Davidson Tops Lenoir-Rhyne 28-10 in Football Home Opener

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Highlights
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DAVIDSON, N.C. – Davidson quarterback Jonathan Carkhuff completed 36-of-49 passes for 324 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Wildcats to a 28-10 football victory over Lenoir-Rhyne in their home opener at Richardson Stadium Saturday night.

“Jonathan is taking what the defense is giving him,” said Davidson coach Tripp Merritt. “He improved a lot from week one to week two, and he's just going to get better week to week.”

Jonathan Adams caught eight passes for 95 yards and two scores for Davidson (1-1), while Lanny Funsten had eight receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown. Josh Wiggins added 60 yards on five receptions.

Peter Kidwell led the Davidson defense, which held Lenoir-Rhyne (1-1) in check most of the night, with two interceptions to go along with nine tackles. Patrick Moynahan had 11 stops.

“Our defensive game plan was right on, and our guys executed – they stayed on their feet, ran to the ball and played good assignment football,” said Merritt.

Isaiah Whitaker led the Bear offense with 63 rushing yards on 10 carries, and Byron Darby recorded 46 yards on 10 carries. Quarterback Major Herron threw for 75 yards, and Reuben Haynes passed for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Two key series in the game came right before halftime as Lenoir-Rhyne methodically moved the ball into Davidson territory trailing 14-0. Lenoir-Rhyne picked up four first downs during the drive, but on 3rd-and-9, Kidwell tackled Corron Boston five yards short of the marker, and the Bears were forced to settle for a Colin Corpe field goal with 1:20 left.

The Wildcats made the most of that time and tacked on one final score before the half ended. A 26-yard pass from Carkhuff to Wiggins keyed the series, and the 'Cats had the ball on the LR 29-yard line with 8.8 seconds left. Davidson elected to take a shot in the end zone, and Carkhuff hooked up with Adams for a touchdown pass with no time remaining on the clock, putting Davidson ahead 21-3 at the end of the half.

“That was big because they could have gone into the half with the momentum,” said Carkhuff. “Jonathan stayed on his route, our offensive line gave me time and I found him.”

After a three-and-out to start the second half, Carkhuff found his rhythm once more, orchestrating a 58-yard, 11-play touchdown drive. He hit Wiggins for a 15-yard completion and capped the drive by connecting with Funsten on a seven-yard touchdown pass to put Davidson on top 28-3 with 3:23 remaining in the third quarter.

The Bears got a touchdown late in the game, when Haynes took over at quarterback at his own 17 and marched Lenoir-Rhyne 83 yards in 11 plays. Haynes keyed the drive with a 34-yard completion to Artis Gilmore, and found Nick Stutts for a 13-yard touchdown pass with 54 seconds left in the contest.

Davidson started the scoring with 3:54 remaining in the first quarter when senior fullback Chase Culbertson punched in his first career touchdown, a 3-yard run that completed an 82-yard drive. Tim Hines ignited the drive with a 33-yard run, and Chris Gorman rushed four times for 27 yards. Chazzo Habliston gave Davidson a 7-0 lead with the point after.

Herron rushed for 11 yards and completed a 25-yard pass to Gilmore to set up a scoring chance for the Bears, but on a 3rd-and-7 from the Davidson 22-yard line, Kidwell picked off Herron's pass in the end zone.

Davidson pushed the score to 14-0 with an 80-yard, 13-play drive that culminated in Carkhuff's four-yard touchdown pass to Adams with 6:20 remaining in the period. Carkhuff used completions of 13 yards (to Funsten), 11 yards (to Wiggins) and 25 yards (to Adams) to put the Wildcats in scoring position.

After a bye week, the Wildcats return to action when they host Johnson C. Smith Saturday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. at Richardson Stadium

Game Notes: The win broke a seven-game home losing streak for the Wildcats and a two-game skid against Lenoir-Rhyne… Adams and Wiggins receptions and yardage totals were career highs… Kidwell now has seven career interceptions… Eleven receivers caught passes for Davidson… Carkhuff has thrown for 300-plus yards in three career games, including both contests this season.

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