Saturday, September 26
Davidson, N.C.
1:00 PM
Davidson College Athletics
vs
Drake
Photo by: Tim Cowie - DavidsonPhotos.com
'Cats Look to Continue Momentum as PFL Play Begins Saturday
9/23/2026 12:01:00 PM | Football
GAME 5 | SEPTEMBER 26, 2026 | 1 PM | DAVIDSON COLLEGE STADIUM (5,000) | DAVIDSON, N.C. | ESPN+
DAVIDSON WILDCATS
2026 Record: 2-2 (0-0 PFL)
2025 Record: 2-10 (1-7 PFL)
Head Coach: Saj Thakkar
Davidson Record (Yrs): 4-12 (2)
Career Record (Yrs): 18-18 (4)
DRAKE BULLDOGS
2026 Record: 0-3 (0-0 PFL)
2025 Record: 8-4 (7-1 PFL)
Head Coach: Matt Walker
Drake Record (Yrs): 0-3 (1)
Career Record (Yrs): 89-91 (17)
INSIDE THE SERIES
Meetings: 13
Series Record: Drake leads, 10-3
First Meeting: Drake Won, 58-17 (10/1/05)
Last Meeting: Drake Won, 45-0 (10/18/25)
Streak: Lost 1
In Davidson: Drake leads, 4-2
In Des Moines, Iowa: Drake leads, 6-1
Thakkar vs. Drake: 0-1
1ST AND 10
DAVIDSON WILDCATS
2026 Record: 2-2 (0-0 PFL)
2025 Record: 2-10 (1-7 PFL)
Head Coach: Saj Thakkar
Davidson Record (Yrs): 4-12 (2)
Career Record (Yrs): 18-18 (4)
DRAKE BULLDOGS
2026 Record: 0-3 (0-0 PFL)
2025 Record: 8-4 (7-1 PFL)
Head Coach: Matt Walker
Drake Record (Yrs): 0-3 (1)
Career Record (Yrs): 89-91 (17)
INSIDE THE SERIES
Meetings: 13
Series Record: Drake leads, 10-3
First Meeting: Drake Won, 58-17 (10/1/05)
Last Meeting: Drake Won, 45-0 (10/18/25)
Streak: Lost 1
In Davidson: Drake leads, 4-2
In Des Moines, Iowa: Drake leads, 6-1
Thakkar vs. Drake: 0-1
1ST AND 10
- Winners of two straight, the Wildcats will open Pioneer Football League action Saturday afternoon when three-time defending league champion Drake visits Davidson College Stadium for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
- Coming off a thrilling 27-24 overtime victory over VMI, the 'Cats enter 2-2 on the season. It was Davidson's first win over an FCS scholarship program since 1981.
- On Sunday, Davidson quarterback Casey Bullock was named PFL Offensive Player of the Week, while safety Hayden Bender was tabbed Defensive Player of the Week.
- Bullock, who leads the PFL in total yards, finished with 392 yards and three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing). Along with going 20-of-32 for 288 yards passing, the junior captain rushed for a career-high 104 yards on 25 carries.
- Defensively, Bender recorded two takeaways, including a forced fumble in overtime to help secure the Wildcats' first win over VMI in 54 years. The senior safety also had a third-quarter interception to go with seven tackles.
- Through four games, wide receiver Jacary Lightsey leads the league in catches with 29 and is second in receiving yards (335). Fellow wideout and teammate AJ Adams also ranks among league leaders in catches (20, 2nd) and receiving yards (229, 7th).
- As a team, Davidson ranks among the nation's best in time of possession (5th, 34:31) and fourth-down conversion percentage defense (8th, .200).
- Davidson's current five-game homestand is its longest in program history.
- Davidson and Drake have met just once since the 2022 season.
- The Bulldogs, who have won the last three PFL regular season titles, lead the all-time series, 10-3, including a 45-0 blanking of the 'Cats last season in Des Moines.
- Drake has won 9 of the first 10 meetings, but Davidson has won two of the last three match ups.
- Drake defeated Davidson, 45-0, October 18, 2025 from Drake Stadium.
- Despite the setback, senior Ivan Hoyt continued his impressive season for the 'Cats with 12 catches on 21 targets for 148 yards.
- Davidson's Coulter Cleland completed 22-of-41 passes for 252 yards.
- Nick Herman led the way for Drake with a game-high 134 yards on the ground, while Jackson Voth had 106 receiving yards and two scores.
- Davidson will hit the road for the first time in 2026 next weekend when its travels to San Diego for a Week 6 contest.
- A Christos Tzoumakas 25-yard field goal and a game-ending takeaway propelled Davidson past VMI 27-24 in overtime Saturday afternoon on Field 76 at Davidson College Stadium.
- It's Davidson's first win over a FCS scholarship program since beating Boston University in 1981 and ended VMI's 12-game winning streak in the series.
- After VMI tied it at 24-all late in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats, on offense first in the alternating overtime format, drove to the Keydet 8-yard line, and Tzoumakas converted from the middle of the field.
- Then on VMI's second offensive play, Hayden Bender forced a fumble by running back Traveion Slaughter, and fellow safety Hayden Meese fell on it to seal the win.
- Davidson (2-2) was in position to win it in regulation when quarterback Casey Bullock scored on a 1-yard run, capping a nine-play, 87-yard drive with 59 seconds left. But the Keydets (0-4) quickly responded via a 75-yard touchdown pass from Ian Reynolds to Halim Hardnett with 38 ticks on the clock.
- Bullock threw two touchdown passes in the second quarter, including a 32-yarder to Alani Ajigbotosho and a 22-yard strike to Jacary Lightsey (5 catches, 102 yards). Bullock finished with 392 yards of total offense (288 passing) and also hit Andrew Frazier for a 41-yard pass to set up the Wildcats' go-ahead touchdown in the fourth.
- Tzoumakas finished the day 2-of-4 on field goals, also including a 44-yarder to give the Wildcats a 3-0 first-quarter lead.
- VMI's Jack Joyce hit a 49-yard field goal with two seconds remaining in the second quarter and the teams exited to a 17-17 halftime tie.
- Hudson Altenburg led the Davidson defense with nine tackles, while Ayden Bell had a sack. Bender added a third-quarter interception.
- Davidson last defeated VMI in 1972.
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