Marist Football Downs Davidson 31-10 in PFL Play

POUGHKEEPSIE – The Marist football team defeated Davidson 31-10 on Saturday on Homecoming & Reunion Weekend for its fourth straight Pioneer Football League win. The victory moves Marist to 4-3 overall and a program best 4-0 in the PFL.

Marist controlled the first half on both sides of the ball and was able to jump out to a 14-0 first quarter lead. Red-shirt sophomore free safety Wesley Beans intercepted his first of two passes on the day on Davidson’s first possession which led to red-shirt sophomore quarterback Mike White scoring on a one-yard touchdown run. The Red Foxes defense forced a Davidson punt on the ensuing possession, which Marist converted into an eight-play, 63-yard touchdown drive, capped off by a Marcellus Calhoun three-yard scoring run.

Davidson’s Trevor Smith kicked a 33-yard field goal early in the second quarter to cut the Marist lead to 14-3.  The Red Foxes offense found their rhythm in the second quarter White led them on a nine play 54 yard scoring drive.  White hit red-shirt sophomore receiver Christian Keenan for a five-yard touchdown just before the half to give Marist a 21-3 lead.

A muffed punt by Marist early in the third quarter put Davidson in scoring position.  On their first play, Davidson quarterback Stockton McGuire looked for his receiver going to the post but the pass was undercut and intercepted again by Beans, whose two interceptions Saturday give him a team high five this season.

On the ensuing possession, sophomore receiver Juston Christian sprung free for an 83-yard touchdown on a screen pass from White, which was aided by a key block from Keenan. Christian finished the game with six receptions for 136 yards. The 83-yard touchdown was his sixth career touchdown of over 50 yards. He has also had three straight games with over 100 yards receiving and has four such games this season.

White finished the game completing 16 of 25 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns.  White has thrown for over 200 yards in 16 consecutive games.  His two touchdown passes today bring him to 13 total this season.

The Marist defense allowed just 242 total yards of offense for Davidson. Red-shirt sophomore linebacker Willie Barrett was all over the field for the Red Foxes with six total tackles and one tackle for loss.  Red-shirt sophomore linebacker Ruben Avalos III had a strip-sack in the first quarter.

Davidson scored its first touchdown of the game late in the fourth quarter on a three yard touchdown run by Kahleel Shaw.  Red-shirt junior quarterback Anthony Francis checked into the game for Marist and led the offense back down the field, setting up a Mike Maccarone 26-yard field goal to put up 31-10.

The loss drops Davidson to 2-6 on the season and 0-5 in the PFL. Jaylen Mize had a team-high seven tackles. McGuire finished with 97 yards passing and a team-best 76 yards on the ground.

Marist gained 472 yards of total offense. Between White and Francis, the Red Foxes completed 25 of 35 passes for 367 yards, and 12 different receivers caught passes.

The Red Foxes will continue PFL play Saturday when they host San Diego. The Red Foxes and Toreros are currently the only two undefeated teams in PFL play. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. in Tenney Stadium. The first 1,000 fans will receive a bobblehead of Marist graduate and Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Jason Myers, who will be in attendance.