Presbyterian is off to a 3-0 start for only the second time this millennium after posting one of the PFL’s four victories in Week 3 of the season on Saturday.
Marist was another of the league’s victors, winning on the road at Marist for its second FCS victory this season and the PFL’s sixth victory against its FCS brethren in 2025. Butler and St. Thomas won road games against non-Division I opponents for the league’s other two wins during the week. The league could not extend its good run against ranked opponents in Week 3, dropping four such contests.
Three kickoff returns highlighted the day’s action across the league – Valparaiso’s Ryan Ricketti had a 100-yard return at Western Illinois, Marist’s Tristan Shannon had a 99-yard kickoff return at Wagner, and Butler’s Ethan Loss posted a 90-yard return on the road at Hanover.
PFL Scoreboard: Week 3
Saturday, September 13
Tennessee Tech 72, Davidson 14
Marist 21, Wagner 10
St. Thomas 20, Northern Michigan 7
Butler 16, Hanover 7
Montana State 41, San Diego 7
Chattanooga 63, Stetson 0
Western Illinois 51, Valparaiso 30
South Dakota State 37, Drake 21
Austin Peay 56, Morehead State 7
Presbyterian 42, Erskine 14
PFL Recaps: Saturday, September 13
Tennessee Tech 72, Davidson 14
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Davidson rallied with 14 points in the second quarter but could not overcome a first-quarter deficit in a 72-14 loss to nationally-ranked Tennessee Tech on Saturday at Tucker Stadium. Tennessee Tech scored four first-quarter touchdowns to build a 28-0 lead. Davidson broke through early in the second quarter when Coulter Cleland found Ivan Hoyt for an 18-yard touchdown. After a TTU field goal, Davidson trimmed the deficit further following a Tennessee Tech fumble deep in its own end. The Wildcats needed only one play – a Coulter 1-yard pass to Brody Reina – to find the end zone again and closed within 31-14 with 1:30 left in the half. However, the Golden Eagles scored two touchdowns before halftime to take a 45-14 lead and never looked back. Cleland completed 16-of-26 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns to lead Davidson.
Marist 21, Wagner 10
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Tristian Shannon’s 99-yard kickoff return in the second quarter pushed Marist to a halftime lead and a 21-10 victory against Wagner on Saturday at Wagner College Stadium. Marist’s defense wreaked havoc all day, nabbing five interceptions, with Nate Robinson Jr. grabbing two of them, to help hold Wagner scoreless after it took a 10-7 lead with a 41-yard field goal at the 5:22 mark of the second quarter. But moments after the Seahawks took the lead, Shannon returned the ensuing kickoff 99 yards for the go-ahead touchdown. Marist quarterbacks Sonny Mannino and Will O’Dell bookended the outing with touchdown throws. It is the Red Foxes' second win against a Northeast Conference foe this season and their first season with two nonconference wins since 2009.
St. Thomas 20, Northern Michigan 7
MARQUETTE, Mich. -- Andy Peters led two touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, helping St. Thomas defeat Northern Michigan 20-7 on Saturday at the Superior Dome. After leading 6-0 at halftime, St. Thomas saw Northern Michigan take the lead late in the third quarter on a five-yard touchdown run for a 7-6 advantage. The Tommies regained the lead midway through the fourth quarter as Peters capped a five-play, 78-yard drive with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Marc Coy and ran for the two-point conversion. Peters would extend the lead later with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Patrick Wagner that ended a three-play, 80-yard drive. Peters completed 13-of-19 passes for 21 yards and three touchdowns.
Butler 16, Hanover 7
HANOVER, Ind. – Ethan Loss returned the second half’s opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown while Butler’s defense did not allow a point over the final 56 minutes in a 16-7 victory against Hanover on Saturday at Alumni Stadium. Hanover got on the board first with a 27-yard touchdown pass at the 11;58 mark of the first quarter. But the Panthers would not score again. Butler chipped into the lead with Ryan Short’s 14-yard field goal on the ensuing drive before Gabe Passini gave Butler the lead for good with a 10-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter. Loss then provided the insurance with his 90-yard kickoff return. Loss finished with four carries for 27 yards and added 108 yards on two kickoff returns.
Montana State 41, San Diego 7
BOZEMAN, Mont. – San Diego had few answers for nationally-ranked Montana State, dropping a 41-7 decision at Bobcat Stadium. Montana State scored the game’s first 38 points, building leads of 24-0 at halftime and 38-0 after three quarters. San Diego broke through to start the fourth quarter as Dom Nankil connected with Josh Heverly for an eight-yard touchdown with 12 59 remaining in the game. Montana State outgained San Diego 539-209, but did not force a turnover from the Toreros. Nankil completed 13-of-24 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown.
Chattanooga 63, Stetson 0
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Chattanooga’s Camden Orth was responsible for five touchdowns, and the Mocs added a kick and punt return for touchdowns to defeat Stetson 63-0 on Saturday at Finley Stadium. Stetson saw a promising drive end on downs just outside the red zone late in the second quarter, which proved to be their best scoring opportunity in the game.
Western Illinois 51, Valparaiso 30
MACOMB, Ill. – Valparaiso scored 20 points in the fourth quarter to end its night on a high note despite falling to Western Illinois 51-30 on Saturday at Hanson Field. Western Illinois opened a 28-0 lead in the opening 25 minutes before Valparaiso closed the first half with Luke Scoma’s 38-yard field goal. The Leathernecks extended their lead to 44-10 after three quarters before Valparaiso mounted its late charge. The Beacons got a Mike Mansaray touchdown run, a Ryan Ricketti 100-yard kickoff return, and a Dawaiian McNeely touchdown run in the fourth quarter to close the gap. Ricketti had 150 all-purpose yards on the day, adding four receptions for 50 yards to his kickoff return.
South Dakota State 37, Drake 21
BROOKINGS, S.D. – Drake scored on the game’s opening drive and never went away in a 37-21 loss to nationally-ranked South Dakota State on Saturday at Dykhouse Stadium. The Bulldogs took the opening drive 75 yards in five plays with Xavier Washington finding Hank Foley for a 31-yard touchdown pass. South Dakota State would score twice before the end of the first quarter to take a 14-7 lead. Drake used a 41-yard Harry Balke field goal to get back within four points, 14-10, at the start of the second quarter, but again the Jackrabbits scored the game’s next two touchdowns to build a 28-10 lead early in the third quarter. Drake found the end zone on the game’s next drive with Logan Inagawa scoring on a three-yard run to get Drake within 10 points, 28-18, midway through the third quarter, but Drake would get no closer, and Balke added a 24-yard field goal to close the scoring. Inagawa completed 15-of-25 passes for 140 yards and ran 14 times for 58 yards to lead the Drake offense.
Austin Peay 56, Morehead State 7
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Morehead State scored early in the fourth quarter to fend off a shutout bid in a 56-7 loss to nationally ranked Austin Peay on Saturday at Fortera Stadium. Austin Peay scored on its first eight possessions to build a 56-0 lead after three quarters. But after APSU’s final touchdown, Morehead State pieced together a seven-play, 75-yard drive capped by David Parsons’ 48-yard touchdown throw to Riley Purcell a minute into the fourth quarter. Morehead State saw three quarterbacks combine for 172 passing yards.
Presbyterian 42, Erskine 14
CLINTON, S.C. – Presbyterian is off to a 3-0 start for only the second time in the 2000s after defeating Erskine 42-14 on Saturday at Bailey Memorial Stadium. Presbyterian’s Nathan Levicki and Zach Switzer each ran for a touchdown to build a 14-0 lead after the first quarter. Collin Hurst then threw for three second-half touchdowns, finding Levicki once and Cincere Gill twice, to extend the lead to 35-7 at halftime. Justin Montgomery closed the scoring with a third one-yard touchdown run for the Blue Hose. Hurst completed 15-of-21 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.