Davidson Offense Rolls in 30-22 Season Finale Win

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DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson receivers Jonathan Adams and Lanny Funsten combined for 25 receptions for 297 yards and two scores to lead Davidson to a 30-22 Pioneer Football League victory over Valparaiso Saturday afternoon at Richardson Stadium.

The Wildcat offense rolled up 463 yards and scored on 4-of-5 trips into the Red Zone. The 'Cats overcame three turnovers on the day, including a pick-six, with the help of a defense that recorded five sacks and 12 tackles for loss. Valpo (1-10, 1-7 PFL) finished the day with -18 rushing yards.

Funsten collected 175 yards on 13 catches and two touchdowns for Davidson (4-7, 2-6 PFL), while Adams had 12 receptions for 122 yards. Quarterback Jonathan Carkhuff completed 34-of-55 passes for 371 yards, and Chris Gorman had 54 rushing yards on 11 carries.

“We had a scheme designed to make the linebacker have to make a decision on whether to play run or pass,” said Adams. “Luckily, he chose run a lot, and I was open.”

Eric Hoffman completed 33-of-57 passes for 364 yards and two scores for Valpo, and Tanner Kuramata finished with six receptions for 107 yards. Sean McCarty had five receptions for 58 yards.

After trailing 14-10 midway through the second quarter, Davidson scored 20 straight points to open a 30-14 cushion with 29 seconds left in the third quarter.

The Crusaders trimmed the margin to 10 points on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Hoffman to Cole Anderson, and Hoffman found Kuramata for the two-point conversion to make the score 30-22 with 1:55 to play.

Josh Wiggins recovered the onsides kick for Davidson, and Clem Butler rushed twice for 11 yards and a first down to seal the win for the Wildcats.

“I wasn't happy with our tempo in the first half,” said Davidson coach Tripp Merritt. “I thought we were somewhat sluggish. I think we started wearing them down a little bit up front in the second half.”

Davidson got on the scoreboard first when Carkhuff hit Funsten for an 18-yard TD pass late in the first quarter. The play capped an 80-yard drive, which was keyed by a 36-yard completion from Carkhuff to Funsten.

Bruce Collins tied the score at 7-7with a 74-yard interception return for touchdown. The Crusaders got good pressure on Carkhuff, and his arm got caught in the air as he was hit. The ball fell right into the paws of the 280-pound nose guard, who rumbled all the way for the score.

After a 19-yard field goal by Chazzo Habliston put the Wildcats back on top, Valpo went 71 yards in five plays, capped by a 6-yard pass from Hoffman to Tim Bennett, to take a 14-10 lead midway through the second quarter.

Funsten made a fantastic one-handed grab in the back of the end zone with 51 seconds left in the half to give Davidson the lead at the break. The Wildcats tried some trickery on the 2-point conversion, but Trey Huelskamp was tackled short of the goal line and Davidson settled for a 16-14 advantage. The scoring drive was kept alive by a 23-yard pass from Carkhuff to Adams on 3rd-and-11.

Davidson scored on its first possession of the second half after the defense gave it great field position thanks to a 13-yard Valpo loss on a sack by Ellis Martin. Carkhuff hit Funsten for a 34-ayrd completion to the 1-yard line, and called his own number on the next play to extend the lead to 23-14 3:16 into the frame.

Chase Culbertson scored on a 4-yard touchdown run to make the margin 30-14 with late in the third quarter. Gorman set up the score with a 15-yard run and an 18-yard reception.

“Our offense is a progression offense, and you have to be in synch,” said Adams. “We made a lot of improvements from the beginning of the season to now, and that's just going to continue into next season.”

Game Notes: It was Senior Day for Davidson… Carkhuff finished the season with 3,326 passing yards and 348 completions, both school records… Carkhuff threw for 300-plus yards for the sixth time in his career; it was the fourth time this season he threw for 350-plus… Funsten finished the year with 100 receptions, a school record, and became the third player in school history and first since 1972 to collect 1,000 receiving yards in a season (1,107)… Funsten had 100-plus receiving yards for the seventh time in his career…. The Wildcats finished the season 4-2 at home.

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