Saturday, October 30
Davidson, N.C.
1:00 pm
Davidson College
13
vs
37
Dayton
John Behm had eight tackles and a pass breakup.
Valentino Leads Dayton Past Davidson, 37-13
10/30/2010 3:35:00 PM | Football
DAVIDSON, N.C. – Dayton quarterback Steve Valentino compiled 280 yards of total offense to lead Dayton to a 37-13 Pioneer Football League victory over Davidson Saturday afternoon at Richardson Stadium.
Valentino completed 11-of-17 passes for 223 yards and two TDs and rushed 12 times for 57 yards for the Flyers (8-1, 6-0 PFL). Taylor Harris had seven carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns, while Tyler Hujik caught two passes for 81 yards and a TD.
Jonathan Carkhuff completed 23-of-39 passes for 197 yards and a touchdown for Davidson (2-6, 2-4 PFL), and Josh Yost caught seven passes for 68 yards and a touchdown.
With Davidson trailing 27-6, Carkhuff found Yost for a 5-yard touchdown pass as the 'Cats cut the lead to 14 points with 6:40 left in the third quarter. An 18-yard run by Mark Hanabury and a 14-yard completion from Carkhuff to Yost keyed the drive.
After a defensive stop, the 'Cats were driving again, but Sean Belanger broke up a Carkhuff pass intended for Yost on 4th-and-5 from the Dayton 26 to turn the ball over on downs.
Dayton drove down to the Davidson 30, and on 4th-and-1, Taylor Harris went straight up the middle and 30 yards for a touchdown to make the margin 34-13 and put the game away. A 32-yard pass from Valentino to Nick Collins also keyed the scoring drive.
“Those were two huge plays in the game,” said Davidson coach Tripp Merritt. “I felt like we were inching back into the game. We don't convert that fourth down, and they come back on 4th-and-1 and score. We moved the ball well at times between the 20s, but we can't seem to punch it in when we need to.”
The 'Cats received the opening kickoff and got on the scoreboard early with a 37-yard field goal from Ben Behrendt following a 52-yard drive. The Flyers answered with a 6-play, 64-yard scoring drive, capped by a Harris 18-yard touchdown run.
Valentino connected with Hujik for a 69-yard touchdown pass with 6:10 left in the second quarter to open a 14-3 cushion for Dayton.
On the next play from scrimmage, the Flyers' Chase Walton picked off a Carkhuff pass and returned it 42 yards to the Davidson 7-yard line to set up Dayton's third TD, a 1-yard run by Brian Mack, which made the margin 21-3.
“We can't commit three turnovers and not got any takeaways and expect to win the football game,” said Merritt.
Carkhuff orchestrated the 2-minute offense, and the Wildcats drive down to the Dayton 10-yard line, where Behrendt kicked a 27-yard field goal with 22 seconds left in the half to make the score 21-6 at the break. Carkhuff completed 7-of-10 passes for 56 yards in the drive.
On 4th-and-long on Dayton's opening drive of the second half, Valentino hooked up with Anthony Papp for a 29-yard touchdown pass. Nick Glavin missed the extra point, leaving the margin at 27-6.
The Wildcats play their final road PFL contest at Marist next Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon.
Game Notes: With seven points in the game, Behrendt passed 100 for his career… Yost's TD reception in the third quarter was the first of his career… The junior also had career highs for receptions and yards… It was Davidson's sixth straight loss at home.
WEEK3: Coaches Corner with Head Coach Saj Thakkar presented by Atrium Health.
Tuesday, September 09
WEEK 2: Coaches Corner with Head Coach Saj Thakkar presented by Atrium Health.
Tuesday, September 02
Davidson coach Saj Thakkar's inspiration
Friday, August 29
2025 Davidson Football -- GridIron Club Kickoff Call
Friday, August 29