Valparaiso Crusaders, Ind. (AP) William Wicks ran for 178 yards and a touchdown and James Story bulled his way into the end zone from a yard out with 56 seconds left to lift Davidson Wildcats to a 40-35 victory over Valparaiso in the Crusaders' Pioneer Football League opener on Saturday.

Wesley Dugger added 91 rushing yards and two TDs for the Wildcats (4-1, 1-1), who finished with 379 yards on the ground one week after piling up an FCS-record 685 rushing yards in a 91-61 win over Guilford.

Wicks ripped off a 36-yard TD run, Dugger scored on a 1-yard plunge and Tyler Phelps connected with Hunter Louthan for a 15-yard scoring strike all in the second quarter as the Wildcats pulled away from a 14-all first-quarter tie for a 34-21 halftime advantage.

The Crusaders (0-4, 0-1) pulled within 34-28 in the third quarter on Jimmy Seewald's 16-yard TD pass to Jean Rene, who also hauled in a 16-yard scoring strike in the first quarter. Chris Duncan capped an eight-play, 82-yard drive with a 3-yard TD run to give Valpo a 35-34 lead with 3:55 remaining.

But Phelps directed a nine-play, 75-yard drive capped by Story's TD to secure the win.

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