Saturday, September 16, 2023
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

PFL Scoreboard: Sept. 16

Davidson 49, Marist 21
Dayton 52, Taylor 20
Harvard 45, St. Thomas 13
#3 Montana State 57, Stetson 20
#1 South Dakota State 70, Drake 7
Princeton 23, San Diego 12
Presbyterian 23, Wofford 20
Butler 47, Wabash 21

PFL Recaps

Davidson 49, Marist 21

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Davidson closed the first half with 21 unanswered points and opened Pioneer Football League play with a 49-21 victory against Marist Saturday at Tenney Stadium. Davidson quarterback Coulter Cleland completed 17-of-21 passes for 303 yards and five touchdowns, including three touchdowns in the final 8:41 of the first half, as Davidson turned a 7-7 game into a 28-7 halftime lead. Cleland extended the Wildcats lead to 35-7 on the second half’s opening drive with a 20-yard touchdown completion to Christian Berry, and DC never looked back. Marist quarterback Brock Bagozzi completed 12-of-32 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns.

Dayton 52, Taylor 20

DAYTON, Ohio – Dayton scored the game’s first 24 points and fended off a second-quarter charge by Taylor to secure a 52-20 nonconference victory Saturday at Welcome Stadium. The Flyers scored 21 unanswered points in the first quarter as Michael Neel and Luke Hansen rushed for touchdowns, and Dante Casciola hit a 59-yard passing touchdown. Taylor battled back with 14 unanswered points, closing within 24-14, but a Cole Dow touchdown run gave Dayton a 31-14 halftime lead it would not relinquish. Dayton’s offense amassed 253 rushing yards, with Neel running for 110 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries.

Harvard 45, St. Thomas 13

BOSTON, Mass. – Harvard built a 31-0 halftime lead and opened its season with a 45-13 victory against St. Thomas Saturday at Harvard Stadium. Harvard scored three rushing touchdowns in the first quarter, Shane McLaughlin opening the scoring with a 79-yard touchdown run on the Crimson’s first drive. St. Thomas broke through in the third quarter courtesy of Hope Adebayo’s two-yard run to cap a six-play, 53-yard drive. Shawn Shipman closed the scoring with a three-yard touchdown run for the fourth quarter’s only points. Harvard ran for 255 yards and four touchdowns on 27 team carries. St. Thomas ran for 103 yards on 41 team carries.

#3 Montana State 57, Stetson 20

BOZEMAN, Mont. –Sean Chambers and Scott Humphrey each ran for two touchdowns in the first half as No. 3 Montana State posted a 57-20 victory against Stetson Saturday at Bobcat Stadium. Daniel Holbrook got Stetson on the board after the Bobcats' early fury, connecting on a 45-yard field goal midway through the second quarter. He added a 37-yard field goal just before halftime, and Stetson trailed 41-6. Kaderris Roberts added a touchdown run in the fourth quarter for the Hatters’ final points. Roberts finished the day with 67 yards on nine carries to lead the Stetson offense.

#1 South Dakota State 70, Drake 7

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Drake’s Luke Bailey found Colin Howard for a 35-yard touchdown completion to open the scoring. However, No. 1 South Dakota State pulled away for a 70-7 nonconference victory Saturday at Target Field. The Jackrabbits ran for 359 yards and five touchdowns, and quarterback Mark Gronowski threw for five touchdowns. Bailey completed 16-of-29 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown.

Princeton 23, San Diego 12

SAN DIEGO, Calif. – After trading touchdowns in the first quarter, Princeton held San Diego to a pair of field goals the rest of the way to secure a 23-12 nonconference victory Saturday at Torero Stadium. Isaiah Williams’ one-yard run in the first quarter helped the host Toreros tie the game 7-7. Princeton would rebuild its touchdown lead with a 32-yard touchdown pass, and San Diego could only respond with Lehman’s 55-yard field goal to trim the deficit to 14-9 at halftime.  Princeton scored a touchdown on its first drive of the second half, extending its lead to 21-9 before Lehman booted a 48-yard field goal for San Diego’s final points. Toreros quarterback Dom Nankil completed 20-of-37 passes for 209 yards.

Presbyterian 23, Wofford 20

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Tyler Wesley connected on an 18-yard touchdown pass to Worth Warner with 28 seconds remaining, and Presbyterian downed Wofford 23-20 in nonconference action at Gibbs Stadium. It was the Blue Hose’s first victory against their in-state rival since 1994, snapping the Terriers' seven-game win streak in the series. Presbyterian trailed 20-13 with 14:49 remaining in the game. Kicker Mack Mikko narrowed the deficit to four points with his 37-yard field goal at 9:55. Wesley then led the Blue Hose on an 18-play, 76-yard drive, ending with his 18-yard completion to Warner for the lead. Wesley completed 16-of-41 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns on the day.

Butler 47, Wabash 21

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Bret Bushka threw two touchdowns and ran for another as Butler defeated Wabash 47-21 in nonconference action at the Sellick Bowl. Bushka opened the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run in the first quarter – that frame’s only points – before completing a 30-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Loss. Wabash scored twice in the second quarter, but Luka Zurak’s 48-yard field goal just before the horn gave Butler a 24-14 halftime lead that proved enough. Bushka completed 13-of-18 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns to pace the Bulldogs offense.