Saturday, September 10
Owensboro, Ky.
4:40 p.m.
Davidson College
1-1
35
at
21
Kentucky Wesleyan
0-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Davidson
7
21
0
7
35
Kentucky Wesleyan
0
7
7
7
21
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
'Cats Sack Kentucky Wesleyan, 35-21
9/10/2016 10:55:00 PM | Football
DavidsonPhotos.com
OWENSBORO, KY. – After a lengthy lightning delay forced back the opening kickoff by nearly three hours, the Davidson football team showed no signs of ill effect, downing host Kentucky Wesleyan Saturday afternoon at Steele Stadium, 35-21.
Much like the 2015 matchup with Kentucky Wesleyan, the 'Cats got on the board early. Following a Panther punt on the opening series, Davidson marched down the field and punched in a 29-yard scoring scamper from Giftson Bornelus.
The two squads held pat the rest of the frame, but Davidson went back to work early on the second stanza.
In the second the Wildcats had great production from their young players. Freshman Keylan Brown ran over the Panthers in the first half, averaging 9.7 yards-per-carry and punched in his first scoring scamper, a 15-yard run to put the 'Cats up, 14-0.
Davidson went up three scores on their next drive as junior quarterback Taylor Mitchell connected with classmate Cam Cheuvront for a 57-yard touchdown pass, the second passing strike of 50-plus yards in the early season.
The 'Cats made it three consecutive drives with a touchdown when Mitchell found freshman William Wicks down the near sideline for a 37-yard score, the first of Wicks young career.
Kentucky Wesleyan woke up the Davidson sideline on the ensuing kickoff as Preseason All-American Keelan Cole broke a few tackles early and scampered down the line in front of the 'Cats to prevent the shutout for an 80-yard kickoff return.
Kentucky Wesleyan scored the lone touchdown of the third quarter to make it 28-14, but the 'Cats responded early in the fourth with a Stockton McGuire scoring scamper to open the fourth.
The Panthers, beneficiaries of a few big plays throughout the day, cut the lead deficit back to two possessions when Cole burst free for an 80-yard touchdown reception, but it was too late for the host Panthers as Davidson burned nearly five minutes of game clock on the next drive to put their first win of the season away.
Mitchell finished 8-of-16 for 125 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while Brown racked up 95 yards rushing, averaging 5.3 yards-per-carry.
Junior Thomas Sykes led a stingy 'Cat defense, recording 5.5 tackles and 1.5 sacks for 2.0 yards loss. In all, Davidson made five sacks and held KWC to 1-of-13 on third down tries.
The Wildcats were also feverish to get to the ball as senior Ryan Leak, junior Nathan Campbell and freshman Tony Collins all picked off Panther passes.
The Wildcats open their home slate with a Red Out Saturday, Sept.17 when the Blue Bears of Livingstone College visit Richardson Stadium. Kickoff at Stephen B. Smith Field is slated for 7 p.m.
OWENSBORO, KY. – After a lengthy lightning delay forced back the opening kickoff by nearly three hours, the Davidson football team showed no signs of ill effect, downing host Kentucky Wesleyan Saturday afternoon at Steele Stadium, 35-21.
Much like the 2015 matchup with Kentucky Wesleyan, the 'Cats got on the board early. Following a Panther punt on the opening series, Davidson marched down the field and punched in a 29-yard scoring scamper from Giftson Bornelus.
The two squads held pat the rest of the frame, but Davidson went back to work early on the second stanza.
In the second the Wildcats had great production from their young players. Freshman Keylan Brown ran over the Panthers in the first half, averaging 9.7 yards-per-carry and punched in his first scoring scamper, a 15-yard run to put the 'Cats up, 14-0.
Davidson went up three scores on their next drive as junior quarterback Taylor Mitchell connected with classmate Cam Cheuvront for a 57-yard touchdown pass, the second passing strike of 50-plus yards in the early season.
The 'Cats made it three consecutive drives with a touchdown when Mitchell found freshman William Wicks down the near sideline for a 37-yard score, the first of Wicks young career.
Kentucky Wesleyan woke up the Davidson sideline on the ensuing kickoff as Preseason All-American Keelan Cole broke a few tackles early and scampered down the line in front of the 'Cats to prevent the shutout for an 80-yard kickoff return.
Kentucky Wesleyan scored the lone touchdown of the third quarter to make it 28-14, but the 'Cats responded early in the fourth with a Stockton McGuire scoring scamper to open the fourth.
The Panthers, beneficiaries of a few big plays throughout the day, cut the lead deficit back to two possessions when Cole burst free for an 80-yard touchdown reception, but it was too late for the host Panthers as Davidson burned nearly five minutes of game clock on the next drive to put their first win of the season away.
Mitchell finished 8-of-16 for 125 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while Brown racked up 95 yards rushing, averaging 5.3 yards-per-carry.
Junior Thomas Sykes led a stingy 'Cat defense, recording 5.5 tackles and 1.5 sacks for 2.0 yards loss. In all, Davidson made five sacks and held KWC to 1-of-13 on third down tries.
The Wildcats were also feverish to get to the ball as senior Ryan Leak, junior Nathan Campbell and freshman Tony Collins all picked off Panther passes.
The Wildcats open their home slate with a Red Out Saturday, Sept.17 when the Blue Bears of Livingstone College visit Richardson Stadium. Kickoff at Stephen B. Smith Field is slated for 7 p.m.
Team Stats
DAV
KWC
Total Yards
314
409
Pass Yards
133
320
Rushing Yards
181
89
Penalty Yards
87
119
1st Downs
19
15
3rd Downs
5
1
4th Downs
0
1
TOP
26:26
33:34
1st Quarter
DAV 7, KWC 0
DAV - BORNELUS, G. 29 yd run (SMITH, Trevor kick), 4 plays, 53 yards, TOP 1:02
2nd Quarter
DAV 14, KWC 0
DAV - BROWN, Keylan 15 yd run (SMITH, Trevor kick), 11 plays, 67 yards, TOP 5:03
DAV 21, KWC 0
DAV - CHEUVRONT, Cam 57 yd pass from MITCHELL, T. (SMITH, Trevor kick) 3 plays, 72 yards, TOP 1:02
DAV 28, KWC 0
DAV - WICKS, William 37 yd pass from MITCHELL, T. (SMITH, Trevor kick) 4 plays, 80 yards, TOP 0:50
DAV 28, KWC 7
KWC - Cole, Keelan 81 yd kickoff return (Logsdon, Chris kick)
3rd Quarter
DAV 28, KWC 14
KWC - White, David 1 yd run (Logsdon, Chris kick), 9 plays, 48 yards, TOP 3:39
4th Quarter
DAV 35, KWC 14
DAV - MCGUIRE, S. 3 yd run (SMITH, Trevor kick), 3 plays, 3 yards, TOP 0:25
DAV 35, KWC 21
KWC - Cole, Keelan 80 yd pass from Smith, DaMarcus (Logsdon, Chris kick) 2 plays, 80 yards, TOP 0:40
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
8
TD
2
YDS
125
INT
2
Players Mentioned
WR
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RB
/ Football
DB
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WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
QB
/ FootballQB
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DL
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WR
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