WEEK 3: Wildcats Head to Marist for PFL Opener

GAME 3 | SEPT. 16, 2023 | 1:00 PM (ET) | RICHARDSON STADIUM (5,000) | POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y.

DAVIDSON WILDCATS
2023 Record: 0-2 (0-0 PFL)
2022 Record: 8-4 (6-2 PFL)
Head Coach: Scott Abell
Davidson Record: 34-21, 6th year
Career Record: 73-45, 12th year

MARIST RED FOXES
2023 Record: 0-1 (0-0 PFL)
2022 Record: 4-7 (4-4 PFL)
Head Coach: Jim Parady
Marist Record: 151-165-1 32nd year
Career Record: Same

INSIDE THE SERIES
Meetings: 12
Series Record: Marist leads, 11-1
First Meeting: Marist Won, 24-19 (11/15/08)
Last Meeting: Marist Won, 27-21 (10/26/19)
Streak: Lost 9
In Davidson: 0-7
In Poughkeepsie: 1-4
Abell vs. Marist: 0-2

1ST AND 10

Davidson will open Pioneer Football League action Saturday with a 1 p.m. contest at Marist in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
The Wildcats enter 0-2 on the young season after a 33-31 setback to Barton last Friday inside Richardson Stadium.
Despite falling for the second straight week in the closing minutes, Davidson finished with 331 yards rushing, led by Mari Adams, who ran 19 times for 115 yards.
The Wildcats have won four straight PFL openers and are 25-12 under Head Coach Scott Abell in league play, while capturing a pair of regular season crowns.
Davidson, which was picked to finish second in the Pioneer Football League preseason poll, has represented the conference in three straight FCS Playoffs.
The 'Cats are just one of four teams to make back-to-back-to-back playoff appearances.

SCOUTING THE RED FOXES

Coming off a week two bye, Marist enters 0-1 on the year following a 49-7 loss at Georgetown in its season opener.
Picked to finish seven in the preseason poll, the Red Foxes return 13 starters from last year's team that went 4-7 overall and 4-4 in league play.
Among those returning include junior quarterback Brock Bagozzi, who started all 11 games a year ago, while setting a program-record with 207 completions.
Linebacker and preseason all-conference selection Mike Arrington is also back for the Red Foxes. He led the team with 93 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.

INSIDE THE SERIES

Saturday's contest between the two PFL foes will be the first since the 2019 season.
Marist has won the last nine and leads the all-time series, 11-1.
Davidson's lone win came in 2010.

LAST MEETING | MARIST 27, DAVIDSON 21 - OCT. 26, 2019 | DAVIDSON, N.C.

Despite outscoring the Red Foxes 14-3 in the final quarter, Davidson's rally fell short as the Wildcats suffered a 27-21 setback to Marist, Oct. 26, 2019 in Richardson Stadium.
Trailing 24-7 entering the final frame, the Wildcats put together a pair of scoring drives capped off by Aris Hilliard and Wesley Dugger touchdowns. Hilliard caught a Tyler Phelps, 15-yard reception, while Dugger rushed five yards for his 12th TD in the last four games.
For the first-time all-season Davidson trailed to open a game after Marist held the 'Cats on the opening possession and proceeded to score on their first series - an Austin Day to Sean Gaffney scoring connection.
Marist added a field goal in the early second quarter as the Davidson defense held the Red Foxes out of the end zone.
When the 'Cats finally broke onto the scoreboard it was a highlight reel play as Phelps dropped one in over the shoulder for sophomore Eli Turner Jr. in the end zone to cut into the deficit, 10-7 -- the eventual halftime score.
Marist relied on Hunter Cobb to stretch the lead out to 17 with a pair of third quarter scoring scampers before the Wildcats roared back behind the Hilliard and Dugger fourth quarter touchdowns.
The defense held Marist to a late field goal that kept the game within reach helped along by a Bryce Perry-Martin and George Hatalowich tackle for loss and ensuing Red Fox holding penalty.
With one last shot and only 67 ticks remaining on the clock, Phelps used completions to Staples, Connor Richey and Satchel Moore to get into Marist territory before time ran out on the comeback.
Phelps completed 12 of 26 passed for 160 yards and the two scores. Sophomore Jalen Staples hauled in five catches for 48 yards and was a crucial piece in helping Davidson climb back into contention. Davidson rushed for 163 yards powered by 83 from Dugger.
Defensively, senior Tony Collins was in on 13 stops, while Hatalowich recorded 10 total including 2.5 for loss. Entering the game as the PFL's second ranked player in tackles for loss, Perry-Martin added 2.5 to his season tally, to go along with nine stops. Senior Hunter Murphy got to Day twice including a monster solo sack, his first since freshman year.

LAST TIME OUT | BARTON 33, DAVIDSON 31 - SEPT. 8, 2023 | DAVIDSON, N.C.

Barton's Jordan Terrell ran for a 13-yard touchdown with 5:57 left to push the Bulldogs past Davidson 33-31 at Richardson Stadium Friday night.
Davidson scored on its first three possessions to go up 21-7 late in the opening quarter, but Barton closed the half with 20 unanswered to take a 27-21 lead into intermission.
The Wildcats also took a 31-27 lead down the stretch after Adam Zouagui's 35-yard field goal with 12:28 to play. Late in the third quarter, the Wildcats' kicker provided the go-ahead extra point after Mason Sheron's 1-yard score tied the game at 27-all.
Davidson took the game's first drive 83 yards and capped it with a Coulter Cleland 26-yard touchdown pass to Sam Hedrick. Then the Wildcats made it 14-0 on a Sam Valor 4-yard score, set up by an Aaron Maione 48-yard run.
Sheron added a 6-yard scoring run in the first quarter, making it 21-7.
Davidson rushed 51 times for 331 yards (6.5 yards per carry), led by Mari Adams who ran 19 times for 115 yards.
Cleland finished 10-of-20 passing for 142 yards with the touchdown to Hedrick and one interception.

UP NEXT

Davidson returns home to Richardson Stadium for two straight beginning with a 7 p.m. contest against St. Andrews on Saturday, Sept. 23.

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