STETSON (2-1, 0-0 PFL) vs. DAVIDSON (2-1, 1-0 PFL)
Date	Saturday, October 2, 2021
Location	Spec Martin Memorial Stadium, DeLand, Fla.
Kickoff	1 p.m.
Tickets	Buy Now |  Know Before You Go
Broadcast	ESPN+
Live Stats	Live Stats
Game Information	Stetson Game Notes  |  Davidson Game Notes | Roster Card
Social Media	Twitter  |  Instagram |  Facebook

Preview: The Stetson Hatters will be looking to bounce back from their ill-fated trip to New Jersey last week when they host the Pioneer Football League favorite Davidson Wildcats. Davidson, which won the spring PFL title, won their fall conference opener last weekend, downing perennial league-bully San Diego 28-16. The Wildcats, in their fourth season under coach Scott Abel, are a true triple-option team on offense, averaging 280.7 yards per game on the ground. Davidson has thrown just 33 passes total in its first three games this season, but are averaging better than 12 yards per reception when they do throw it. Nine different players have rushing attempts for Davidson in just three games. Despite being a ball-control offensive team, Davidson has allowed 87 points in three games, allowing 5.4 yards per play on defense.
 
Key Stat: Davidson has amassed a 15-5 record at home under Scott Abel, but the Wildcats are just 5-7 away from Richardson Stadium.
 
Series History: The series between Stetson and Davidson dates back to the earliest days of Stetson football. The teams first met on Nov. 21, 1912, in DeLand, with the Hatters taking a 21-6 win. The series has gone back-and-forth over the year, with both programs putting together three-game win streaks, leading to the series being tied at 6 wins apiece.
 
Davidson has won the last two games in the series, taking a down to the wire 26-20 victory this past spring to open the shortened season. The teams were scheduled to play again at the end of the spring, but the game was canceled because of a Covid outbreak. When the contest was called off, the Wildcats were named the PFL champions.
 
Davidson holds a scoring edge in the series, outscoring Stetson 325 to 286 over the 12 games, but the margin since 2013 has been much closer, with Stetson having won five of eight games. Both teams have scored exactly 232 points during those games.

Tickets: Tickets can be purchased online at GoHatters.com/tix or at the Spec Martin Stadium ticket windows starting one hour before the game.  Stetson students are admitted free with a valid ID, while faculty and staff receive discounted pricing.  Please call (386) 738-HATS for more information. 

Breast Cancer Awareness Game: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. Join the Stetson Hatters as we RISE together to help uplift women in need. Show your support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing something pink to the game.

Last Time Out: The Hatters found trouble before play even started last Saturday at Princeton when kickoff specialist, and backup punter, Brady Lawrence and receiver Mason Proch both rolled their ankles. Lawrence missed the game, which contributed to Princeton having great field position all afternoon. For of the Tigers' six first half scoring drives were of less than 50 yards, allowing them to build a 35-0 lead in route to a 63-0 Princeton win. Hatters' quarterbacks were sacked seven times in the game, which contributed to the poor field position and offensive struggles. The Hatters were held to just 26 rushing yards in the game, which were the eighth fewest in the modern era. Stetson has been held to less than 100 rush yards as a team 32 times in 84 games and have compiled just four victories in those games. Stetson is 29-33 in games when the Hatters rush for 100 yards or more.

Comeback Player: Stetson redshirt sophomore Avery Samuels was recognized this week as one of the nominees for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award. Samuels sat out the 2020-21 season as seven members of his family perished from COVID-19. Following the death of his uncle in April of 2020, and six other family members in the months that followed, he made the decision to opt-out of the season and spend the time with his family. Remarkably, despite the family tragedy, the 6 foot 4, 315-pound psychology major returned to the Hatters this summer and has been working his way back onto the field more each week.
 
Campbell Trophy Semifinalist: Redshirt senior Fermon Reid was selected as one of 178 players from across all college football as a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy, which is presented annually to the top scholar-athlete in the nation. The top 20 finalists receive post-graduate scholarship awards, including a $25,000 award for the Campbell Trophy winner. The awards will be announced in conjunction with the NFF's Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in December.

Return of John B.: Saturday's game marks the return of John B. to the Stetson sideline. The Hatters' mascot had a long road back after suffering major injuries during the fire that took place in the Edmunds Center in October of 2019. Doctors and nurses at Advent Health DeLand have worked tirelessly to get John B. ready to get back into action, and he will make his triumphant return when he leads the Hatters into battle against Davidson.