Saturday, September 19
Davidson, N.C.
1:00 PM
Davidson College Athletics
vs
VMI
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
WEEK 4: 'Cats Set to Host VMI Saturday Afternoon
9/16/2026 12:58:00 PM | Football
GAME 4 | SEPTEMBER 19, 2026 | 1 PM | DAVIDSON COLLEGE STADIUM (5,000) | DAVIDSON, N.C. | ESPN+
DAVIDSON WILDCATS
2026 Record: 1-2 (0-0 PFL)
2025 Record: 2-10 (1-7 PFL)
Head Coach: Saj Thakkar
Davidson Record (Yrs): 3-12 (2)
Career Record (Yrs): 17-18 (4)
VMI KEYDETS
2026 Record: 0-3 (0-0 SoCon)
2025 Record: 1-11 (0-8 SoCon)
Head Coach: Ashley Ingram
VMI Record (Yrs): 0-3 (1)
Career Record (Yrs): 16-9 (3)
INSIDE THE SERIES
Meetings: 60
Series Record: VMI leads, 40-17-3
First Meeting: VMI Won, 6-0 (11/4/1904)
Last Meeting: VMI Won, 12-7 (9/2/23)
Streak: VMI Won 12
In Davidson: VMI leads, 9-5-3
In Lexington, Va.: VMI leads, 31-12
Thakkar vs. VMI: 0-0
1ST AND 10
DAVIDSON WILDCATS
2026 Record: 1-2 (0-0 PFL)
2025 Record: 2-10 (1-7 PFL)
Head Coach: Saj Thakkar
Davidson Record (Yrs): 3-12 (2)
Career Record (Yrs): 17-18 (4)
VMI KEYDETS
2026 Record: 0-3 (0-0 SoCon)
2025 Record: 1-11 (0-8 SoCon)
Head Coach: Ashley Ingram
VMI Record (Yrs): 0-3 (1)
Career Record (Yrs): 16-9 (3)
INSIDE THE SERIES
Meetings: 60
Series Record: VMI leads, 40-17-3
First Meeting: VMI Won, 6-0 (11/4/1904)
Last Meeting: VMI Won, 12-7 (9/2/23)
Streak: VMI Won 12
In Davidson: VMI leads, 9-5-3
In Lexington, Va.: VMI leads, 31-12
Thakkar vs. VMI: 0-0
1ST AND 10
- Coming off its first win of the 2026 campaign, Davidson will continue its season-opening homestand this weekend when VMI visits for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
- The Wildcats enter Week 4 1-2 overall following a 28-14 victory over Dickinson last weekend on Field 76.
- Offensively, Jacary Lightsey leads the way for Davidson with a league-best 24 receptions, while ranking third among PFL receivers in yards (233) and yards per game (77.7).
- Fellow wideout and teammate AJ Adams ranks fourth in catches (16), sixth in yards (189) and eighth in yards per game (63.0).
- Hudson Altenburg, who was named to the PFL All-Rookie squad a year ago, leads the Wildcats in tackles with 14.
- As a team, Davidson ranks seventh nationally in time of possession.
- Davidson's current five-game homestand is its longest in program history.
- Saturday's meeting between Davidson and VMI is the 61st all-time, but just the 18th on the Wildcats' homefield.
- The Keydets have won the last 12, including a 12-7 victory over the Wildcats in their last meeting on Sept.2, 2023.
- Davidson's last win in the series came Sept. 16, 1972 when the 'Cats edged VMI, 18-14 in Lexington.
- VJ Johnson scored on a 25-yard touchdown reception with 51 seconds remaining to lift VMI over Davidson, 12-7, in both teams' season opener Sept. 2, 2023 inside Foster Stadium.
- Trailing 7-6 with 4:19 to play, the Keydets took over on their own 15 and went 85 yards on 12 plays, including a 28-yard catch by Aiden Twombly on 3rd and 20 inside their own territory to keep the drive alive.
- After forcing a three-and-out to start the second half, Davidson marched down the field with a 16-play, 75-yard drive highlighted by a Luke Durkin 24-yard touchdown pass to Christian Barry that put the 'Cats up 7-6. In addition to taking 9:42 off the game clock, the Wildcats converted multiple fourth downs en route to taking their first lead of the game.
- Durkin concluded the afternoon 6-of-12 for 83 yards and a touchdown pass.
- Despite the setback, Davidson's defense turned in an impressive performance highlighted by Julian Rawlins' seven tackles (2 for loss), sack and forced fumble. Sabin McLaughlin and Daniel Carter led the way with eight tackles each, while Amare Hill had a pick to halt VMI's opening possession.
- With 1:11 left in the opening half, the Keydets put the first points on the board with a Grant Swinehart touchdown run before the point after attempt was unsuccessful.
- Another bright spot for Davidson was punter Tristan Allen, who averaged 44.2 yards per kick, including a 63-yarder, while pinning three inside the opponent's 20.
- Davidson will conclude their five-game homestand to open the 2026 season next Saturday when the Wildcats open Pioneer Football League action against Drake at 1 p.m.
- A balanced offensive attack, including a season-high 453 total yards, and two methodical second-half touchdown drives helped Davidson get by Dickinson 28-14 last Saturday afternoon at Field 76 and Davidson College Stadium.
- With the score knotted at 14-all in the third quarter, the Wildcats put together a 16-play, 89-yard drive of more than eight minutes and capped it with Will Jones' 5-yard touchdown run. Then, after forcing a Red Devils turnover-on-downs, the Wildcats marched 74 yards in eight plays and made it 28-14 on quarterback Casey Bullock's 6-yard scoring run.
- Bullock had 337 yards of offense, including 44 on the ground, and he finished 29-of-41 passing for 293 yards. He connected with Jacary Lightsey 11 times for 96 yards, while AJ Adams made six receptions for 109 yards.
- Jones led the rushing attack with 77 yards on 14 carries, while backfield mate Brodey Berg had 32 yards, including a 1-yard score to give the Wildcats a 7-0 first-quarter lead.
- Andrew Frazier's 8-yard scoring run with 1:54 left in the second quarter helped the Wildcats lead 14-7 at the half.
- Dickinson (1-1) did its damage with big plays. Safety Jimmy Mulholland returned an interception 42 yards for a second-quarter touchdown, and running back Dane Sorenson's 83-yard touchdown run tied it at 14-14 in the third.
- Jalen Gist led the Davidson defense with eight tackles, while Robert Jones, Jarmal Gilmore, Ethan Harris and Danzel Chukwuemeka had sacks.
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