Morris on a season-long 49-yard pass that setup a field goal.
After a Morehead State punt was downed on the Davidson 4, Douglas and Morris moved to midfield on the first play of the drive, as they connected on a 41-yard reception. After a pair of David Rogers rushes, Douglas found Morris wide open in the middle of the field for a 39-yard completion. Cook capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, and Rogers snuck into the end zone for two points and an 11-0 Davidson lead.
The Eagles offense got going on the ensuing possession, as Gahafer found Tanner Napier for a 50-yard reception that keyed a seven-play, 80-yard drive, which was capped by Harden's 4-yard touchdown run. Morehead State also found its footing defensively after allowing Douglas to go 8-for-11 for 167 yards in the first quarter, as Douglas was held to just two completions for 16 yards on nine attempts in the second. However, Douglas did score on a 23-yard touchdown run for an 18-7 Davidson lead early in the second frame.
The Wildcats defense came up with a big fourth down stop deep in their own territory in the second quarter, but the Eagles were able to score a touchdown with 8:36 remaining in the half with three-straight passes to Cyrus Strahm on a 50-yard drive. The 'Cats were unable to take advantage of Casey's interception, and Bornhauser then gave MSU its first lead, and one it would not relinquish, at the end of a nine-play, 65-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run with 56 seconds remaining in the half.
Davidson will play its final non-conference game of the season at Princeton Saturday at 6 p.m.
Team Stats
MOR
DAV
Total Yards
549
485
Pass Yards
276
282
Rushing Yards
273
203
Penalty Yards
63
10
1st Downs
26
23
3rd Downs
11
5
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
34:47
25:13
1st Quarter
MOR 0, DAV 3
DAV - Trevor Smith 25 yd field goal 5 plays, 52 yards, TOP 1:44
MOR 0, DAV 11
DAV - John Cook 3 yd run (David Rogers rush), 5 plays, 96 yards, TOP 1:25
MOR 7, DAV 11
MOR - HARDEN, Rob 4 yd run (BOYD, Luke kick), 7 plays, 80 yards, TOP 2:25
2nd Quarter
MOR 7, DAV 18
DAV - J.P. Douglas 23 yd run (Trevor Smith kick), 9 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:47
MOR 14, DAV 18
MOR - STRAHM, Cyrus 13 yd pass from GAHAFER, Austin (BOYD, Luke kick) 3 plays, 50 yards, TOP 0:52
MOR 21, DAV 18
MOR - BORNHAUSER, B. 4 yd run (BOYD, Luke kick), 9 plays, 65 yards, TOP 2:31
3rd Quarter
MOR 24, DAV 18
MOR - BOYD, Luke 27 yd field goal 17 plays, 62 yards, TOP 6:26
MOR 27, DAV 18
MOR - BOYD, Luke 35 yd field goal 10 plays, 38 yards, TOP 2:55
4th Quarter
MOR 27, DAV 25
DAV - John Cook 39 yd run (Trevor Smith kick), 3 plays, 60 yards, TOP 0:34
MOR 34, DAV 25
MOR - GAHAFER, Austin 8 yd run (BOYD, Luke kick), 4 plays, 22 yards, TOP 1:19
MOR 40, DAV 25
MOR - BORNHAUSER, B. 5 yd run (BOYD, Luke kickfailed), 7 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:27
MOR 40, DAV 32
DAV - Cam Cheuvront 8 yd pass from J.P. Douglas (Trevor Smith kick) 11 plays, 76 yards, TOP 1:56
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
20
TD
1
YDS
282
INT
1
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