Saturday, November 11, 2023
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

Week 11 of the Pioneer Football League season saw Drake clinch a share of the regular-season title with a victory against Presbyterian. Davidson, with its loss at Morehead State, and St. Thomas, by virtue of its overtime win at San Diego, end the week tied for second in the league standings. The league’s automatic qualifying spot remains up for grabs between Drake and Davidson entering the final weekend.

PFL Automatic Qualifier Scenarios

Drake wins the PFL AQ

• With a win against Butler
• OR a Davidson loss against Dayton

Davidson wins the PFL AQ

• With a win against Dayton
• AND a loss by Drake against Butler.

PFL Scoreboard: Nov. 11

Morehead State 47, Davidson 17
Dayton 35, Marist 6
Valparaiso 23, Stetson 20 (OT)
Drake 16, Presbyterian 14
St. Thomas 20, San Diego 14 (OT)

PFL Recaps

Morehead State 47, Davidson 17

MOREHEAD, Ky. – Making his first collegiate start, Bryce Patterson threw six touchdown passes as Morehead State stunned Davidson 47-17 in PFL action Saturday at Jayne Stadium. Davidson opened the scoring with a 41-yard Adam Zouagui field goal for the only points in the first quarter. Morehead State responded with four touchdowns in the second quarter, Patterson throwing for three scores, to take a 26-10 lead into halftime. Davidson closed within nine points midway in the third quarter on a Mari Adams one-yard run, but Patterson threw two touchdowns before the quarter ended to push the Eagles lead to 40-17. Patterson needed 10 completions to amass 240 yards and his six touchdown throws. Ryan Upp caught five passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns. Adams paced Davidson with a 15-carry, 122-yard performance.

Dayton 35, Marist 6

DAYTON, Ohio – Dayton’s defense forced five turnovers, Cam Cope picking off a pair of passes, en route to a 35-6 PFL victory against Marist Saturday at Welcome Stadium. After a scoreless first quarter, Luke Hansen opened the scoring with a one-yard touchdown run to cap a 12-play, 75-yard drive. Drew VanVleet threw the first of his two touchdowns later in the first half, staking Dayton to a 14-0 halftime. VanVleet added a second touchdown throw early in the third quarter, extending the lead to 21-0. Marist broke through late in the third as Logan Brabham found Matt Stianche for a 14-yard touchdown. But Hansen responded with his second one-yard touchdown run to start the fourth quarter, putting Dayton safely out front. Luke Hansen ran for 111 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, while Drew VanVleet completed 21-of-30 passes for 228 yards and two scores. Brabham completed 26-of-35 passes for 259 yards for Marist.

Valparaiso 23, Stetson 20 in overtime

VALPARAISO, Ind. – Ryan Hawk’s 34-yard field goal in overtime provided Valparaiso a walk-off 23-20 PFL victory against Stetson Saturday at Brown Field. Stetson scored the game’s first 10 points and led 10-7 at halftime. The Beacons took their first lead on the other side of the break on Ryan Mann’s one-yard touchdown run with 6:52 left in the third quarter. The teams traded one-yard scores, with the Beacons holding a 20-17 lead with 6:11 left in the game. Stetson rallied with a 12-play, 51-drive that closed on B. Bush’s game-tying 41-yard field goal. In overtime, Stetson began on offense but turned the ball over on downs, setting up Valparaiso’s winning possession. Mann ran for 121 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries to pace the Beacons’ offense. Brewer ran for two touchdowns and 33 yards on 15 carries for Stetson.

Drake 16, Presbyterian 14  

DES MOINES, Iowa – Shane Dunning hit three field goals, accounting for Drake’s final nine points as the Bulldogs held on for a 16-14 PFL victory against Presbyterian to clinch a share of the PFL title. Drake scored with Dorian Boyland’s three-yard run at the 5:41 mark of the first quarter. Presbyterian tied the game just 23 seconds later as Ty Englehart broke through for a 75-yard touchdown run. Dunning then stepped up to give Drake the lead, hitting a 34-yard field goal in the second quarter and adding a 29-yarder and 48-yarder in the third quarter to extend Drake’s lead to 16-7. Presbyterian would tack on a late fourth-quarter touchdown but could not close the gap. Boyland finished with 77 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Presbyterian’s Tyler Wesley passed for 61 yards and ran for 34 more.

St. Thomas 20, San Diego 14 in overtime

SAN DIEGO, Calif.  – Hope Adebayo’s 16-yard touchdown run in overtime pushed St. Thomas past San Diego, 20-14 Saturday in PFL action at Torero Stadium. St. Thomas scored the game’s opening touchdown, with Amari Powell finding Colin Chase for a five-yard touchdown throw with 13 seconds left in the first quarter. San Diego tied the game late in the second quarter only to see St. Thomas score with 51 seconds left in the half to take a 14-7 lead. Neither team scored in the second half until San Diego broke through with 12:55 left in the fourth quarter, tying the game on Isaiah Williams’ three-yard touchdown run. In overtime, San Diego pieced together a seven-play drive but gained only 14 yards, leaving a 28-yard field goal attempt that did not find the mark. St. Thomas followed and needed just three plays to score the game winner. Adebayo scored his two touchdowns as part of a nine-carry, 85-yard rushing outing. Williams paced San Diego with his 30-carry, 163-yard effort.