Saturday, April 17, 2021
Valparaiso 20, San Diego 19
Presbyterian 28, Drake 24
Morehead State 28, Butler 18
Stetson at Davidson, canceled
Valparaiso 20, San Diego 19
VALPARAISO, Ind. – Quarterback Ben Nimz found wide receiver Braden Contreras for a nine-yard touchdown and Brian Bartholomew hit the extra point with 25 seconds remaining and Valparaiso defeated San Diego, 20-19 at Brown Field. Valparaiso defeated San Diego for the first time since 2003, but only after a flurry of fourth-quarter action. Entering the quarter tied 13-13, San Diego got a strip-sack and recovered the fumble to set up at its own 43-yard line with 11:35 left. Quarterback Mason Randall led a quick five-play, 57-yard drive and found Michael Carner for a 25-yard touchdown with 8:37 left. However, the extra-point kick was blocked by lineman Drew Gedrys, leaving San Diego holding a 19-13 lead. Late in the game, a 15-yard San Diego punt let Valparaiso start a drive at the San Diego 43-yard line and Nimz needed just four plays to navigate the 43 yards for the tying touchdown and go-ahead PAT. Nimz completed 10-of-21 passes for 193 yards and threw Valparaiso's lone offensive touchdown. Randall completed 15-of-29 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns.
Presbyterian 28, Drake 24
DES MOINES, Iowa – Presbyterian scored twice in the fourth quarter to overcome an 11-point deficit and post a 28-24 victory against Drake, Saturday, at Drake Stadium. Drake led 24-13 with 10:58 left in the third quarter after quarterback Michael Markett threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Harrison Murray. Late in the thrid quarter, Drake pinned Presbyterian on its own three-yard line but Tyler Huff led a 15-play, 97-yard drive that was kept alive by a key pass interference penalty on a 4th-and-2 play. Brandon Thompson finished the drive with a two-yard run and wide receiver Kiaran Turner caught the two-point conversion to narrow the deficit to 24-21 with 9:42 left. Six minutes later, Presbyterian again faced a long field, starting on its own 13-yard line with 3:10 left in the game. Huff quick-marched Presbyterian down the field in eight plays, finding Lawson Bachelder for a 46-yard touchdown catch-and-carry to take the lead with 1:00 remaining. Huff completed 28-of-49 passes for 365 yards and a touchdown to lead Presbyterian. Collin Howard caught five passes for 110 yards and a touchdown to lead Drake.
Morehead State 28, Butler 18
MOREHEAD, Ky. – BJ Byrd had two touchdown receptions and an 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to help Morehead State down Butler, 28-28, Saturday at Jayne Stadium. Morehead State scored the game's first two touchdowns, including a Mark Pappas-to-Byrd 40-yard strike, to take a 14-0 lead with 5:49 left in the first. Butler would close to within four points, 14-10, when JJ Wadas connected on a 21-yard field goal at the end of the half. But it was a wild sequence at the end of the third quarter that proved decisive. Morehead State took a 21-10 lead when Byrd caught a two-yard touchdown pass with 2:19 left. Butler would respond on the ensuing possession, with Nick Orlando finding Kavon Samuels on a 42-yard touchdown pass with one second left. But that proved one second too many as Byrd returned the ensuing kickoff 85-yards for the game-sealing touchdown. Byrd finished with 203 all-purpose yards with three kick returns going for 150 yards and three receptions adding 53 yards. Quarterback Sam Brown led Butler with a 27-for-36, 284-yard passing effort that included a touchdown.