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Saturday, September 29
Jacksonville, Fla.
12:00 p.m.
Davidson College
20
at
10
at Jacksonville
Mantuo tied for the team lead with his third TD of the season.
Wildcats Open PFL Schedule With 20-10 Win
9/29/2007 1:55:35 PM | Football
Marc Gignac
Box Score
Jacksonville, Fla. – Davidson freshman Kenny Mantuo had a breakout game, running 22 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns, as the Wildcats shook off a sluggish first half to churn out a 20-10 victory at Jacksonville in the Pioneer Football League opener for both teams Saturday afternoon.
Junior Chad Barnes had 13 carries for 85 yards as the Wildcats (3-1, 1-0 PFL) amassed a season-high 213 rushing yards in the contest. It was the most for the 'Cats since running for 247 at Valparaiso last season.
“We challenged the offensive line this week that we have to run the football to win this game on the road and we were able to do that,” said Davidson coach Tripp Merritt.
Senior quarterback Ryan Alexander, making his first start since the season opener, threw for 243 yards and a touchdown, while junior Kirk Konert had four receptions with 94 yards and a score. The Wildcat defense combined for six tackles for loss and a sack.
After Mantuo's second touchdown put Davidson ahead 20-10 late in the game, senior Jeffrey Scott halted a Dolphin drive with an interception at the 2-yard line with 5:21 remaining. The Davidson offense took over from there and ran out the clock while moving the ball up to the Jacksonville 37-yard line.
Trailing 10-0 at the break, the Wildcats came out like gangbusters right from the opening kickoff of the second half. Konert took the kick back to the 41-yard line and got hit out of bounds to tack on another 15 yards on the personal foul. After Alexander hit senior Ryan Hubbard for a 15-yard gain, he found Konert for a 29-yard touchdown pass as the 'Cats got on the board 35 seconds into the stanza.
After the teams went back and forth for a majority of the third quarter, the Wildcats capitalized on a Jacksonville (1-3, 0-1 PFL) turnover late in the frame. Senior Patrick FitzGerald recovered a Dolphin fumble, and Davidson put together a seven-play, 54-yard drive, capped by a Mantuo 3-yard touchdown run. Senior Cody Elder added the PAT as the 'Cats earned their first lead of the game at 14-10 1:37 into the fourth quarter.
The Davidson defense got a three-and-out, and the Wildcats went on one of their patented long drives, going 80 yards in eight plays. Mantuo logged a majority of the yards, and his 37-yard TD run gave the Wildcats a 20-10 lead. Davidson tried to fake the point after, and senior Matt McGreevy's pass fell incomplete, leaving the margin at 10 points with 7:25 to play.
The Davidson offense seemed to be in a funk in the first half, and despite moving the ball in spurts, the Wildcats could not sustain a drive. Twice, Davidson drives ended in Alexander interceptions off tipped passes.
The second came off a 3rd-and-17 on the Jacksonville 17-yard line, four plays after the 'Cats had a 1st-and-goal on the Dolphin 10 late in the half. Alexander's bullet got deflected into the arms of James Mills to keep the 'Cats off the scoreboard. Elder also had a long field goal try come up short as time ran off the clock to end the second quarter.
Meanwhile, the Jacksonville offense put together a 14-play, 83-yard drive, capped by a 19-yard run by Ron Harris, to give the Dolphins a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Freshman Michael Zacco nailed a 45-yard field goal with 4:19 to play in the frame and Jacksonville owned a 10-0 halftime cushion. It was the third-longest field goal in school history.
“Sometimes an open week is a bad thing, and we had to shake off a little rust with some guys coming back who had not played in a few weeks,” said Merritt. “I told them at halftime that this is not us and not the way we play, and they responded.”
Davidson hosts Morehead State at 1 p.m. next Saturday.
Notes: Junior Matt Mikrut logged his first career interception and the third for the Wildcats this season… Jeff Scott blocked a punt in the second quarter; it was the first blocked punt for the Wildcats since Mo Idlibi had one at Morehead State in 2001… It was the third blocked kick for Davidson this season… The Wildcats have allowed an individual 100-yard rusher in all four games this season… FitzGerald came up with his second fumble recovery this season… Seven Wildcats have touchdowns this season with no player owning more than three… Jacksonville kicked off in both halves.
Jacksonville, Fla. – Davidson freshman Kenny Mantuo had a breakout game, running 22 times for 135 yards and two touchdowns, as the Wildcats shook off a sluggish first half to churn out a 20-10 victory at Jacksonville in the Pioneer Football League opener for both teams Saturday afternoon.
Junior Chad Barnes had 13 carries for 85 yards as the Wildcats (3-1, 1-0 PFL) amassed a season-high 213 rushing yards in the contest. It was the most for the 'Cats since running for 247 at Valparaiso last season.
“We challenged the offensive line this week that we have to run the football to win this game on the road and we were able to do that,” said Davidson coach Tripp Merritt.
Senior quarterback Ryan Alexander, making his first start since the season opener, threw for 243 yards and a touchdown, while junior Kirk Konert had four receptions with 94 yards and a score. The Wildcat defense combined for six tackles for loss and a sack.
After Mantuo's second touchdown put Davidson ahead 20-10 late in the game, senior Jeffrey Scott halted a Dolphin drive with an interception at the 2-yard line with 5:21 remaining. The Davidson offense took over from there and ran out the clock while moving the ball up to the Jacksonville 37-yard line.
Trailing 10-0 at the break, the Wildcats came out like gangbusters right from the opening kickoff of the second half. Konert took the kick back to the 41-yard line and got hit out of bounds to tack on another 15 yards on the personal foul. After Alexander hit senior Ryan Hubbard for a 15-yard gain, he found Konert for a 29-yard touchdown pass as the 'Cats got on the board 35 seconds into the stanza.
After the teams went back and forth for a majority of the third quarter, the Wildcats capitalized on a Jacksonville (1-3, 0-1 PFL) turnover late in the frame. Senior Patrick FitzGerald recovered a Dolphin fumble, and Davidson put together a seven-play, 54-yard drive, capped by a Mantuo 3-yard touchdown run. Senior Cody Elder added the PAT as the 'Cats earned their first lead of the game at 14-10 1:37 into the fourth quarter.
The Davidson defense got a three-and-out, and the Wildcats went on one of their patented long drives, going 80 yards in eight plays. Mantuo logged a majority of the yards, and his 37-yard TD run gave the Wildcats a 20-10 lead. Davidson tried to fake the point after, and senior Matt McGreevy's pass fell incomplete, leaving the margin at 10 points with 7:25 to play.
The Davidson offense seemed to be in a funk in the first half, and despite moving the ball in spurts, the Wildcats could not sustain a drive. Twice, Davidson drives ended in Alexander interceptions off tipped passes.
The second came off a 3rd-and-17 on the Jacksonville 17-yard line, four plays after the 'Cats had a 1st-and-goal on the Dolphin 10 late in the half. Alexander's bullet got deflected into the arms of James Mills to keep the 'Cats off the scoreboard. Elder also had a long field goal try come up short as time ran off the clock to end the second quarter.
Meanwhile, the Jacksonville offense put together a 14-play, 83-yard drive, capped by a 19-yard run by Ron Harris, to give the Dolphins a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Freshman Michael Zacco nailed a 45-yard field goal with 4:19 to play in the frame and Jacksonville owned a 10-0 halftime cushion. It was the third-longest field goal in school history.
“Sometimes an open week is a bad thing, and we had to shake off a little rust with some guys coming back who had not played in a few weeks,” said Merritt. “I told them at halftime that this is not us and not the way we play, and they responded.”
Davidson hosts Morehead State at 1 p.m. next Saturday.
Notes: Junior Matt Mikrut logged his first career interception and the third for the Wildcats this season… Jeff Scott blocked a punt in the second quarter; it was the first blocked punt for the Wildcats since Mo Idlibi had one at Morehead State in 2001… It was the third blocked kick for Davidson this season… The Wildcats have allowed an individual 100-yard rusher in all four games this season… FitzGerald came up with his second fumble recovery this season… Seven Wildcats have touchdowns this season with no player owning more than three… Jacksonville kicked off in both halves.
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