CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – Davidson senior quarterback Jonathan Carkhuff threw for a school record 464 yards, but Johnson C. Smith used big plays and a relentless pass rush to defeat the Wildcats, 35-22, in non-conference football action Saturday afternoon in Irwin Belk Complex.Davidson (0-3) was the first to score, but Johnson C. Smith (3-0) scored the next four touchdowns to take control of the game. The Golden Bulls countered Carkhuff's prolific passing by sacking him 13 times for 93 yards, led by Jovantay Williams with 3.5. Anthony Allen also made a game-high 17 tackles for JCSU, including 1.5 sacks. Additionally, the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs twice in the red zone and were penalized 11 times for 127 yards.
Carkhuff completed 26 of 39 passing attempts for 464 yards and two touchdowns, becoming Davidson's career passing leader with 9,531 yards. He also moved past current head coach and 2003 graduate Paul Nichols into second place on Davidson's career touchdown list with his 51st and 52nd touchdown passes. Also enjoying career days were William Morris, who caught eight passes for 193 yards and a touchdown, Garrett Diehl, who caught five passes for a career high 79 yards, and #A.J. Pignone# who had career highs rushing for 92 yards and his first career rushing touchdown, as well as catching three passes for 66 yards and his first career receiving touchdown.
For the Golden Bulls, Keahn Wallace completed 22 of 42 passes for 368 yards and three touchdowns, all of which were over 30 yards. Chris Patterson was his top target, catching nine passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns. LeAnder Barney rushed for 135 yards on 22 catches to lead JCSU on the ground.
The game started off slow as both teams punted on their first three drives, before the Wildcats drove 90 yards on seven plays to score first late in the first quarter. A 21-yard run by Pignone and a 51-yard reception by Garrett Diehl keyed the drive, and then Pignone rushed into the end zone from 11 yards out with 2:31 remaining. A rush on the point-after attempt by Trey Huelskamp gave the 'Cats two points for an early 8-0 lead.
The Golden Bulls answered on their next possession though as Wallace connected with Patterson on a 36-yard touchdown to make it an 8-7 game. Davidson reached the JCSU five on its next drive, but Carkhuff was sacked on third down for a loss of nine and failed convert on 4th-and-goal from the 14. JCSU drove down the field from there and Wallace capped a 12-play, 86-yard drive with a leap over the linemen from inside the one with 9:50 remaining in the second quarter. He then connected with Avius Capers on JCSU's next possession on a 35-yard touchdown pass down the left sideline for a 21-8 lead with 6:57 to go in the half.
The score would remain the same until Denzel Hartley scored for JCSU on a four-yard touchdown run with 8:57 remaining in the third quarter. Davidson punter John Cook had pinned the Bulls on their own two-yardline, but a 77-yard reception by Patterson moved JCSU from its own 18 to the Davidson five.
JCSU nearly scored on its next drive, but Myles Atkins made a stop on 4th-and-goal at the one. Davidson drove 97 yards, aided by a 49-yard reception by Morris and a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, but was stopped on 4th-and-goal at the two.
The 'Cats finally cut into JCSU's 28-8 lead with a 33-yard touchdown pass to Morris and another successful two-point conversion with 13:32 remaining in the game, but JCSU answered with a 31-yard touchdown pass to Patterson. Pignone scored on a 61-yard touchdown reception with 1:19 remaining for the final margin.
The game concluded non-conference play for Davidson for the season. The Wildcats will open their Pioneer Football League slate Saturday at Morehead State.
Notes: Mills Ariail '94 served as an honorary captain for Davidson … Carkhuff's previous career high for passing yards in a game was 427, which came against Johnson C. Smith in 2011 … The previous single-game passing yards record was 431, set by Damion White vs. Coastal Carolina on September 4, 2011 … The previous career passing yards leader was Ryan Alexander '08, who threw for 9,376 yards … The all-time series between Davidson and JCSU is now even at 2-2.
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