Buies Creek – Darrell Bridges ran for 159 yards and Presbyterian defeated Campbell 31-14 Saturday night at Barker-Lane Stadium.
Will Brock completed 11-of-21 passes for 129 yards and two scores for the Blue Hose (1-2), who led 17-0 early in the second quarter. Darquez Watson had five receptions for 58 yards and one score.
De’Shawn Jones ran for 76 yards for the Camels (2-1), who suffered their first loss of the season. Elijah Burress completed 10-of-23 passes for 117 yards and one touchdown.
Linebacker Daniel Bostick set a Campbell Division I era (since 2008) record with 16 tackles, two solo. Ray Miller and Darren Flowers added 10 stops each.
Presbyterian finished with a 348-258 advantage in total offense and finished with a 33:59 to 26:01 edge in time of possession.
The Blue Hose, who opened the year with losses at FBS Central Michigan and sixth-ranked (FCS) Chattanooga, took the opening kickoff and drove 79 yards. Cedric Frazier hauled in a 21-yard pass from Brock with 8:42 left in the quarter and Brett Norton’s PAT put PC in front 7-0.
Norton’s 26-yard field goal gave Presbyterian a 10-0 lead at the end of the first period.
Bridges’ 6-yard run capped a 9-play, 68-yard drive – helped along with a pass interference penalty on third down – and PC led 17-0 with 13:04 remaining in the half.
Campbell got on the board with 6:58 to play in the second when Burress completed a 28-yard pass to running back Jared Joyner. However, Mitchell Brown’s PAT hit the left upright.
DaShawn Davis returned the ensuing kickoff 67 yards to give the Blue Hose a first down at the Campbell 27. Brock ran in from one yard out and PC led 24-6 at halftime.
Campbell trimmed the lead to 10 with 9:52 to play in the final quarter on a 14-play, 76-yard drive. De’Shawn Jones kept the march alive with an 11-yard run on 4th-and-3 at the PC 27; then ended the push from one yard out. Burress’ pass to Austin Fleming on the two-point conversion attempt trimmed the margin to 24-14.
After the teams exchanged punts, PC drove 75 yard in five plays for the final score of the night. Bridges ran 48 yards off left tackle to give PC a first down at the Campbell 22. Brock’s 17-yard toss to Darquez Watson and Norton’s PAT pushed the gap to 31-24.
Saturday’s attendance (5860) was the sixth-largest in Barker-Lane Stadium history.
Campbell opens Pioneer Football League play at home this Saturday with a 6 p.m. kickoff against Butler. Presbyterian hosts Florida Tech on Saturday before starting Big South Conference action Oct. 8 at Gardner-Webb.
