Smith's Record Day Lifts Campbell to 42-29 Win over Davidson

DAVIDSON – Campbell quarterback Daniel Smith was already the Camels' leading rusher this season coming into Saturday's game against Pioneer League opponent Davidson. Knowing he would need another strong offensive performance this week, Campbell head coach Mike Minter turned again to his redshirt freshman signal caller to lead the Camels offense. What Minter did not imagine was his quarterback rushing for 289 yards and four touchdowns, leading Campbell to a 42-29 win over Davidson. Campbell (6-4, 5-2) assured itself of a winning season for the second time while Davidson (2-7, 0-6) is still looking for its first conference win of the season.

After Smith opened the scoring for Campbell with a three-yard keeper on the Camels' first possession, Davidson controlled the game through the rest of the first quarter. Freshman Wesley Dugger ran for the first of his three scores of the game to tie the game at 7, a wild snap on a Campbell punt led to a safety and two Trevor Smith field goals gave the home team a 15-7 lead. Smith became the all-time kicking leader at Davidson with his performance on Saturday.

Campbell QB Daniel Smith ran for 289 yards and 4 TDs (Photo Credit: Campbell Sports Information)

During the rest of the game, both teams' outstanding freshmen, Campbell's Smith and Davidson's Dugger, demonstrated why they are both in the running for FCS freshman of the year consideration. Smith threw for a score to Bryan Bailey and ran for another score on a fourth down to make it 21-15 at the half.

Darius Barnes opened up the scoring in the second half with a touchdown for the visitors and, on the next possession, Daniel Smith hit an open hole on the left side of the line and raced eighty yards for the Campbell touchdown and a seemingly commanding lead. Wesley Dugger and the Davidson offense would have nothing of it and drove down the field on two consecutive possessions that ended with Dugger touchdown runs to pull within six points going into the final quarter.

Daniel Smith would have the last word, though, as his eighteen-yard run finished the scoring for the day and the Camels celebrated their last road victory as members of the Pioneer Football League.

Notable North Carolinians

Aaron Blockmon (RS-Jr., Southern Lee) became Campbell’s all-time leader in receptions with 101, also surpassed 2,000 career receiving yards
Jack Ryan (RS-Jr., Weddington) led Campbell in tackles with 12, including 8 solo
Charles Morris (Jr., Wakefield) boomed 6 punts for Davidson for a total of 228 yards
Bryce Perry-Martin (So., Pine Forest) had five tackles, a sack, and a pass breakup

Next Week

Both teams close out their home schedule next week as Davidson hosts San Diego (7-2) with an away game the following week against Morehead State (3-6) while Campbell closes out its season with a matchup against Drake (5-4).