2018 Davidson Wildcats football team

The 2018 Davidson Wildcats football team represented Davidson College in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by first-year head coach Scott Abell and played their home games at Richardson Stadium. They were members of the Pioneer Football League (PFL). They finished the season 6–5, 3–5 in PFL play to finish in sixth place. Davidson finished 2018 ranked #1 in the FCS for total offense, averaging 561.9 yards per game.[1]

2018 Davidson Wildcats football
Conference	Pioneer Football League
2018 record	6–5 (3–5 PFL)
Head coach	Scott Abell (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Jon Berlin (1st season)
Home stadium	Richardson Stadium (Capacity: 6,000)

2018 Pioneer Football League standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 25 San Diego $^		8	–	0					9	–	3
Stetson		6	–	2					8	–	2
Drake		6	–	2					7	–	4
Marist		5	–	3					5	–	6
Dayton		5	–	3					6	–	5
Davidson		3	–	5					6	–	5
Butler		2	–	6					4	–	7
Morehead State		2	–	6					3	–	8
Valparaiso		2	–	6					2	–	9
Jacksonville		1	–	7					2	–	8
$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant Rankings from STATS Poll

Previous season

The Wildcats finished the 2017 season 2–9, 0–8 in PFL play to finish in last place.

On November 27, head coach Paul Nichols was fired.[2] He finished at Davidson with a five-year record of 7–43.

Preseason

Preseason All-PFL team

The PFL released their preseason all-PFL team on July 30, 2018, with the Wildcats having one player selected.[3]

Offense Wesley Dugger – RB

Preseason coaches poll

The PFL released their preseason coaches poll on July 31, 2018, with the Wildcats predicted to finish in last place.[4]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	San Diego	81 (9)
2	Dayton	72 (1)
3	Drake	58
T–4	Butler	48
T–4	Valparaiso	48
6	Jacksonville	47
7	Marist	44
8	Morehead State	22
9	Stetson	19
10	Davidson	11

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	7:00 p.m.	Brevard*	Richardson Stadium Davidson, NC	MI-CONN	W 34–13	4,109
September 8	7:00 p.m.	Chowan*	Richardson Stadium Davidson, NC	MI-CONN	W 49–28	3,941
September 13[lower-alpha 1]	7:00 p.m.	Guilford*	Richardson Stadium Davidson, NC	MI-CONN	W 91–61	2,922
September 22	1:00 p.m.	at Dayton	Welcome Stadium Dayton, OH	Facebook Live	L 21–42	4,700
September 29	1:00 p.m.	at Valparaiso	Brown Field Valparaiso, IN	ESPN3	W 40–35	4,605
October 6	1:00 p.m.	Jacksonville	Richardson Stadium Davidson, NC	MI-CONN	W 44–37	3,524
October 13	1:00 p.m.	Morehead State	Richardson Stadium Davidson, NC	MI-CONN	L 28–35	3,721
October 20	1:00 p.m.	at Marist	Leonidoff Field Poughkeepsie, NY		L 41–48 ^2OT	1,442
October 27	1:00 p.m.	Stetson	Richardson Stadium Davidson, NC	MI-CONN	L 53–56	3,992
November 10	5:00 p.m.	at San Diego	Torero Stadium San Diego, CA		L 52–56	3,115
November 17	1:00 p.m.	Butler	Richardson Stadium Davidson, NC	MI-CONN	W 41–38	3,675
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

• Source: Schedule

1. Originally scheduled for September 15, moved up in anticipation of Hurricane Florence.

Game summaries

Brevard

	1	2	3	4	Total
Tornados	0	0	6	7	13
Wildcats	13	21	0	0	34

Chowan

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hawks	7	6	0	15	28
Wildcats	21	21	0	7	49

Guilford

	1	2	3	4	Total
Quakers	6	20	13	22	61
Wildcats	30	27	14	20	91

at Dayton

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	14	0	0	7	21
Flyers	0	14	21	7	42

at Valparaiso

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	14	20	0	6	40
Crusaders	14	7	7	7	35

Jacksonville

	1	2	3	4	Total
Dolphins	6	3	0	28	37
Wildcats	16	7	21	0	44

Morehead State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	14	7	7	7	35
Wildcats	7	14	0	7	28

at Marist

	1	2	3	4	OT	2OT	Total
Wildcats	6	21	7	0	7	0	41
Red Foxes	7	10	6	11	7	7	48

Stetson

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hatters	7	21	21	7	56
Wildcats	10	7	21	15	53

at San Diego

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	24	14	7	7	52
Toreros	7	28	7	14	56

Butler

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	10	10	7	11	38
Wildcats	6	21	7	7	41

References

1. https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fcs/current/team/21
2. https://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/davidson-fires-football-coach-nichols-112717
3. http://www.pioneer-football.org/news/archives/2018/1361/twelve-first-team-all-pfl-returnees-highlight-preseason-all-pfl-team/
4. http://www.pioneer-football.org/news/archives/2018/1362/defending-champion-san-diego-edges-dayton-in-pfl-preseason-coaches-poll/