ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Drake won its 14th straight Pioneer Football League outing and improved to 3-0 in league play while handing Butler its first loss of 2024 to highlight Saturday’s action in the PFL. Dayton improved to 2-0 in the PFL by outlasting Davidson at home, while St. Thomas joined them at 2-0 by edging past Marist on the road. Morehead State used a solid defensive effort to down Presbyterian at home. A scheduled Saturday outing between Valparaiso and Stetson in DeLand, Florida, was postponed due to Hurricane Milton, which passed through the Florida peninsula earlier in the week.
PFL Scoreboard: Week 7
Saturday, Oct. 12
Dayton 16, Davidson 14
St. Thomas 39, Marist 32
Drake 27, Butler 17
Morehead State 14, Presbyterian 7
Valparaiso at Stetson, postponed
PFL Recaps
Dayton 16, Davidson 14
DAYTON, Ohio – Mason Hackett rushed for 218 yards and two touchdowns and Gideon Lampron blocked two field goals at Dayton downed Davidson, 16-14, on Saturday at Welcome Stadium. Lampron’s two blocks were part of a miserable day for Davidson’s kicking game, which missed all four field goal attempts, including the potential 51-yard game-winner with 10 seconds remaining. Dayton raced out to a 13-0 lead as Drew VanVleet found Donovan Weatherly and Jake Coleman for touchdowns, but the Flyers only connected on one of two PAT kicks. Davidson’s Mason Sheron ran for touchdowns of 39 and 44 yards, the latter giving the Wildcats a 14-13 lead with 7:45 remaining in the third. Dayton’s Danny Baker put the Flyers ahead for good on a 25-yard field goal with 10:03 left. Davidson got within field goal range on its final two drives, but Lampron blocked a 46-yard field goal, and the 51-yarder fell short. VanVleet completed 13-of-26 passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns for Dayton. Sheron ran for 152 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries for Davidson.
St. Thomas 39, Marist 32
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – Tak Tateoka was responsible for four touchdowns, leading St. Thomas past Marist, 39-32 on Saturday at Tenney Stadium. Tateoka got the Tommies out to a 15-0 lead in the first quarter with a three-yard passing touchdown and a one-yard rushing touchdown after Nick Hand intercepted a pass and returned it to the one-yard line. Marist roared back with Sonny Mannino throwing three touchdowns for 18 unanswered points to start the second quarter, but the Red Foxes kicking game had its troubles, missing each of the three PATs. St. Thomas tied the game on Ben Holland’s 45-yard field goal as time expired at halftime. Tateoka gave the Tommies the lead for good in the second half, tossing a 21-yard touchdown in the third quarter before scoring on a two-yard run to start the fourth frame. Mannino would not be deterred and tacked on his fourth and fifth touchdown tosses in the fourth, but a Gabriel Abel 15-yard run between those touchdowns was enough to secure the St. Thomas win. Tateoka completed 16-of-21 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns while adding two touchdown runs on 12 carries for 13 yards. Mannino completed 25-of-46 passes for 211 yards and five touchdowns and ran for 19 yards on seven carries.
Drake 27, Butler 17
DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake used three second-half touchdowns to hand Butler its first loss of the season, winning a 27-17 decision in the Battle of the Bulldogs on Saturday at Drake Stadium. A quiet first half saw Butler score the half’s only touchdown on Reagan Andrew’s four-yard run, giving the visitors a 6-3 lead. Drake tied the game midway through the third on Shane Dunning’s 44-yard field goal and took the lead four minutes later when Luke Bailey found Taj Hughes for a 38-yard touchdown. Drake extended the lead in the fourth quarter with a bit of help from its defense. Blake Ellingson pushed the lead to 20-6 with a one-yard run. Mekhi Toms’ interception on the ensuing Butler drive gave Drake the ball at the Butler 32-yard line. Two plays later, Davion Cherwin broke through for a 32-yard touchdown run, securing the win. Bailey completed 16-of-25 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown. Andrew led Butler with 174 yards on 22-of-32 passing and another 81 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.
Morehead State 14, Presbyterian 7
MOREHEAD, Ky. – Morehead State used two touchdown runs and five Presbyterian turnovers to claim a 14-7 victory on Saturday at Jayne Stadium. Nate Garnett provided the first half’s only points courtesy of his 10-yard touchdown run with 1:53 left in the half. Neither team scored again until Isaac Stopke broke through with a five-yard touchdown run at the 13:21 mark of the fourth quarter. Presbyterian responded on its ensuing drive and needed only six plays, including Collin Hurst’s 23-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Pressey at 11:05. But the Blue Hose would get no closer thanks to Morehead State’s defense, which secured the win with interceptions on the final two Presbyterian drives, secure the win. Carter Cravens led the Eagles offense with 212 yards on 14-of-24 passing. Hurst completed 16-of-29 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown.