Showing posts with label William Wicks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label William Wicks. Show all posts

Saturday, September 8, 2018

Davidson Runs Away From Chowan, 49-28

8:23 PM
Davidson Runs Away From Chowan, 49-28
DAVIDSON – Junior slot receiver William Wicks rushed for three first-half touchdowns as Davidson football jumped on Chowan early en route to a convincing 49-28 non-conference win Saturday night at Richardson Stadium.



With the win, Davidson improves to 2-0, while with the loss Chowan falls to 0-2.



The Wildcats totaled 469 yards of offense, 426 of those on the ground. The Davidson backfield rushed 58 times and averaged 7.3 yards per carry.







After allowing the Hawks to march down the field on the opening drive of the game, going 8-plays and 68 yards for the score, the Wildcats responded with 28 straight points.



Powered by three touchdowns from William Wicks and a receiving grab from junior Hunter Louthan, the ‘Cats raced out to a commanding 28-7 lead. Wicks broke away for scoring scampers of 60, 38 and 5 yards, racking up 122 first-half yards on the ground.



Junior Wesley Dugger got in on the first half scoring action following the Hawks second TD of the game. The Henrico, Va., native gained 42 of his 130 first-half yards on his second touchdown of the season to put the ‘Cats up, 35-13.



Davidson ended the half with a blocked field, scoop and score from senior Corey Coppola for his first career touchdown. The defensive tackle burst down the field on a 78-yard return, the first returned blocked kick since 1999. The ‘Cats headed to the locker room with 318 total yards, 297 of those on the ground.



Following a scoreless third, the Hawks cut the deficit in half with a Bryce Witt scoring throw to Sha’Von Harkless and a successful two-point conversion made it 42-21. Each team then traded touchdowns including James Story’s first of the year, a 2-yard rushing score.



Dugger recorded his second consecutive 100-yard game on the ground, rushing16 times for 153 yards and the score. Wicks’ finished with 132 yards on 9 carries and the 3 touchdowns.



The ‘Cats defense wreaked havoc on the Hawks, sacking Chowan quarterbacks five times. Davidson picked off a pair of Chowan passes with Dreylan Hines second of the young season and Rayshawn McCall’s first. Junior linebacker Tony Collins led the team with 7 tackles and a sack.



Davidson also did not register a punt on the stat sheet. The lone attempt ended with a Chowan penalty and the ‘Cats regaining possession with a fresh set of downs.



The Wildcats wrap up their season-opening homestand Saturday, Sep. 15 when Guilford comes to Richardson Stadium. Chowan travels to take on another North Carolina team as the Hawks face Shaw to open CIAA conference action.

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Davidson Drops PFL Matchup to Dayton, 48-42

5:30 PM
Davidson Drops PFL Matchup to Dayton, 48-42

DAVIDSON, N.C. – A 27-point third quarter for Dayton proved too much for Davidson football as the ‘Cats dropped a 48-22 decision Saturday at Richardson Stadium in Pioneer Football League action.





With the loss, Davidson falls to 2-5 overall and remains winless in the PFL, while the Flyers improve to 3-5 and 2-3 in the conference.





The game was a close contest at the close of the first quarter with the Wildcats down just 7-3, courtesy of a Trevor Smith 18-yard field goal. Davidson briefly led during the second quarter, after freshman Tyler Phelps rushed 44 yards to the end zone to put the ‘Cats up 9-7.





The Flyers smoothly responded with a 12 play, 73-yard scoring drive to regain the lead at 14-9. The ‘Cats continued to keep it close, using 11 plays to get to the 40-yard line, where Smith delivered his second field goal of the day and cut the gap to 14-12.





After a quick three-and-out from the Wildcats with under two to play in the half, the ‘Cats gave the ball back to Dayton with just enough for the Flyers to march down the field quickly in seven plays to go up 21-12 and take a larger lead into the half.







William Wicks (Photo courtesy of
Davidson Sports Information)


Despite the troubling end of the second quarter, Davidson came out firing to open the third with an 85-yard kick return from sophomore William Wicks (Terry Sanford) into the red zone. The ‘Cats capped off the drive with another Smith field goal to narrow the margin, 21-15.





Dayton wasted no time adding insurance, flying down the field on a 71-yard TD rush from Tucker Yinger, and then used an interception from linebacker Jack Crain to go up 35-15 with more than 11 minutes remaining in the third quarter.





A third and fourth consecutive scoring drive from Dayton began to create an insurmountable deficit, as the Flyers built a 48-15 lead to begin the final frame.





The tandem of Wicks and Phelps broke the scoring drought for Davidson to begin the fourth quarter with Wicks on the receiving end of a 28-yard pass from Phelps, his longest of the day, for the final scoring play of the contest.





Phelps finished the day with 190 passing yards. Freshman Wesley Dugger led the ‘Cats in rushing with 86 yards, while sophomore James Story added a career-best 76. Sophomore George Hatalowich and senior Ben Hart each collected eight tackles on the defensive end.





The Wildcats head to Drake Saturday, Oct. 28 for a PFL showdown in Des Moines, Iowa. Kickoff with the Bulldogs is slated for 2 p.m.











Davidson Sports Information contributed to this story.






Sunday, October 15, 2017

Davidson Loses Late Lead at Stetson, Falls 28-17

1:26 PM
Davidson Loses Late Lead at Stetson, Falls 28-17

DELAND, Fla. – For the second straight season, Davidson football let a late lead slip away at the hands of Stetson, falling on the road in Pioneer Football League action at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium Saturday, 28-17.





With the loss, Davidson falls to 2-4 overall and 0-3 in the PFL, while with the win Stetson improves to 2-5 and 1-3 in league play.













The ‘Cats headed into the final frame up 17-14 after a back and forth three quarters powered by a pair of Tyler Phelps rushing touchdowns and a 22-yard Trevor Smith field goal.





With the lead and defensive stop, the Wildcats looked in good shape down the stretch, but a muffed punt gave the Hatters the ball back in Davidson territory and the Hatters were able to capitalize. Stetson quickly went 5-plays and 135 yards as quarterback Colin McGovern found Justin Jordan on a left fade to the back of the end zone for the go-ahead score, 21-17.





After a few more change of possessions in the fourth, the Wildcats came within the edge of their own goal line, propelled by a Wesley Dugger 35-yard run into Stetson territory, but a few close spots left the ‘Cats just shy of a first down and the ball went back over to Stetson late.





The Wildcat front line had stuffed the Hatter rushing game all day, allowing just 41 yards on the ground through three quarters, but Hatter running back Gordon Stetson broke one for 95 yards to put the game away with under a minute to go, 28-17.





The Wildcats outgained the Hatters 457 yards to 354 including another big rushing day of 236 yards, led by Dugger’s 160-yard game. The freshman has eclipsed 100 yards three times this season. Phelps completed 20-of-33 passes for 186 yards and an interception. Sophomore William Wicks, a former Terry Sanford standout, caught seven passes for 97 yards, including a 46-yard, third down grab to set up the first Davidson touchdown of the day.





The Wildcats got on the board first after junior Boo Jordan blocked a kick to give his ‘Cats great starting field position. The Wicks catch came on the third down of that series that set up a 4-yard Phelps scoring scamper, his first of two in the day.





The Davidson defense was stout early as sophomore linebacker Geroge Hatalowich recorded eight first-quarter tackles, 1.5 for loss, and broke up a pass in the end zone. He ended with a career-high 12 tackles and 2.5 for loss. Former Pine Forest standout Bryce Perry-Martin made 9.0 tackles, while he and senior Brendan Simpkins each tallied a sack. Senior corner and former Eastern Alamance Eagle Ryan Woods had another strong day in the secondary, making life difficult for the Stetson downfield weapons.





Smith’s second-quarter field goal broke a seven-all tie in the second and gave Davidson a 10-7 halftime lead. Stetson regained the lead on an 81-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third, before the momentum shifted back the ‘Cats way, capping an eight-play, 65-yard drive with a 28-yard Phelps scoring scamper helped along by great blocking downfield from sophomore tight end and former Hoggard Viking Hunter Louthan.





The muffed punt came shortly after as Stetson took control and cruised to victory late for the second consecutive season.







Davidson returns home Saturday, Oct. 21 when Dayton comes to Richardson Stadium. Kickoff with the Flyers is scheduled for 1 p.m.








Davidson Sports Information contributed to this story.