Davidson College
4-2 , 3-0
Butler
4-3 , 2-2
Wildcats Hang on for 35-33 Win at Butler
10/14/2023 4:29:00 PM | Football
The victory was the fourth straight for the Wildcats, as they improved to 4-2 overall and 3-0 in Pioneer Football League play. The Bulldogs fell to 4-3 and 2-2.
Luka Zurak had a chance to win it for Butler with three seconds remaining, but his 58-yard game-winning field-goal attempt missed short.
In addition to its 224 yards in the air, Davidson ran for 282 to finish with 506 total yards.
Mark McCurdy, who had a diving catch to extend Davidson's final possession, led all receivers with 81 yards, while Aaron Maione had eight receptions for 80 yards to go along 40 on the ground.
Davidson wasted little time grabbing the early lead as the 'Cats scored less than three minutes into the contest on a 46-yard touchdown pass from Cleland to Brody Reina, capping a six-play, 87-yard drive.
A Daniel Carter interception set up Adams' first score of the day, but Butler responded again to even the score midway through the second quarter, 14-14.
Carter led the Davidson defense with eight tackles, finishing just ahead of Jonathan Hammond, who ended with seven, a break-up and a quarterback hurry.
The Wildcats started to take control late in the opening half with a pair of scores in the closing 4:11. Adams scampered 36 yards, followed by Cleland's second touchdown pass, a 25-yard toss to a wide-open Maione, giving Davidson a 28-14 advantage at intermission.
After the Bulldogs got back into the game with a blocked punt for a score and a 40-yard field goal from Zurak, the 'Cats extended their lead back to 11, 35-24, with an Adams 8-yard yard to conclude the third quarter.
Over his last two games, Adams has rushed for 340 yards and seven touchdowns.
Butler provided the only scoring in the final quarter, including a short touchdown from Jyran Mitchell with 6:24 to play, but Davidson's Sabin McGlaughlin came up with a huge stop on the two-point try to keep it 35-33.
Up Next
Davidson returns home to Richardson Stadium Oct. 21 for a 1 p.m. kickoff with Valparaiso.
Team Stats
DAV 7, BU 0
DAV - Reina,Brody 46 yd pass from Cleland,Coulter (Zouagui,Adam kick) 6 plays, 87 yards, TOP 02:44
DAV 7, BU 7
BU - Lezon,Ryan 8 yd pass from Bushka,Bret (Zurak,Luka kick) 5 plays, 59 yards, TOP 02:50
DAV 14, BU 7
DAV - Adams,Mari 1 yd run (Zouagui,Adam kick), 6 plays, 18 yards, TOP 02:06
DAV 14, BU 14
BU - Bushka,Bret 60 yd run (Zurak,Luka kick), 3 plays, 68 yards, TOP 01:21
DAV 21, BU 14
DAV - Adams,Mari 36 yd run (Zouagui,Adam kick), 6 plays, 71 yards, TOP 02:56
DAV 28, BU 14
DAV - Maione,Aaron 25 yd pass from Cleland,Coulter (Zouagui,Adam kick) 4 plays, 67 yards, TOP 01:14
DAV 28, BU 21
BU - Johnson,Jeremy 0 yd punt return (Zurak,Luka kick)
DAV 28, BU 24
BU - Zurak,Luka 40 yd field goal 6 plays, 25 yards, TOP 03:30
DAV 35, BU 24
DAV - Adams,Mari 8 yd run (Zouagui,Adam kick), 6 plays, 65 yards, TOP 02:41
DAV 35, BU 27
BU - Zurak,Luka 29 yd field goal 12 plays, 63 yards, TOP 04:50
DAV 35, BU 33
BU - Mitchell,Jyran 4 yd run (), 4 plays, 50 yards, TOP 01:57
