Thursday, September 22, 2016
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

The first week of Pioneer Football League action will have 10 of the league's 11 members in action. Morehead State and Drake will get the 2016 race underway in Des Moines, Iowa, followed by Davidson and Valparaiso in the league's other afternoon start. The evening slate gets started on the east coast when Butler faces Campbell followed by the league's "Battle of Florida" when Jacksonville meets Stetson. At the same time, the PFL's marquee matchup of Week 1 kicks off on the west coast when defending league co-champions Dayton and San Diego meet.

Morehead State at Drake, 1 p.m.
Video: GoDrakeBulldogs.com

Setting the Scene: A week after each team won its first contest of 2016, More­head State travels to Drake for the first game of the 2016 PFL race. The Eagles have never won at Drake Stadium, coming closest to victory in 2012 when they lost a 28-25 decision. Last season, Morehead State won a 38-35 triple-overtime thriller that saw the teams combined for 882 offensive yards.

Morehead State Matchup to Watch: Quarterback Austin Gahafer enters the PFL opener only ranked fourth in passing yardage (211.0 ypg), well off his pace of previous years. Against Drake he will face a defensive unit that is ranked among the bottom three in both sacks and pass defense efficiency.

Drake Matchup to Watch: Running back Conley Wilkins has rumbled for four touchdowns in the season’s first three games, the fifth most scored in the PFL through three weeks. He will square off against a Morehead State defense that has allowed a league-high 11 rushing touchdowns this season and ranks among the league’s bottom three in rushing defense.

Davidson at Valparaiso, 2 p.m.
Video: ValpoAthletics.com

Setting the Scene: The opportunity to start the PFL campaign with a win awaits both Davidson and Valparaiso when they meet Saturday. The Wildcats have lost its last five PFL openers and the Crusaders have dropped their last two lid-lifters. Last season’s contest turned into a barn-burner that was decided when Valparaiso scored the game’s final two touchdowns, including the game-winner with 1:55 left in the game.

Davidson Matchup to Watch:  Defensive lineman Boo Jordan leads the PFL in both sacks (3½) and tackles for loss (5) after the season’s first three weeks. Behind him is linebacker Tony Collins, who nabbed PFL Defensive Player of the Week honors after posting three tackles for loss. Altogether, the Wildcats defense has forced a league-best 10 turnovers this season. Will they be able to wreak havoc against a Crusaders offensive line that has allowed 24 tackles for loss and 10 sacks this season?

Valparaiso Matchup to Watch:  Quarterback Jimmy Seewald impressed in his first collegiate start, earning PFL Offensive Player of the Week honors after a five-touchdown outing against Trinity International. In his first three outings he has proven to be one of the league’s top passers, ranking second in pass ef­ficiency (149.6) while throwing a PFL best seven touchdowns. He matches up with a Davidson defense ranked among the bottom three in pass defense while allowing a league-high 70 completions.

Butler at Campbell, 6 p.m.
Video: GoCamels.com

Setting the Scene: A pair of 2-1 squads will face off in North Carolina when Butler travels east to meet Campbell. It is the second consecutive year the two teams will meet to open their respective PFL campaigns. Butler scored a touchdown with 37 seconds remaining to claim a 25-24 victory last season in Indianapolis. 

Butler Matchup to Watch: Running back Duvante Lane leads the PFL with six touchdown runs this season while rushing for 202 yards in three games. He paces a Bulldogs running game that leads the PFL with 11 rushing touchdowns this season while averaging 213 yards per game (third in the PFL). Campbell’s defense owns the PFL’s third ranked run defense (113.7 yards allowed per game) and has amassed 21 tackles for loss (seven sacks) this season.

Campbell Matchup to Watch: Running back De’Shawn Jones has amassed a PFL-best 274 rushing yards in three games and his five touchdown runs are second most in the league. He leads the PFL’s top-ranked run offense (280.7 yards per game) that has scored nine touchdowns. The Camels will square off against the PFL’s stingiest run defense in a Butler unit that has allowed just 84.7 rushing yards per game and a league low 2.59 yards per carry.

Dayton at San Diego, 7 p.m.
Video: TheW.tv

Setting the Scene: Possibly the game to watch in the PFL happens in its opening week when defending PFL co-champions Dayton and San Diego meet on the West Coast. Last season’s meeting was a defensive battle with neither team reaching 300 offensive yards and only scoring one touchdown each. Dayton fended off San Diego’s final drive when it held a 4th-and-1 run from its own 28-yard line for no gain to seal a 13-12 victory with 1:17 left.

Dayton Matchup to Watch:  The Flyers offense has seen its production decrease in each of its first three games, dwindling to just 201 yards at Duquense in Week 3. Dayton’s has run the ball 119 times this season, second only to Campbell (147) in attempts. However, Dayton is averaging just 2.87 yards per carry. That run game faces a Torero defense that has allowed 4.76 yards per carry, and permitted a pair of 100-yard rushers in a Week 2 matchup at Cal Poly.

San Diego Matchup to Watch:  Quarterback Anthony Lawrence has not thrown an interception in his first 50 pass attempts this season, while completing 32 of those passes. He led the PFL in pass efficiency (153.5) as a freshman after throwing 23 touchdowns. However, one of his six interceptions last season  came against Dayton and led to the game’s first points. The Flyers already own five interceptions in 2016 with sophomore linebacker David Leisring nabbing a PFL best three interceptions.

Jacksonville at Stetson, 7 p.m.
Video: ESPN3

Setting the Scene: The PFL’s Sunshine State battle will help cap the opening week of league play when Jacksonville makes the trip to Stetson. The Dolphins have had the better of the first three meetings in the series, including last season’s 41-14 victory in Jacksonville. Stetson was done in by five turnovers in that loss, which Jacksonville turned into 21 points.

Jacksonville Matchup to Watch:  Wide receiver Prince Gray has only six re­ceptoins in two games, but has amassed 172 yards this season. His 28.67 yards per catch leads the PFL and ranks third among FCS wideouts. Gray’s total includes the league’s longest catch-and-carry this season, a 78-yard touchdown catch last week. He may have to make the most of his opportunities against a Stetson defense that has allowed just 25 pass completions and a 40 percent pass-completion rate in its first two games.

Stetson Matchup to Watch:  For three seasons Stetson’s defense has been defined by safety Donald Payne. However, in 2016 he has been called upon less as Jeb Boudreaux has become the dominant tackling force, leading the Hatters in tackles (20) and tackles for loss (5). Will he and the rest of the Hatters defense (with a combined 19 tackles for loss) be able to find their way past a Dolphins offensive line that has not allowed a sack this season and only 10 tackles for loss ?

Off Week: Marist