DES MOINES, Iowa– The Davidson Wildcats pulled away from the Drake football team in a 48-14 decision at Drake Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 22. The Bulldogs are now 0-8 overall (0-5 in Pioneer Football League play) while the Wildcats have won back-to-back games to improve to 6-2 (4-1) on the season.
 
Davidson struck first with 8:38 left in the opening quarter when Mark McCurdy broke loose for a 48-yard touchdown run.
 
The Bulldogs responded with an efficient drive of their own. Once in the red zone, Ian Corwin completed a 10-yard pass to Trey Radocha. After the Wildcats jumped offside, Corwin flicked a five-yard touchdown pass to Eli Stewart in the right side of the end zone. The score was even at seven points apiece after one quarter of play.
 
The Wildcats regained the lead at the 11:55 mark of the second quarter following a 7-yard touchdown pass from Luke Durkin to Aaron Maione. A 62-yard touchdown run up the middle by Bernard Turner Jr. on the next Davidson drive created a 21-7 margin.
 
Blake Ellingson entered the game at quarterback in the second quarter and he led Drake to a 58-yard scoring drive. Ellingson threaded a pass over the middle to Zack Gray for a gain of 26 yards all the way to the Davidson 16-yard line. A couple of plays later, Trey Radocha hauled in a 7-yard touchdown reception as the Bulldogs clawed back within one score trailing 21-14 with 3:32 remaining in the first half.
 
The Drake defense stepped up to give the ball back to the offense at its own 40-yard line only a minute later. The Bulldogs worked their way down to the Wildcat 27-yard line, but Luke Williams missed a 44-yard field goal attempt with only 20 seconds left ticking before halftime as Davidson entered the locker room with a 21-14 advantage.
 
21-14 was the score until the Wildcats milked 7:57 off the clock in the third quarter on a 16-play, 80-yard drive that concluded with a 9-yard fluttering pass to McCurdy. Ellingson was intercepted by Marcus Heard just before the end of the third quarter at the Drake 45-yard line.
 
With all of the momentum on its side, Davidson outscored Drake 20-0 in the fourth quarter as the final score read 48-14 in favor of the visitors.  
 
Drake football will head down to Stetson in DeLand, Fla., for a 12 p.m. (CT) kickoff against the Hatters on Saturday, Oct. 29.
 
NOTES

• Three different Drake quarterbacks played in the game.
• Drake has been shut out in the second half in back-to-back games.
• Drake scored exactly 14 points for the sixth time this season.
• Davidson controlled the time of possession (33:38).
• Eli Stewart scored his first collegiate touchdown.
• Trey Radocha's touchdown catch was his third of the season.
• Blake Ellingson threw his first touchdown pass of the season (second of his collegiate career).
• Ander Jonson led Drake with his season-high of 13 tackles (six solo) including 1.5 tackle for loss.
• Tanner Pollock added 12 tackles (five solo).
• Drake leads the all-time series, 9-3.