Tuesday, August 31, 2021
AHEAD IN WEEK 1
Thursday, Sept. 2
West Virginia Wesleyan at Drake, 6 p.m.
Broadcast: ESPN3
Location: Des Moines, Iowa
Stadium: Drake Stadium
Series: First Meeting
Saturday, Sept. 4
Davidson at #12 VMI, 1:30 p.m.
Broadcast: ESPN+
Location: Lexington, Virginia
Stadium: Alumni Memorial Field
Series: VMI leads, 39-17-3 Streak: VMI, 10 wins
Last Meeting: VMI def. Davidson, 52-24 (9/13/14)
St. Andrews at Presbyterian, 4 p.m.
Broadcast: ESPN+
Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
Stadium: Bailey Memorial Stadium
Series: PRE leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Presbyterian def. St. Andrews, 52-14 (11/23/19)
Cal Poly at San Diego, 4 p.m.
Broadcast: WCCSports.com/watch
Location: San Diego, California
Stadium: Torero Stadium
Series: CPU leads, 5-1 Streak: CPU, one win
Last Meeting: Cal Poly def. San Diego, 52-34 (8/31/19)
Valparaiso at Indiana Wesleyan, 6 p.m.
Broadcast: StretchInternet.com/IndianaWesleyan
Location: Marion, Indiana
Stadium: Wildcat Football Stadium
Series: First Meeting
Morehead State at #2 James Madison, 6 p.m.
Broadcast: FloSports
Location: Harrisonburg, Virginia
Stadium: Bridgeforth Stadium
Series: JMU leads, 8-2 Streak: JMU, five wins
Last Meeting: James Madison def. Morehead State, 52-0 (2/20/21)
Warner at Stetson, 6 p.m.
Broadcast: ESPN+
Location: DeLand, Florida
Stadium: Spec Martin Memorial Stadium
Series: STE leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: Stetson def. Warner, 30-15
Butler at Illinois State, 7:30 p.m.
Broadcast: ESPN3
Location: Normal, Illinois
Stadium: Hancock Stadium
Series: ILST leads, 2-0
Last Meeting: Illinois State def. Butler, 45-0
St. Francis (Ill.) at St. Thomas, canceled
Marist at Georgetown, canceled
Robert Morris at Dayton, canceled
WEEK 1 NOTABLES
PFL’s 29TH CAMPAIGN
The 2021 season marks the 29th year for the Pioneer Football League – the nation’s only non-scholarship, football-only NCAA Football Championship Subdivision conference. The league will feature 11 teams – tied for most in league history – each playing an eight-game schedule to determine the league champion and recipient of the automatic bid to the 2018 NCAA FCS Championship.
QUICK FALL BITES
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 eligible for the 2021 title along with the nine existing league members. Perennial title favorites Dayton and Marist return after opting out from the spring 2021 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 last spring. Butler, Drake and Stetson also will look to use their spring experience to make a move forward this fall.
STETSON, PRESBYTERIAN FEATURE NEW COACHES
Both Presbyterian and Stetson underwent coaching changes during the summer. Stetson named former defensive coordinator Brian Young as its 10th head coach. Meanwhile, Presbyterian turned to Kevin Kelley as its 16th head coach following an 18-year career at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock.
DAYTON'S EASTERLING NAMED TO BUCHANAN AWARD WATCH LIST
Dayton defensive back Brandon Easterling was one of 35 FCS athletes named to the initial Buck Buchanan Award Watch List in August. Easterling, who was a 2019 FCS All-American by HERO Sports, the Walter Camp Foundation, the Associated Press and STATS FCS. He led FCS in solo tackles (7.5) and was second in total tackles (12.7) while also nabbing nine turnovers (six interceptions, three fumbles) were the most in FCS football in 2019. Easterling also was named to the Stats Perform Preseason All-American teams as a third-team selection.
DAYTON’S COOK NAMED TO PAYTON AWARD WATCH LIST
Dayton running back Jack Cook was one of 35 FCS offensive players named to the initial Walter Payton Award Watch List in August. A First Team All-PFL selection in 2019 after finishing second in rushing (112.9), he also led qualified PFL rushers in yards per carry (7.4). Cook led the FCS in all-purpose yardage (204.3 yards a game). Cook is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, and a 2021 team captain.
FOSTER, NIESNER NAMED TO FCS PUNTER OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
The Augusta Sports Council named Valparaiso’s Ben Niesner and Morehead State’s Andrew Foster to the FCS Punter of the Year Watch List in August. Niesner nearly set the PFL punting average record last season, averaging 43.58 yards per punt. Foster averaged 41.4 yards per punt last season, the third consecutive year he has averaged more than 40 yards per punt.