Wesley Dugger lifts Davidson football to win over Valparaiso; Lenoir-Rhyne beats Wingate
Wesley Dugger’s second touchdown run of the game with two minutes remaining lifted Davidson to a 27-21 victory Saturday afternoon over visiting Valparaiso.
The Wildcats matched their 2018 season victory total -- six -- with three games remaining. But it took a late interception to clinch the triumph.
After Dugger’s go-ahead score, Valparaiso (1-8, 1-4 Pioneer) drove toward midfield. But linebacker George Hatalowich picked off a pass, sealing the outcome for Davidson (6-3, 3-2).
It marks the first time since 2006 and 2007 that Davidson has won six or more games in back-to-back seasons.
“That’s establishing a program,” Hatalowich said.”That’s exactly what coach (Scott) Abell and everyone else on this entire team is doing. It’s a blessing to be a part of it.”
Dugger accounted for about one-third of the offense for Davidson, rushing 25 times for 106 yards.
Davidson’s defense held Valparaiso to 245 yards offense on the afternoon.
HELMET STICKERS
Tyrie Adams, Western Carolina: Adams passed for 322 yards and three touchdowns as the Catamounts got their first Southern Conference victory in six tries, edging VMI 43-35.
Bryce Carpenter, Coastal Carolina: Carpenter, a sophomore quarterback, completed five passes on the final drive as the Chanticleers rallied for a 36-35 victory over Troy.
George Hatalowich, Davidson: A senior linebacker, Hatalowich intercepted a Valparaiso pass with 52 seconds remaining, clinching a 27-21 victory for the Wildcats.
MAKING SENSE OF THE NUMBERS
976: Total yardage in the Troy-Coastal Carolina game. Troy had 500 yards; Coastal Carolina totaled 476.
9: Number of South Atlantic Conference football championships won outright or shared by Lenoir-Rhyne.
2: Number of punts blocked by Johnson C. Smith in its 26-17 victory at St. Augustine’s. The Golden Bulls turned one block into a touchdown and another into a safety.
Around the Carolinas
No. 7 Lenoir-Rhyne 20, No. 12 Wingate 13
Javoris Smith intercepted a Wingate pass deep in Lenoir-Rhyne territory in the closing minutes, lifting the Bears to victory in a battle of unbeaten Division II powers.
Wingate (8-1, 6-1 South Atlantic) drove across midfield, but Smith’s interception ended the threat with 1:29 remaining.
Lenoir-Rhyne (9-0, 7-0) had taken a 20-6 lead on a 90-yard touchdown pass play with 12:21 left, but Wingate narrowed the gap on Shaw Crocker’s 4-yard pass to B.J. Muckelvene with 6:33 to play.
Muckelvene finished with seven catches for 106 yards.
Lenoir-Rhyne quarterback Grayson Willingham, of Weddington, threw for 169 yards -- including touchdown passes of 41 and 90 yards to Jaquay Mitchell.
Coastal Carolina 36, Troy 35
C.J. Marable ran 3 yards for a touchdown, then plunged into the end zone for a game-winning two-point conversion with 30 seconds remaining. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak for Coastal Carolina (4-4, 1-3 Sun Belt).
Quarterback Bryce Carpenter completed five passes on the final drive, which covered 71 yards in 11 plays. Troy fell to 3-5, 1-3.
Charleston Southern 30, Gardner-Webb 27
Gardner-Webb rallied from a 23-point deficit but fell short against the visiting Buccaneers.
Charleston Southern (3-6, 1-2 Big South) built its big lead, in part, behind two touchdown passes by Jack Chambers.
Gardner-Webb (3-6, 1-3) battled back and cut the deficit to 30-27 on a 3-yard pass from Kalen Whitlow to Devron Harper with 1:35 left in the game. That drive covered 66 yards and seven plays.
But the Bulldogs were unable to get the ball back.
Whitlow completed 33-of-52 passes for 316 yards and four touchdowns.
NC A&T 22, SC State 20
Noel Ruiz kicked a pair of third-quarter field goals, lifting the Aggies over the Bulldogs in a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference battle for first place.
S.C. State (5-3, 3-2) had taken a 10-0 lead in the second quarter, but the Aggies (6-4, 4-1) battled back and went in front 16-10 on Kylil Carter’s 4-yard pass to Korey Banks just 29 seconds before halftime.
Ruiz’s field goals gave N.C. A&T a 22-10 lead, but the Bulldogs came back on De’Mo Burrough’s 49-yard touchdown reception and a Dillon Bredsen field goal.
The Aggies won for the fifth straight time against S.C. State, although the Bulldogs lead the long series 32-23-2.
NC Central 28, Howard 6
N.C. Central held host Howard to 195 yards offense, including 39 rushing yards, and posted an easy victory.
The Eagles (4-5, 3-2 MEAC) led 14-0 after three quarters and pulled away with fourth-quarter touchdowns by Jordan Freeman, on a 37-yard run, and Latrell Collier, on a 2-yard plunge.
Howard fell to 1-8, 1-4.
Johnson C. Smith 26, St. Augustine’s 17
The Golden Bulls rallied from an early 14-0 deficit for the victory. The Bulls took a 17-14 lead in the second quarter on a 70-yard pass from Antonio Wallace to Braxton Gambrell, then added a safety on a blocked punt in the third quarter for a 19-14 edge.
St. Augustine’s cut the deficit to 19-17 with a field goal midway in the final period, but Johnson C. Smith got another score when Ivoree Atkinson scored a touchdown on a blocked punt with 6:45 to play.
Western Carolina 43, VMI 35
Tyrie Adams threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns, and Donnavan Spencer rushed for 137 yards and two more scores, as the Catamounts (2-7, 1-5 Southern) earned their first conference victory.
Spencer ran 42 yards for a touchdown with 8:06 left, giving Western Carolina (2-7, 1-5) a 37-22 lead. VMI rallied, but on a fourth-and-1 in the final minute, Adams threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Daquan Patten.
Furman 35, Chattanooga 20
Freshman Devin Abrams rushed for 118 yards and two touchdowns, and Furman (6-3, 5-1 Southern) outscored the Moccasins (4-5, 2-2) 21-6 in the second half.
Hampton 40, Presbyterian 17
Hampton earned its first-ever win over a Big South team, as Shai McKenzie rushed 28 times for 152 yards and a touchdown. Presbyterian (0-9, 0-4 Big South) trailed only 27-17 after three quarters, but Hampton (5-4, 1-2 MEAC) added a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to pull away.
North Alabama 25, Campbell 24
Joe Gurley kicked a 20-yard field goal on the game’s final play, lifting North Alabama (3-6) over the Camels (6-2, 3-0 Pioneer). Campbell had taken a 24-22 lead with 10:46 remaining on Collin Gary’s 39-yard field goal.
North Alabama limited Campbell quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams to 88 yards passing.
Steve Lyttle on Twitter: @slyttle
This story was originally published November 2, 2019 at 6:47 PM.
