By MONTE DUTTON

In a world turned upside down, it’s comforting to know that the Presbyterian Blue Hose … have, too.

Steve Englehart’s sea-to-shining-sea Blue Hose, who “don’t need no stinking scholarships,” go for their ninth victory in the relatively nearby city limits of Davidson, N.C., nearest stop on the Pioneer Football League trail.

The following week finds Presbyterian College making a typical road trip to Saint Paul, Minn., where the University of Saint Thomas is located. Saint Thomas of Saint Paul. Ain’t that America?

But first, the Davidson Wildcats, who take on the Blue Hose each year for the Carolina Border Clash because it is in North Carolina and PC is in South Carolina, and all this has something to do with the true birthplace of Andrew Jackson.

I kid you not.

This makes that age-old question, “What is a Blue Hose?” seem simple. The Hose take on the Wildcats on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the perfectly descriptive Davidson College Stadium. Davidson (1-8, 0-5) has beaten Presbyterian (8-1, 4-1) four straight times. PC has never possessed the trophy that comes with the Clash or, officially, the Battle for the 1919 Cup. There’s an excellent chance that will change.

All is not well on the Ponderosa, however. Presbyterian trails Drake (6-2, 5-0) by a game, and the two do not play this season. Drake still has Saint Thomas (6-3, 4-2) left to play, as well as Dayton (6-3, 4-2), the only team to beat PC. The Blue Hose close out on Nov. 22 at home against Marist (3-6, 1-4).

The PFL has 11 teams, and each member plays eight of them. Presbyterian also doesn’t play San Diego (5-4, 3-2) this season. The standings favor Drake, but the schedule favors Presbyterian.

Englehart is in his fourth season and is bidding for his 20^th victory at PC and 90^th as a college head coach.

“We’ve had continuity on the [coaching] staff, and that shows the commitment we have to being successful, and that [extends] down to the players, who have the same type of commitment and the same kind of camaraderie with their teammates,” Englehart said. “They love Clinton and they love PC.”

A victory on Saturday gives the Blue Hose five conference wins for the first time since 2006, when Tommy Spangler was head coach and the school competed in NCAA Division II.

Presbyterian is ranked 23^rd in the weekly poll of the American Football Coaches Association and 25^th in the one conducted by Stats Perform. Should Presbyterian and Drake tie for the PFL title, the FCS playoff bid comes down to the final records of Stetson, which Drake doesn’t play, and San Diego, which is not on the PC schedule.

Davidson’s plunge this season is related to the departure of head coach Scott Abell to Rice this year. The Wildcats are now coached by Saj Thakkar, whose rebuilding effort has been hindered by five straight losses and a winless PFL mark.

Second-year PC quarterback Collin Hurst ranks eighth nationally in passing efficiency at 174.3. The Davie, Fla., product has thrown 22 touchdown passes.

The defense is allowing the sixth-lowest points-per-game total in America (16) and has picked off 11 opposition passes, led by Caleb Francis with four.

Zach Switzer and Justin Montgomery have combined for 1,225 yards, led by Switzer with 644.

Four PC players – Dominic Kibby (33), Cincere Gill (27), Nathan Levicki (25) and B.J. Atkins (22) – are grouped at the top of a versatile receiving corps.

Coulter Cleland, a senior from Racine, Ohio, is one of two quarterbacks to have seen notable action for Davidson. He has completed 131/231 passes for 1,602 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Five rushers have gained at least 100 yards, led by Mason Sheron with 356 yards and five TDs in 88 carries.

Ivan Hoyt is the leading receiver with 41 catches for 649 yards and eight scores.

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