JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville University scored five first half touchdowns and broke a two-game losing streak by knocking off Davidson College, 42-12, in a Pioneer Football League game here Saturday.
The Dolphins (7-2, 4-2) came out firing on their way to an offensive show that netted 582 total yards, 435 through the air.
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JU redshirt senior quarterback Kade Bell threw two first quarter touchdown passes, a 4-yarder to fullback Matthew Passeggiata and a 43-yard strike to senior wide receiver Andy Jones to set the tone for the day.
Rylan Wells, a redshirt sophomore, replaced Bell in the second quarter and tossed two scoring passes to wide receiver Damien Strange of 18 and 44 yards and connected with sophomore Brian Burnett for 41 yards and a 35-6 half time lead. Burnett's catch ended a quick two-play 46-yard drive.
JU amassed 416 yards of total offense in the first half, 313 through the air.
Wells completed JU's scoring with 6:20 to play in the second half when he hit Jones on a 43-yard touchdown pass and a 42-9 lead.
Davidson's scores came on a 13-yard pass from quarterback Taylor Mitchell to senior wide receiver William Morris in the second quarter and a pair of Trevor Smith field goals in the second half.
Wells ended the game completing 18 of 24 passes for 318 yards and his four touchdowns and had 68 yards rushing. Jones had five catches for 122 yards. Strange caught three passes for 105 yards.
JU Head Coach Kerwin Bell wasn't pleased with his team's second half work, but liked what he saw from Wells for the second week.
"He came in last week (at Dayton) and we didn't know what to expect,'' Kerwin Bell said. "I think he got some confidence in that game and all week he threw the ball really well.''
Kerwin Bell said the team adjusts its run game for Wells' presence, but the passing game remains the same.
"There are a couple of things we may do different with him in the run game because he runs pretty well,'' he said. "Kade's been beat up all year and his running ability since the second game of the year has been hampered. The throwing game is all the same stuff.''
The Wildcats' Mitchell was 15-for-32 for 161 yards and the touchdown.
JU goes on the road next week at Campbell on Saturday at 1 p.m.