POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Despite a four-touchdown day from running back Wesley Dugger, Davidson football fell in a hard-fought double-overtime road Pioneer Football League contest at Marist Saturday at Tenney Stadium, 48-41.
With the loss, Davidson falls to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in PFL play, while with the win Marist improves to 3-4 and 2-2 in conference action.
Unable to settle the game in regulation, Davidson headed to overtime for the first time since 2015.
In the first overtime, the Wildcats gained a pair of first downs and set up Dugger’s fourth score of the day, a new career-high for the Henrico, Va., native.
Marist quickly responded with a strike from quarterback Austin Day to three-time All-PFL wide receiver, Juston Christian, his third of the day. The Red Foxes then scored on the first pass attempt of the second overtime to go up 48-41 and force Davidson to score a touchdown. They could not.
Davidson held a 34-23 advantage after three quarters, but a monster, 74-yard scoring strike to Christian and a Red Fox field goal with 98 ticks remaining forced overtime.
Dugger capped off two long Davidson drives with scores as the ‘Cats held over 11 minutes of possession time in the first frame.
Down 17-13 in the second and following a three-and-out on offense, with momentum swinging back towards Marist, freshman safety Dreylan Hines intercepted Day for his third of the season. The pick set up Dugger’s third of the day and gave the visiting sideline a boost.
On the first play of the next possession, sophomore linebacker TJ Elliott jumped a route and intercepted his second pass of the season with under two minutes to go in the half. The Wildcats quickly went from midfield to the end zone in 5 plays, capped off with a 10-yard scoring run from sophomore quarterback Tyler Phelps to take a 27-17 lead into the break.
Davidson junior James Story stretched the lead out to 17 (34-17) in the third with a 46-yard scoring run, extending his streak of four straight games with a touchdown.
Marist needed big plays and Christian provided the spark, catching a pair of scoring strikes from 74 and 68 yards to bring the Red Foxes within one possession and help force overtime.
Davidson rushed for 400 yards paced by Dugger’s 111 yards on 26 carries. Phelps (80), William Wicks (70) and Story (61) added to the running assault.
Junior linebacker Tony Collins made 7 stops to lead the Wildcat defense, while corner back Rayshawn McCall added 6 - including 5 solo stops. Senior defensive lineman Corey Coppola recovered a fumble to make it 3 gained turnovers on the day.
Davidson returns home Saturday, Oct. 27 when they play host to Stetson University. Kick off from Richardson Stadium is slated for 1 p.m.
.png)
