Thursday, April 8, 2021
WEEK 9 SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, APRIL 10
Drake at Butler
Broadcast: YouTube.com/ButlerSports
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Stadium: Sellick Bowl
Series: DRA leads, 20-8-1 Streak: DRA, 4 wins
Last Meeting: Drake def. Butler, 42-7 (2019)
Davidson at Presbyterian
Broadcast: DavidsonWildcats.com
Location: Davidson, North Carolina
Stadium: Richardson Stadium
Series: DAV leads, 15-13-2 Streak: DAV, 1 win
Last Meeting: Davidson def. Presbyterian, 41-24 (2021)
Valparaiso at Morehead State
Broadcast: ESPN+
Location: Morehead, Kentucky
Stadium: Jayne Stadium
Series: MOR leads, 20-5 Streak: MOR, 2 wins
Last Meeting: Morehead State def. Valparaiso, 27-21 (2019)
Stetson at San Diego
Broadcast: WCCSports.com
Location: San Diego, California
Stadium: Torero Stadium
Series: SAN leads, 7-0 Streak: SAN, 7 wins
Last Meeting: San Diego def. Stetson, 51-7 (2019)
LATEST PFL NEWS AND NOTES
Complete news and notes available in PDF version
DAVIDSON IN DRIVER’S SEAT
Davidson moved to the top of the PFL standings with its April 3 victory at San Diego and controls its own destiny en route to the PFL regular-season title. If the Wildcats win their two remaining games, they claim their first-ever title and the league’s automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs outright. With a loss in either remaining game, they would claim a share of the title and would have to wait on other results around the league. The Wildcats best previous finish in PFL single-division play was third place during the 2006 season when they won a program record five PFL contests.
DAVIDSON ENDING USD WIN STREAK HIGHLIGHTS PFL WEEK 4
Davidson broke out to a 28-10 halftime lead then held on to defeat No. 25 San Diego, 31-25, at Torero Stadium. Quarterback Tyler Phelps, the PFL Offensive Player of the Week, threw three touchdowns in the win, completing 10-of-15 passes for 189 yards. STATS PERFORM FCS National Defensive Player of the Week Jeffrey Smyth returned two interceptions for touchdowns as Presbyterian downed Stetson, 26-3, at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium in a game that saw only six points scored on offensive drives. Valparaiso avenged an earlier loss to Drake this season as a Robert Washington 14-yard run for a touchdown proved decisive for a 10-7 result that was Valparaiso first victory at Drake Stadium. Morehead State scored the game’s first 21 points and never looked back en route to a 35-14 victory against Butler at the Sellick Bowl. MSU quarterback Mark Pappas threw for 382 yards and two touchdowns on 29-of-44 passing.
SAN DIEGO’S TIES FCS CONFERENCE WIN STREAK RECORD
San Diego’s saw its PFL win streak end at 39 games with an April 3 loss to Davidson. The Toreros 39-game conference win streak is tied the FCS record held by Duquesne in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Association (1999-06).
SAN DIEGO, DAVIDSON SET UP EARLY TITLE BOUT WITH WEEK 3 WINS
San Diego and Davidson posted identical 24-21 victories to remain unbeaten and set up a PFL Week 4 showdown that ultimately could determine the league champion. San Diego built an early lead then fended off a late charge at Presbyterian as USD quarterback Mason Randall passed for 301 yards and two touchdowns in the win. Davidson needed kicker Caden Bonoffski’s 32-yard field goal with two seconds remaining to escape with a win against Morehead State in a game that saw Davidson’s running backs amass 334 yards and three touchdowns. Valparaiso won the Hoosier Helmet with its 28-25 victory against Butler, running back Robert Washington scoring two touchdowns on 26 carries for 120 yards.
SAN DIEGO PICKED TO WIN PFL
For the 10th consecutive year, the University of San Diego has been picked to win the Pioneer Football League regular-season race in a preseason vote of the league’s coaches. San Diego, which has won the regular-season title each of the past six seasons, again received the coaches’ nod to win the Spring 2021 PFL title with all six possible first-place votes and maximum 36 points. Behind the Toreros, Davidson was picked to finish second with 28 points. Drake was given a third-place nod with 25 points followed by Stetson in fourth with 22 points. Valparaiso (13), Butler (12) and Morehead State (11) round out the seven-team spring poll.
SIX PFL ATHLETES NAMED NFF CAMPBELL TROPHY SEMIFINALISTS
Six PFL student-athletes were among all-time record of 199 semifinalists for the 2020 William V. Campbell Trophy® Presented by Mazda in October: Davidson’s Wesley Dugger, Dayton’s Brandon Easterling, Drake’s Victor Jergens, Marist’s Grant Dixon, San Diego’s Kama Kamaka, Stetson’s Alex Brow. Celebrating its 31st year, the award recognizes an individual as the absolute best football scholar-athlete in the nation for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.
FIFTY-SEVEN PFL ATHLETES NAMED TO 2020 NFF HAMPSHIRE SOCIETY
A record fifty-seven Pioneer Football League student-athletes, representing seven member institutions, earned recognition as members of the 2020 NFF Hampshire Honor Society, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame, announced Wednesday. Dayton led all programs in 2020 with 21 student-athletes honored. The Flyers, along with Butler, were two of the 17 schools that saw at least 10 honorees on the 2020 listing.
PFL’s 28TH CAMPAIGN
The Spring 2021 season marks the 28th year for the Pioneer Football League – the nation’s only non-scholarship, football-only NCAA Football Championship Subdivision conference. The league will feature 10 teams each playing an eight-game schedule to determine the league champion and recipient of the automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA FCS Championship.
FLYERS, RED FOXES FORGO SPRING SLATE
Dayton, Marist each announced that they would forgo participation in the spring 2021 Pioneer Football League Spring season. Both teams will return to play for the fall 2021 PFL schedule.
PRESBYTERIAN JOINS PFL IN THE SPRING
In 2019, the Pioneer Football League Commissioner presidents’ council agreed to accept Presbyterian College’s request for membership, effective for the 2021 season. However, after the season was delayed due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the league’s presidents’ council agreed to include Presbyterian as part of a scheduling agreement. The Blue Hose are not eligible for the PFL regular-season title or the league’s automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs.
PFL SPRING 2021 SCHEDULE
In November, the PFL Presidents Council endorsed a six-game conference season in the spring of 2021, as advanced by the PFL athletic directors and coaches. The Council determined to move forward with a plan that provides a meaningful competitive experience for PFL football student-athletes. The PFL’s six-week schedule will see seven league members joined by Presbyterian, which joins the PFL as part of a scheduling agreement for the spring 2021 schedule, each play three home and three away contests. Individual members may schedule nonconference games prior to the league’s March 13-April 17 window.
16-TEAM NCAA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
The Division I Football Championship will feature 16 teams, with the bracket announced Sunday, April 18, and the championship game, May 16 in Frisco, Texas. The spring 2021 field includes automatic bids from 11 FCS conferences, including the PFL, and five at-large selections.
ST. THOMAS JOINS PFL IN FALL
Pioneer Football League Commissioner Patty Viverito announced the league’s Presidents’ Council has agreed to accept the University of St. Thomas’ request for membership, effective for the 2021 season. After completing their final football season in the MIAC in 2020, St. Thomas will join the Pioneer Football League for the 2021 season.