Coastal Carolina commitment DJ Butler ran Davidson’s single-wing offense with precision as he rushed for 181 yards on 15 carries and two touchdowns in the Warriors’ 34-19 win over Alma Bryant in Class 7A, Region 1 action at Hurricane Stadium on Thursday night.

Butler’s touchdown runs covered 21 and 15 yards, Terrance Gray added 116 yards on 16 carries and a score, and Anthony Rabb added touchdown runs of 1 and 22 yards as Davidson won its third straight game to improve to 5-4 overall and 3-3 in region play.

“We played as a team and everybody cooperated,” said Butler, who missed two games because of an ankle injury earlier in the season. “There were no conflicts within the team, and we stayed together through the whole game. It was really great having those guys (Gray and Rabb) surrounding me because they can’t focus on me the whole game – they have to focus on everybody else.”

“It’s a good offense and we have a good guy running it,” said Davidson head coach Rick Cauley. “Every week, they go out there and do a good job. Coach (Bart) Sessions had a great plan and they made us work for it and kept us from getting the big play.”

Davidson’s win overcame a solid performance from Alma Bryant’s Isaiah Dixon, who rushed for 205 yards on 25 carries with two touchdowns. While playing quarterback, he was 4-of-8 for 41 yards, but also threw two interceptions. The Hurricanes (2-7, 0-6) turned the ball over three times, and played shorthanded on defense with five starters out with injuries.

Gray’s 1-yard touchdown run ended a nine-play drive with 10:01 left in the second quarter to give the Warriors a 7-0 lead. Bryant answered with Dixon’s 22-yard touchdown run, but was unable to convert the extra point. Davidson’s Rabb scored with 49 seconds left in the half on the Warriors’ ensuing drive.

Butler’s 21-yard touchdown run on the Warriors’ first drive of the second half stretched the lead to 20-6, but Bryant answered two possessions later with Dixon’s 2-yard touchdown run to shrink the lead to 7.

An onsides kick was recovered by Davidson on its 36 with 3:31 left in the third quarter, and the Warriors ate up the rest of the period before Rabb ran for a 22-yard touchdown with 11:48 left in the game.

Bryant got the ensuing kickoff and mounted a nearly five-minute drive. Aided by a dead ball foul against Davidson, the Hurricanes marched down the field and ended the drive with Tamarrio Douglas’ 2-yard touchdown run with 5:51 left in the game. The point after was no good, and the Hurricanes trailed 27-19.

Another Hurricane onsides kick was recovered by Davidson on its 48. The Warriors marched 52 yards on seven plays, ending the drive with Butler’s 15-yard touchdown run.

Stars of the game: Because of Davidson’s effective single-wing offense, it produced not one, but two 100-yard plus rushers, Butler and Rabb.

Play of the game:  Butler’s 15-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter essentially put the game out of reach.

By the numbers: 11, total combined number of passes attempted by both teams. … 13, total number of penalties by Davidson. … 127, total number of yards in penalties for Davidson. … 214, total rushing yards for Alma Bryant. … 348, total number of rushing yards for Davidson.

Coachspeak: “That’s how our offense has to work; you rely on misdirection. If you take one guy away, the other should be there, so all three of those guys (Butler, Gray, and Rabb) did a great job. But hats’ off to those guys up front; they do some dirty work.” – Cauley

“Isaiah had a great night. It was unfortunate we didn’t come away with the win. It was a close game right to the end, and we’re just as good as them, if not better.” – Sessions

They said it: “I feel great (after the ankle injury) because I was able to contribute to my team. It really meant a lot to me after missing those two games because I felt I let them (my teammates) down.” – Butler.

Up next: Next Friday night, Davidson hosts Class 4A Jackson while Alma Bryant hosts Class 6A Northridge.