Tuesday, April 20, 2021
WEEK 11 SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, APRIL 24
Davidson at Jacksonville State, 2 p.m.
Broadcast: ESPN3
Location: Jacksonville, Alabama
Stadium: JSU Stadium
Series: First Meeting
LATEST PFL NEWS AND NOTES
Complete news and notes available in PDF version
DAVIDSON CLINCHES FIRST-EVER PFL TITLE; PFL AUTOMATIC BID
With the announcement of the cancellation of the April 17 Davidson-Stetson contest, the Pioneer Football League announced that Davidson won the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship and at least a share of the 2020 title. The Wildcats then celebrated winning the title outright following San Diego’s loss at Valparaiso. It is Davidson’s first-ever PFL title since joining the league in 2001. Their previous best finish in the league’s single table format was a third-place finish in 2006.
FIVE NAMED FINALISTS FOR STATS PERFORM NATIONAL AWARDS
STATS PERFORM named its 16 finalists for its four year-end awards for the FCS’ top players: the Walter Payton Award, Buck Buchanan Award, Jerry Rice Award and Eddie Robinson Award. Presbyterian wide receiver Keith Pearson was nominated for the Walter Payton Award, recognizing the FCS’ Offensive Player of the Year. Presbyterian linebacker Colby Campbell was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award for the FCS’ Defensive Player of the Year. Valparaiso cornerback Keyon Turner earned recognition on the Jerry Rice Award for the FCS’ Freshman Player of the Year. Both Davidson head coach Scott Abell and Valparaiso head coach Landon Fox were recognized on the Eddie Robinson Award presented to the FCS’ National Coach of the Year.
PFL WEEK 6: WILD FINISHES HIGHLIGHT SEASON’S FINAL WEEKEND
A wild day saw both Presbyterian and Valparaiso win in the final minute of their respective games while Morehead State picked up a home victory to close out the spring 2021 regular season slate. Quarterback Ben Nimz found wide receiver Braden Contreras for a nine-yard touchdown and Brian Bartholomew hit the extra point with 25 seconds remaining as Valparaiso defeated San Diego, 20-19 at Brown Field. PFL co-Special Teams Player of the Week Drew Gedrys blocked to PATs in the game, including one on San Diego’s final scoring drive. Presbyterian scored twice in the fourth quarter to overcome an 11-point deficit and post a 28-24 victory at Drake. Quarterback Tyler Huff led drives of 15-plays, 97-yards and 8-plays, 87-yards in the final quarter to claim the win. PFL co-Special Teams Player of the Week 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.
PFL ANNOUNCES ANNUAL AWARDS APRIL 26-28
The 2020-21 PFL Awards, All-PFL Teams and Academic All-PFL Teams will be announced during the final week of April. The PFL Awards – Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Year, Offensive and Defensive Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year – will be presented Monday, April 26. The 28th All-PFL Teams arrive Tuesday followed by the Academic All-PFL Teams and the league’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year, Wednesday. All seven PFL teams competing this spring and Presbyterian are eligible for the league’s year-end awards.
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.
LOOKING AHEAD TO THE 29TH PFL CAMPAIGN
An exciting fall 2021 PFL campaign awaits with 11 league members scheduled to participate in the league’s 29th year. New members Presbyterian and St. Thomas join as full members and are eligible for the 2021 title along with the nine existing league members. Perennial title favorites Dayton and Marist are slated to return after opting out from the spring season. Davidson will seek to retain its newly-earned championship with Morehead State, San Diego, and Valparaiso looking to challenge for that title after finishing just one loss behind the champion this spring. Butler, Drake and Stetson also will look to use their spring experience to make a move forward this fall.