DAVIDSON, N.C. – The #23/25 Presbyterian College football team came up on the losing end of a one-point decision in the annual Carolina Border Clash against Davidson, shutting out the Wildcats over the final 45 minutes on Saturday but taking a 14-13 defeat.

PC was plagued by first-half mistakes in a defensive tug-of-war, failing three fourth-down attempts along with a pivotal missed extra point, an interception, and a fumble.

At the end of the day, the Blue Hose were able to outgain Davidson by 35 yards and finish with five more first downs. However, they were unable to produce much offense in the 4^th after trimming a two-touchdown deficit down to one point.

The 2025 version of this rivalry game was the total antithesis of last year's meeting which saw 85 combined points and 13 TD's.

Rather, this particular PC-Davidson matchup witnessed neither team pass for 100 yards along with a combined 7-for-28 ratio on third-down snaps.

The Blue Hose are now one of four Pioneer Football League programs with two losses (along with St. Thomas, Dayton, and San Diego).


 
FINAL SCORE: Davidson, 14 – #23/25 Presbyterian, 13

RECORDS: #23/25 Presbyterian (8-2, 4-2) – Davidson (2-8, 1-5)

LOCATION: Davidson College Stadium (Davidson, N.C.)


 
HOW IT HAPPENED – FIRST HALF

 
- In what was remarkably the first time that a nationally-ranked opponent had played Davidson on the Wildcats' campus since 1941, PC's bad luck began seemingly from the start.

- Filling in for injured quarterback Collin Hurst, redshirt-junior Ty Englehart marched the Blue Hose down to the opponents' 27, but an unsuccessful gamble on 4^th and 8 would spell the end of that series.

- Linebacker Michael Torres swarmed to the first of his two sacks on Davidson's first trip, making the home side punt. However, Englehart would be picked off three snaps later which situated DC at the Presby 31.

- The Wildcats crept into the end zone in seven plays to draw first blood, and would later take a 14-0 advantage with 20 seconds to go in the opening period on a 4^th-and-goal three-yard pass.

- Presbyterian made their way into the end zone for the first time with 7:30 left in the 2^nd quarter. Englehart finished a seven-play drive that stayed on the ground for the entire length of that series.

- The PAT was wide of the target, a moment that loomed very large by the time the game had entered the 4^th stanza.

- With under five minutes until the break, Malik Lewis was able to come away with a big Davidson turnover on a 4^th-and-1 dive that ended in a fumble. Alas, PC would turn the ball over on downs themselves at the 3:18 stamp.

- The Wildcats tried to catch Presby off guard with a sneaky 4^th-down play call near midfield, but Christian Ohagwu pressured the QB into a hurried throw and the ball fell harmlessly to the turf.

- Thanks to Davidson's blunder, PC now had one more opportunity to score before the end of the half. They made it to the 16 with 22 seconds on the clock, but were stopped on 4^th down for the third occasion.


 
HOW IT HAPPENED – SECOND HALF

 
- The Blue Hose leaned heavily on the run game with an eight-point hole, choosing to carry the ball on eight consecutive snaps for their first drive of the 3^rd.

- That strategy worked extremely well, as Zach Switzer landed his ninth rushing touchdown of the campaign on a seven-yard jolt up the middle.

- This time, the PAT sailed through the uprights, making the new score 14-13. Unbeknownst to all, it would stay right there for the last 24 minutes of the game.

- Presbyterian decided to run the football 19 times out of their 23 plays in the second half. Sophomore Justin Montgomery led the way in that department with 94 yards on 14 touches. Switzer added 86 yards on the same number of carries.

- After PC's 3^rd-quarter touchdown, the next three drives ended in punts. Now in the final chapter, Davidson missed a chance to turn their one-point lead into four by shanking a 35-yard field goal try.

- With eight minutes still left in regulation, the Blue Hose received another gift after the Wildcats lined up with too many players on the field during a punt. That restarted PC's drive at their own 32, although they couldn't capitalize on the flag and were forced to boot it away again.

- Presbyterian's defense ensured that the lead would stay at just one, making Davidson punt for the fifth time with 3:17 to go. That punt was downed at the eight-yard line, putting PC at an uphill climb to try and at least get in field goal range.

- On the third play of that drive, the Wildcats would wrangle another INT. From there, they were able to hold the ball for the remaining two minutes and six seconds, icing the game on a 4^th-and-1 plunge.


 
UP NEXT

 
- Drake's loss in Des Moines keeps the Blue Hose at a possibility of still reaching a PFL Championship (the Bulldogs were the only team in the division without a conference loss going into Week 11).

- However, it will be another challenge for PC next Saturday as they must visit the very team that defeated Drake by a touchdown: St. Thomas.

- The Blue Hose have visited Minnesota just once for a game against the Tommies back in 2021, scheduled for a 2:00 PM eastern time kickoff.

- Presbyterian last faced St. Thomas in Clinton three years ago, a 46-17 decision won by the Tommies.