Sept. 26, 2009

Final Stats |  Quotes |  Photo Gallery 

The University of Dayton football team defeated the Duquesne Dukes 24-17 in front of a Family Weekend crowd of 5,153 Saturday at Welcome Stadium. The win was the second in a row for the Flyers, putting their record at 2-1 on the season.

Duquesne took a 7-0 lead on the first play from scrimmage when running back Larry McCoy bounced an off-tackle play outside for a 67-yard run for the touchdown just 20 seconds into the game.

The Flyers tried to answer on their next possession, driving the ball 58 yards down the field until a missed field goal from 37 yards out ended the drive.

UD tied the game during their first possession of the second quarter. Quarterback Steve Valentino got the team on the board with a 58-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Justin Watkins.

Duquesne was able to answer on their next possession with a 51-yard drive capped off by a field goal by kicker Eric Duale, giving Duquesne a 10-7 halftime lead.

The Dukes dominated the ground game in the first half, running for 132 yards in just 18 attempts. However Dayton had the advantage in the air, throwing for 131 yards to Duquesne's 62.

Dayton received the ball to start the half and drove down the field for a go-ahead touchdown. Valentino capped off the 84-yard drive with a 62-yard touchdown to sophomore wide receiver Luke Bellman.

After a three-and-and-out by Duquesne, Dayton was able to put more points up on the board during the next possession. After a 49-yard drive highlighted by a 25 yard pass from Valentino to Watkins, Nick Glavin kicked a field goal with 8:37 left in the quarter.

The third quarter ended with Dayton up 17-10.

The two teams went back and forth to start the fourth quarter, with Duquesne punting after its first two possessions, and Dayton punting in its first.

The Flyers got the ball on their own 29-yard line where they would start their final scoring drive of the game. Dayton started off with a pair of runs from Valentino and junior running back Andrew Zapinski. A Duquesne facemask penalty gave UD 15 more yards and a first down. UD moved into Duke territory on a nine-yard pass to JMichael Jonard. Zapinski's and Valentino's legs accounted for the next 17 yards, and then Bellman took in a 10-yard pass to put the ball on the 17-yard-line. The last two plays of the drive were a 12-yard run and a five-yard touchdown run, both by redshirt freshman running back Brian Mack's score put Mack's TD made the score Dayton 24, Duquesne 17 with 5:39 left in the game.

Duquesne would not go down quietly. Quarterback Kevin Rombach came off the bench to lead his team down the field in just three minutes for a touchdown. The score inched Duquesne closer as they now trailed 24-17.

Duquesne's defense then stepped up, forcing the Flyers into a three-and-out, 3 and out, shaving just 25 seconds off the clock, as the Dukes used all of their time outs.

Nate Miller's 36-yard punt that was fair caught forced Duquesne to start its final drive from its own 18-yard line. Throwing short passes underneath the coverage, Rombach completed six of nine passes and moved 44 yards to the Flyers 38-yard line. With just six seconds left on the clock, the Flyers rushed two and dropped nine, but UD defensive tackle Kalen Hemmelgarn was able to sack Rombach to end the game.

The Flyers defense was the story in the second half, as they were able to shut down Duquesne's running game, allowing just seven yards.

Valentino ended the day going 19-for-29 passing with two touchdowns for 272 total yards. He also led the team in rushing with 76 yards on 20 carries. Jonard caught four passes, as did Justin Millio. Watkins and Bellman both had big days, each hauling in three receptions for 105 and 103 yards respectively.

James Vercammen led the Dayton defensive effort, coming up with 15 tackles (seven solo) with a sack and a pass batted away. Scott Horcher, Matt Smyth, Ben Welsh and Joe Ries all added eight tackles.

The Flyers will be back in action next weekend as they travel to Kentucky to take on Morehead State in the 2009 Pioneer Football League opener.

Written by Dan Vohden '11