Tuesday, September 7, 2021
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

AHEAD IN WEEK 2

Eastern Illinois at Dayton, 1 p.m.
Broadcast: Facebook.com/DaytonFlyersFootball
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Stadium: Welcome Stadium
Series: First Meeting

St. Thomas at Michigan Tech, 1 p.m.
Broadcast: StretchInternet.com/MTU
Location: Houghton, Michigan
Stadium: Sherman Field
Series: First Meeting

Union (Ky.) at Morehead State, 2 p.m.
Broadcast: ESPN+
Location: Morehead, Kentucky
Stadium: Jayne Stadium
Series: MOR leads, 5-4-2    Streak: MOR, one win
Last Meeting: Morehead State def. Union, 44-7 (2019)

Valparaiso at #5/4 North Dakota State, 3:30 p.m.
Broadcast: ESPN+
Location: Fargo, North Dakota
Stadium: Fargodome
Series: NDSU leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: North Dakota State def. Valparaiso, 52-0 (2004)

Fort Lauderdale at Presbyterian, 4 p.m.
Broadcast: ESPN+
Location: Clinton, South Carolina
Stadium: Bailey Memorial Stadium
Series: First Meeting

#14/12 UC Davis at San Diego, 4 p.m.
Broadcast: WCC Network
Location: San Diego, California
Stadium: Torero Stadium
Series: UCD leads, 7-1    Streak: SAN, one win
Last Meeting: San Diego def. UC Davis, 38-35 (2019)

DePauw at Butler, 6 p.m.
Broadcast: ButlerSports.com
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Stadium: Sellick Bowl
Series: BUT leads, 44-13-3    Streak: BUT, 11 wins
Last Meeting: Butler def. DePauw, 24-14 (1979)

Ave Maria at Stetson, 6 p.m.
Broadcast: ESPN+
Location: DeLand, Florida
Stadium: Spec Martin Memorial Stadium
Series: STE leads, 1-0
Last Meeting: Stetson def. Ave Maria, 60-21 (2015)

Shaw at Davidson, 7 p.m.
Broadcast: DavidsonWildcats.com
Location: Davidson, North Carolina
Stadium: Richardson Stadium
Series: First Meeting

Drake at #11/13 Montana State, 8 p.m.
Broadcast: ESPN+
Location: Bozeman, Montana
Stadium: Bobcat Stadium
Series: MSU leads, 2-1    Streak: MSU, two wins
Last Meeting: Montana State def. Drake, 34-24

Off Week: Marist

WEEK 2 NOTABLES

WEEK 2 PREVIEW
Three PFL teams take on FCS nationally-ranked opponents in Week 2 with Valparaiso traveling to No. 5 North Dakota State and Drake heads west as well to face No. 11 Montana State while San Diego hosts No. 14 UC Davis. Dayton hosts Illinois State and St. Thomas travels to Michigan Tech with both the Flyers and Tommies seeking to get their 2021 campaigns underway after seeing Week 1 contests canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. Five other PFL teams – Butler, Davidson, Morehead State, Presbyterian, and Stetson – each host home contests Saturday.

WEEK 1 RECAP
Three PFL teams picked up victories during the season’s opening week, each claiming a home victory. Drake began the season with a Thursday victory against West Virginia Wesleyan, limiting the Bobcats to three points. Presbyterian had the most fantastic of starts as quarterback Ren Hefley set a NCAA FCS record with 10 touchdown passes and the Blue Hose scored 84 points against St. Andrews. Stetson also picked up a season-opening win with quarterback John Seeter passing for four touchdowns in his debut. Elsewhere, Morehead State BJ Byrd finished with 127 receiving yards at nationally-ranked James Madison, joining Presbyterian’s Jalyn Watcher (156 yards) and Matthew Rivera (137) as 100-yard receivers in Week 1. On the ground, Stetson’s Jalen Leary (103 yards) and Drake’s Cross Robinson (100 yards) were the lone 100-yard rushing performances.

STETSON, PRESBYTERIAN NEW COACHES WIN DEBUTS
Both Presbyterian and Stetson underwent coaching changes during the summer. Stetson named former defensive coordinator Brian Young as its 10th head coach and he led the Hatters to a season-opening win against Wagner. Meanwhile, Presbyterian turned to Kevin Kelley as its 16th head coach following an 18-year career at Pulaski Academy in Little Rock and he promptly took Presbyterian to a smashing season-opening win against St. Andrews.

PRESBYTERIAN’S HEFLEY SETS FCS RECORD, EARNS NATIONAL AWARD
Blue Hose quarterback Ren Hefley began the 2021 season in rarefied air, completing 38-of-50 passes for 538 yards and an FCS record 10 touchdowns, leading Presbyterian to an 84-43 victory against NAIA foe St. Andrews. He earned Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance.