Saturday, April 3, 2021
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

Spring Week 8 Results

Davidson 31, San Diego 25
Presbyterian 26, Stetson 3
Valparaiso 10, Drake 7
Morehead State 35, Butler 14

Game Recaps

Davidson 31, San Diego 25
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Davidson broke out to a 28-10 halftime lead then held on to defeat San Diego, 31-25, Saturday at Torero Stadium. With the loss, San Diego's 39-game PFL winning streak, tied for longest in NCAA FCS history, came to an end. Davidson running back Dylan Sparks lived up to his name, lighting the fuse for the upset with an 83-yard touchdown run to open the scoring. San Diego would tie the game on the ensuing possession – Emilio Martinez scoring to cap a 13-play drive – but Davidson scored the next two touchdowns as quarterback Tyler Phelps found Bradyn Oakley and Satchel Moore on either side of the quarter break to build a 21-7 lead. San Diego would get a field goal to narrow the deficit but Phelps hit Jalen Staples for a 27-yard touchdown to set set the halftime score. After the break, San Diego got its own back-to-back touchdowns as quarterback Mason Randall found Michael Carner and Derek Kline for touchdowns, slashing the deficit to 28-25. But Davidson scored a field goal on the ensuing possession and intercepted a pass on San Diego's final possession to seal the victory. Phelps threw three touchdowns in the win, completing 10-of-15 passes for 189 yards. Randall completed 24-of-44 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted twice.

Presbyterian 26, Stetson 3
DeLAND, Fla. – Jeffrey Smyth returned two interceptions for touchdowns as Presbyterian downed Stetson, 26-3, Saturday at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium. In a game that saw the offenses only able to produce field goals it was Presbyterians defense and special teams units that did the bulk of the work, scoring three touchdowns. After Stetson's 33-yard field goal opened the scoring, Presbyterian's Oka Emmanwori returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a score. Then Smyth did his work, returning interceptions 30 and 52 yards near the end of the second and third quarters, respectively, to put the game away.

Valparaiso 10, Drake 7
DES MOINES, Iowa – Valparaiso avenged an earlier loss to Drake this season as a Robert Washington 14-yard run for a touchdown proved decisive in a 10-7 Valparaiso victory, Saturday, at Drake Stadium. After a scoreless first half, Valparaiso got on the board first courtesy Brian Bartholomew's 49-yard field goal with 4:05 left in the third quarter. Ten minutes later, Washington capped a 13-play drive with his 14-yard scoring dash. Drake would break up the shutout bid on the ensuing drive, Caden Meis finding the end zone on a two-yard run, but could not produce another scoring drive. Washington finished with 101 yards on 23 carries.

Morehead State 35, Butler 14
INDIANAPOLIS – Morehead State scored the game's first 21 points and never looked back en route to a 35-14 victory, Saturday, at the Sellick Bowl. The Eagles engineered scoring drives of 79, 75 and 80 yards in the first half with quarterback Mark Pappas throwing two touchdowns and running back Issiah Aguero running for another to build a 21-0 lead. The Eagles defense did its part, intercepting four passes and capped the day's scoring when Cameron Barrett returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown. Pappas threw for 382 yards and two touchdowns on 29-of-44 passing.