Davidson College
Valparaiso
Football Gameday Central - Valparaiso
9/21/2016 9:56:00 AM | Football
VALPARAISO, Ind. -- Davidson opens Pioneer Football League play Saturday when they travel to Valparaiso for a 2 p.m./1 p.m. local, kick with the Crusaders.
| WEEK FOUR- DAVIDSON vs. VALPARAISO |
| Date | Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016 | |
| Kickoff | 2:00 P.M. | |
| Location | Valparaiso, Ind. | |
| Stadium | Brown Field | |
| Capacity | 5,000 | |
| Watch | DavidsonWildcats.com | |
| Game Notes | Davidson | PFL | Valpo | |
| #HashTag | #DAVvsVALPO | |
| Live Stats | DavidsonWildcats.com | |
| Live Audio | DavidsonWildcats.com (WHIP 1350 AM, MI-Connection CH4) | |
| Live Video | ESPN3.com | WatchESPN App | |
| Coach's Show | Week 4 | |
| Player Spotlight | Nate Casey | |
| Social Media | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook |
THE GAME
The Wildcats look to extend their two-game win streak Saturday and open PFL league play with a win when they open league play at Valpo. Davidson ended a 24-game PFL losing streak in the 2015 finale and have won 3-of-4 games dating back to last season.
THE SERIES
The 'Cats are 7-3 all-time against the Crusaders dating back to the first meeting in 2001. Davidson is 4-2 all-time at Brown Field. The Wildcats won the first five bouts of the series, but have dropped 3-of-5 since. The pair have settled it in overtime on two occassions.
LAST TIME OUT | Box Score (PDF)
The Wildcats scored 38 first half points and cruised to their second consecutive win, downing Livingstone at Richardson Stadium last Saturday, 38-12. The 'Cats forced four turnovers that led to 17 points. Junior defensive end Thomas Sykes recorded his first fumble recovery for a TD on a botched punt snap, while freshman Preston Grase ran back his first career interception 43 yards for a score. The stingy Davidson defense made six sacks in the winning effort.
#TRENDINGNOW
Freshman running back Keylan Brown earned STATS FCS National honorable mention recognition for his efforts at Kentucky Wesleyan last Saturday. Brown rattled off 95 yards off 18 carries and a touchdown, the first of his young collegiate career.
ROOKIE'S RISING
Davidson has leaned on a handful of freshman early in their careers and gotten a lot of production in return. Running back Keylan Brown, a STATS FCS Freshman of the Week honorable mention last week, is averaging 86.5 yards-per-game on 18.5 carries. Linebacker Tony Collins was named the PFL Defensive Player of the Week following the win at Livingstone. Collins has recorded 14 total tackles, 4.0 for loss, 2.0 sacks and has two takeaways in three games. Quarterback Stockton McGuire got his first start of the season against Livingstone. The rookie has appeared in all three contests, completing 20-of-43 passes for for 315 yards and totaling five touchdowns.
Senior linebacker Nate Casey was recognized as a member of the 2016 Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team at a surprise ceremony last Thursday. You can check out the video, linked above.
ROWELL LANDS ON FOOTBALLGAMEPLAN.COM PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA TEAM
Junior Ben Rowell earned a nod on the FBGP.com Preseason All-America third team as a specialist. Rowell returned 17 kicks last season for an average of 28.4 yards per return. He was named to the All-PFL second team last season as a specialist.
MUELLER NAMED TO PRESEASON ALL-PFL TEAM
For the first time in PFL history, the league named long snappers to the Preseason All-League team with Davidson junior Conrad Mueller making the grade. Mueller, along with Butler's Connor Aranas, were honored with this distinction back in July's release.
NEW ADDITIONS TO THE STAFF
Head Coach Paul Nichols was busy in the offseason revamping the Wildcat coaching staff, bringing in seven new members to the team. Assistant Head and Defensive Line Coach Ray McCartney (Guilford, '80) returns to North Carolina after spending two seasons at Army West Point. Prior to his tenure with the Black Knights, McCartney roamed the sidelines at Wake Forest for 13 seasons as defensive line coach, helping lead the Demon Deacons to five bowl games. Vinny Marino (Connecticut, '92) enters his first season as Offensive Coordinator after spending two seasons as Assistant Director of Player Personnel at Boston College. Also joining the staff; Special Teams Coordinator and Running Backs Coach Mario Price (Baylor, '07), Offensive Line Coach Matt Applebaum (Connecticut, '07), Safeties Coach Justin Hood (Ashland, 08), Cornerbacks Coach Sean Fisher (Mount Union, '08) and Tight Ends Coach Phil Trautwein (Florida, '07). Trautwein spent time with Marino as a graduate assistant with the Eagles.
Fans can connect directly with the Davidson Football staff on Facebook (www.facebook.com/DavidsonFootball), Twitter (@DCFootball_Cats) and Instagram (@DCFootball_Cats). Head coach Paul Nichols is on Twitter and can be found at @coach_nichols.
LIVE VIDEO AND AUDIO
Davidson will provide live video and audio streams on its website, DavidsonWildcats.com, for all five home games this season. Play-by-play man Mark Plemmons will be joined by Michael Fresina on the home calls all season long! All 12 games can be heard online at DavidsonWildcats.com. Fans can hear the Davidson Radio Network on their mobile device by visiting DavidsonWildcats.com or by downloading the TuneIn Radio App.
DAVIDSON FOOTBALL COACH'S SHOW
Play-by-play man Mark Plemmons is back to host the 2016 addition of the Davidson Football Coach's Show presented by JJ Wade & Associates. The Coach's Show will be released every Monday and feature Coach Nichols take on everything Davidson football from the previous week's contest to the upcoming clash.
Individual game and season tickets are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased online at DavidsonWildcats.com or over the phone and in person.
For the latest on Davidson football, be sure to follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
