Davidson College
8-2 , 7-1
Drake
2-8 , 1-6
'Cats Drub Drake 45-14, Clinch PFL Championship
11/20/2021 4:35:00 PM | Football
The Davidson Wildcats are Pioneer Football League champions for the second straight season — and second time this calendar year — thanks to a 45-14 win over Drake Saturday afternoon at Richardson Stadium.
Scott Abell's Wildcats (8-2 overall) concluded the PFL slate 7-1 to end tied with San Diego atop the standings, but Davidson holds the postseason tiebreaker advantage thanks to its 28-16 win over the Toreros on Sept. 25. The Wildcats will learn their FCS Playoff fate during Sunday's selection show.
Davidson received the opening kick and wasted little time getting a lead Saturday, as Aris Hilliard scored on a 67-yard run on the third play from scrimmage. After Eli Turner, Jr., scored on a 20-yard run at the 9:11 mark of the first quarter, the Wildcats held at least a two-score lead the rest of the way. It was 21-0 after Louis Colosimo's 19-yard touchdown pass to Jackson Sherrard with 1:24 to play in the first quarter, and 24-0 after Caden Bonoffski's 26-yard field goal with 2:35 left in the first half.
The Wildcats rushed for 6.5 yards per carry while totaling 470 rushing yards. Hilliard led the way with 133 yards on 10 carries and also scored on a 5-yard run early in the fourth quarter. Bernard Turner, Jr., ran eight times for 117 yards, and his 72-yard run set up the day's final score, a 1-yard run by Gunnar Leyendecker.
Drake (2-8, 1-6) pulled within 10 points with a 20-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter, but the Wildcats extended their lead nine minutes later when a Williams' 4-yard run capped a 21-play, 82-yard drive.
Cade Vela's interception set up Davidson's second score of the day, and Jake Alexander led the Davidson defense with eight tackles. Miles Davis registered a sack.
Up Next
The FCS Playoffs Selection Show will be on ESPNU Sunday at 12:30 p.m.
Team Stats
DRA 0, DAV 7
DAV - Hilliard,Aris 67 yd run (Bonoffski,Caden kick), 3 plays, 76 yards, TOP 01:18
DRA 0, DAV 14
DAV - Turner Jr.,Eli 20 yd run (Bonoffski,Caden kick), 7 plays, 44 yards, TOP 02:58
DRA 0, DAV 21
DAV - Sherrard,Jackson 19 yd pass from Colosimo,Louis (Bonoffski,Caden kick) 11 plays, 72 yards, TOP 06:12
DRA 0, DAV 24
DAV - Bonoffski,Caden 26 yd field goal 11 plays, 71 yards, TOP 05:20
DRA 7, DAV 24
DRA - Kasten,Andrew 4 yd run (Dunning,Shane kick), 9 plays, 36 yards, TOP 01:46
DRA 14, DAV 24
DRA - Radocha,Trey 20 yd pass from Corwin,Ian (Dunning,Shane kick) 6 plays, 82 yards, TOP 02:20
DRA 14, DAV 31
DAV - Williams,Coy 4 yd run (Bonoffski,Caden kick), 20 plays, 82 yards, TOP 08:56
DRA 14, DAV 38
DAV - Hilliard,Aris 5 yd run (Bonoffski,Caden kick), 17 plays, 80 yards, TOP 07:52
DRA 14, DAV 45
DAV - Leyendecker,Gunnar 1 yd run (Bonoffski,Caden kick), 6 plays, 91 yards, TOP 02:50
