Oct. 2, 2008

Complete Game Notes in PDF Format

The University of Dayton Flyer football team begins the defense of its 2007 Pioneer Football League Championship Saturday when they host Campbell. Dayton is 3-1 so far in 2008, while the Fighting Camels are 1-4 overall and already 0-2 in the PFL.

MEET THE NEW BOSS An era that was 33 years in the making began August 31 when the University of Dayton defeated Central State University for former Flyer linebacker and long-time assistant coach Rick Chamberlin's first career win in his first career game. Chamberlin was a Football Coaches Association Kodak All-American on UD's first Division III playoff team in 1978, and then served as a defensive assistant under head coaches Rick Carter and Mike Kelly. Chamberlin retains his responsibilities as the Dayton defensive coordinator in addition to his head coaching duties.

WORTH A LOOK BACK Mike Kelly's final season at the helm of the Flyer football program was one for the books, as UD went 11-1 and earned a share of the Pioneer Football League title. That put the Flyers in the Gridiron Classic against Albany, where they won 42-21 to claim the FCS Mid-Major national championship. Seven Flyers earned All-America status, including tight end Matt Champa, who was named on six different teams, and quarterback Kevin Hoyng, who finished his career as UD's career record holder in completions, passing yardage and total offense. UD took home three of the four top awards in the PFL. Kelly was Coach of the Year, Hoyng was Offensive Player of the Year, and Joe Castaneda was Rookie of the Year. And safety Brandon Cramer was named the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year for Division I football, the first such honor for the Flyer football program.

NO ONE'S DOING IT BETTER Since 2000, the Flyers have the second-best winning percentage in FCS football (.793 at the start of the year) AND have produced the most football Academic All-Americans at all levels of college football (14).

SERIES STUFF This is the first meeting with Campbell on the football field.

THE FIGHTING CAMELS ARE... Coming off their first win in 58 years after beating Carthage of Wisconsin last Saturday 36-27. To be fair, this is Campbell's first season of football since dropping the sport due to the Korean War in 1950. Prior to that, Campbell sported a varsity football program as far back as 1925. Coach Dale Steele began building his team from the ground up in 2006. The oldest players on the team are redshirt sophomores. Redshirt freshman linebacker Milton Brown was named PFL Defensive Player of the Week after intercepting three passes and returning two of them for a touchdown in the Carthage win. The most critical play came with 3:36 left with Campbell ahead 29-27, when he returned his final pick 99 yards for the game's final score. Brown tied an NCAA record with the two TD returns (UD's Mark Kasmer also shares the record). Campbell has already had two different players rush for over 100 yards in its five games this year. Carl Smith ran the ball 23 times for 109 yards in the season opener against Birmingham Southern. At Carthage, C. J. Oates gained 143 yards on 36 carries.

STREAKING UD has not been shut out in 357 straight games, the best such active string in all of college football. The last team to shut out the Flyers was Marshall, 9-0, on October 16, 1976.

TEN FLYERS NAMED ALL-PFL UD placed ten players on the 2007 PFL All-League teams, and five return this season. Defensive tackle Kalen Hemmelgarn, Flyer Steve McDonald and defensive end Scott Vossler, all seniors, were on the first team last year. Sophomore cornerback Joe Castaneda and senior safety Corey Vossler were on the second team.

SEVEN FLYERS NAMED SPORTS NETWORK MID-MAJOR ALL-AMERICANS The Flyers also had seven players named to the Sports Network's 2007 FCS Mid-Major All-America teams, with three seniors back for this season. Kalen Hemmelgarn and Scott Vossler were on the first team, and Ben Shappie was on the second team.

MORE KUDOS FOR KALEN Senior DT Kalen Hemmelgarn was also named an Honorable Mention All-American on the Sports Network's All-America team that encompassed all of FCS football. Hemmelgarn was nationally ranked in fumbles recovered (3) and sacks (8.5), and totaled 41 tackles, 10.5 of which were for a loss. He also forced two fumbles.

LEADERS ON AND OFF THE FIELD Serving as captains for 2008 are quarterback Rob Florian, Flyer Steve McDonald and defensive end Scott Vossler. The trio of fifth-year seniors took varied routes to become captains. McDonald and Vossler were First Team All-PFL last season, while Florian entered 2008 with just one career start to his credit. McDonald redshirted due to an injury, Vossler redshirted for developmental reasons and Florian has been a team leader even though he has been UD's backup QB for the last three seasons.

LEADER OF THE SACKS Dayton leads the PFL and is tied for third in FCS football in sacks per game (3.75). Scott Vossler and Sean Heenan co-lead the PFL and are tied for sixth nationally (1.0). Dayton has four players in the PFL's top ten in sacks. After Vossler and Heenan, Brandon Wingeier is fifth and Joe Reis is tied for tenth. Six Flyers have been in at least an assisted sack already in 2008.

LET'S TALK DAYTON D The Flyers lead the PFL in sacks (3.75) and rushing defense (70.25). Nationally, they are tied for third and eighth respectively in those categories. UD is also second in the PFL in tackles for a loss (8.25). Last season, UD led FCS in sacks (4.00), was second in rushing defense (75.42), fourth in scoring defense (15.58) and total defense (271.50), and sixth in tackles in the backfield (8.45). The Flyers led the PFL in seven defensive categories in 2007.

BRINGING NEW MEANING TO THE TERM "TEAM DEFENSE" The Dayton defense returned seven starters from last year (and that does not include All-American DT Kalen Hemmelgarn) and eight of its top 10 tacklers. In addition, UD returned all four players who had multiple fumble recoveries, six of the seven who intercepted passes, four of the five who caused fumbles and three of the top four "sack artists" from last season. In 2007, Valparaiso came into the game on October 20 leading the PFL in rushing, averaging 239.9 yards a game. The Dayton D held VU to less than half (114 yards), including just 30 in the first half. San Diego came into the game on October 27 averaging just under 50 points and 500 yards a game, and was held to 16 points and 340 yards.

PAPER OR PLASTIC? UD had 48 sacks last season, after getting just 13 in all of 2006 (Dayton already has 15 in 2008). Four of the top six sack artists in the PFL were Flyers -- Scott Vossler was second and tied for 14th nationally (0.75), Kalen Hemmelgarn was third and 20th nationally (0.71), the since-transferred Bobby Burger was fifth and tied for 25th (0.67) and Sean Heenan was sixth and tied for 33rd (0.63). UD was the only team in FCS football with two players in the top twenty. Last year, UD's six sacks at Fordham came from six different players and 17 different Flyers recorded a sack on the season. Davidson came to Dayton on October 13 leading the nation in fewest sacks allowed (3), and UD sacked Wildcat QB Ryan Alexander three times in that game. San Diego had allowed just six sacks before allowing QB Josh Johnson to be bagged three times two weeks later.

SUPER SIZE ME Senior Steve McDonald plays the hybrid linebacker/safety position known as "Flyer" or "nickel" in the Dayton defensive package, and at 5-10, 184 lbs., he is not the most imposing physical specimen. But his game is large. This year, he is second for UD in tackles (33), solo hits (16) and tackles in the backfield (5.5). McDonald had 14 tackles in the Fordham game. In 2007, he led the team in solo hits (40), tied for team and league honors in fumbles recovered (3, including one for a TD), and was second in total tackles (79).

MEET THE OLD "VOSS" Scott Vossler returns for his fifth year after one of the most productive seasons in UD history by a Flyer lineman. Vossler led UD in sacks (9.0), tackles in the backfield (16.5), QB hurries (4) and fumbles forced (6). He led the PFL in fumbles forced and was second in sacks. The early returns say he is looking to better that in 2008. He is among the nation's leaders in sacks (1.00, tied for sixth). Scott Vossler was the PFL Defensive Player of the Week after the Central State win with seven hits, three sacks and fumble recovery for a touchdown. He earned PFL and national honors after blocking two kicks that led directly to nine Flyer points (including a 35-yard returning of his own punt block). He leads UD in blocked kicks (3) and sacks (4.0), is second in QB hurries (tied, 2) and is third in tackles in the backfield (5.0) and solo hits (13).

WHOLE LOTTA LOVE Scott Vossler was named PFL, The Sports Network and College Sporting News Special Teams Player of the Week after blocking a punt and returning it for a TD, and also blocking a PAT that Joe Castaneda took back for two more points in UD's win over Patriot League favorite Fordham.

CAPTAIN ROB Offensive captain Rob Florian is back for his fifth year and is stepping up to replace record-setting QB Kevin Hoyng. In the season-opening win over CSU, Florian was 17 of 34 for 201 yards and two TD's. He also ran for the Flyers' other offensive TD. In the Fordham win, he was 18 of 32 for 172 yards and a TD. For the year, he is 80 of 155 (.516) for 836 yards, five TD's and five interceptions. Florian entered 2008 with only one start in his career, but what a start it was. In 2006, without ever throwing a collegiate pass, Florian filled in for the injured Hoyng at Jacksonville and threw for 411 yards, just three yards short of the school single-game record. Last season, Florian completed 26 of 42 passes (.619) for 261 yards and two TD's. He led Cincinnati Elder to back-to-back Ohio High School Division I state championships in 2002 and 2003.

BIG BEN Senior running back Ben Shappie leads UD in rushing (54.0 yards a game), and is fourth in the PFL. He had 94 yards on 16 carries at Duquesne, and was named UD's Offensive Player of the Game. Shappie is back after being listed as starter every game in 2007, and finishing second on the team in rushing. Shappie's numbers of 529 yards and six touchdowns in 108 carries (4.9 yards per carry) were also ninth in the PFL in yards per game (44.1).

TO SERVE AND PROTECT The Dayton offensive line, led by returning starters Ryan Pollock (tackle) and Patrick McCormick (guard), allowed just one sack for every 22 pass attempts in 2007. By contrast, Dayton opponents were sacked once every eight times last year. So far this year, it's one sack in 31 pass attempts vs. one sack every 10 opponent attempts. Senior tackle Zach Whitten was the Offensive Player of the Week in the CSU win. Senior offensive guard Patrick McCormick earned it in the Robert Morris win.

THE GOOD HANDS PEOPLE QB Rob Florian completed his 17 passes against CSU to seven different receivers. Six of them caught their first college pass in the game. Justin Millio leads UD with 23 receptions for 139 yards (6.0 avg.) this season, including nine vs. Fordham. Steve Valentino is second with 16 catches for 181 yards (and a team-high three touchdowns).

V IS FOR VERSATILE Wideout Steve Valentino had 199 all-purpose yards in the Robert Morris win. He caught five passes for 55 yards and one TD as a wide receiver and carried the ball six times for 17 yards lined up as a quarterback. He also had one kickoff return for 48 yards, and four punt returns for 79 yards. He even recovered the onside kick Robert Morris tried after they scored with 43 seconds to go. Valentino was UD's Offensive Player of the Week in the Fordham win, and UD's Special Teams Player of the Week after the Robert Morris win. He is third in the PFL in all-purpose yards (130.3), third in kickoff return average (25.0) and fourth in the league in punt return average (11.4).

ELEMENTARY, MR. WATKINS Wideout Justin Watkins is back eight months after suffering a knee injury in the PFL-title-clinching win at Drake. He leads the PFL in yards per catch (26.2) so far in 2008. Last year the redshirt sophomore led Dayton in yards per catch (17.8) and is UD's top returning receiver with 20 catches. Six of his receptions were for TD's, which was tied for second on the team. Watkins had three catches for 56 yards and a TD in the CSU win.

MILLI-OH Running back turned wideout Justin Millio leads the team and is fourth in the PFL in receptions (5.75).

MEET THE NEWER VOSS Corey Vossler leads UD in tackles (36), solo hits (20) and pass breakups (5, tied with Matt Smyth). He is tied for second in the PFL in tackles (9.0). Vossler had a game-high 14 tackles (seven solo) at Duquesne.

MR. SMYTH GOES TO CORNER Senior defensive back moved to safety this season due to UD's depth at cornerback and started the first two games there before moving back to corner to fill in for the injured Joe Castaneda for Robert Morris. All Smyth did was earn PFL Defensive Player of the Week honors. He snared the first two of four interceptions the Flyers came up with in the game. He returned the first one 38 yards to put Dayton up 7-0, and added a 20-yard interception return on the second. He also batted away three other passes and was in on five tackles. He is tied for first in the PFL in passes defended (1.75), and is tied for team honors in interceptions (2).

BURNS NOTICE Senior safety Kevin Burns made his first career start when Matt Smyth moved to corner against Robert Morris, he came through with two interceptions and a team-leading eight tackles. He is tied with Matt Smyth in interceptions (2).

JOLTIN' JOE Redshirt sophomore linebacker Joe Reis led UD in tackles in his first start, getting eight hits. He is currently third on the team with 24 tackles, and has recovered two of UD five fumbles forced. Ries is tied for second in the PFL in fumble recoveries (0.5). He was UD's Defensive Player of the Week in the Fordham win.

IT'S SO Cornerback Joe Castaneda was the 2007 PFL Rookie of the Year. Castaneda was only the third freshman in Kelly's 27 years as a head coach to earn a starting job. He led Dayton with eight pass break ups, and tied for team honors in interceptions (3, all in conference play). He was in on 51 tackles (27 solo). He was also UD's top kick returner, averaging 11.8 yards a punt return and 24.1 yards a kick return. He missed the Robert Morris and Duquesne games with an injury.

STICKY FINGERS Joe Castaneda and Corey Vossler co-led Dayton in interceptions last season, each with three. Four players had two each, including Castaneda's partner at the other corner, junior Scott Horcher. Horcher was UD's Defensive Player of the Week at Duquesne after intercepting his first pass of the season.

D LEADERS Corey Vossler leads the Dayton defense in total tackles (36), solo hits (20) and passes batted away (5, tied with Matt Smyth). Steve McDonald is second on the team in tackles (33), solos (16) and tackles in the backfield (5.5). Joe Ries is third in tackles (24) and the team leader in fumbles recovered (2). Scott Vossler and Sean Heenan share the throne for sacks (4.0). Vossler leads in tackles in the backfield (6.5). Heenan is on top in QB hurries (3). Brandon Wingeier and Kalen Hemmelgarn lead in fumbles forced (2). Scott Vossler has a team-high three blocked kicks.

McGLAVIN Junior Nick Glavin had a solid season for the Flyers in 2007 (35-37 PAT's, 3-5 FG's), and has kicked it in a higher gear this year. He is 12 for 12 in PAT's and 5 foR 6 in field goals. His only missed three-pointer this year was a 46-yard attempt against Fordham that was tipped at the line. At Duquesne, he made all three of his field goal attempts (including a career-long 40 yard FG) and was UD's Special Teams Player of the Game.

DAYTON RULES THE "DAYTON RULE" TEAMS In the 15 years since Division III teams were legislated out of the division, UD has the best winning percentage (.798, 130-33) of the 20 schools currently playing football that were affected. Duquesne's .728 (118-44) is second, followed by Drake (.664, 109-55-1), San Diego (.632, 96-56) and Robert Morris (.597, 86-58-1).

PFL POWER The Flyers' 55-14 PFL record is the best in the history of the league. UD has won nine league championships (including ties) in the 15 years the PFL has existed. The rest of the league has 10.

PFL STATS Dayton leads the PFL in rushing defense (70.25) and sacks (tied, 3.75). The Flyers are second in tackles for a loss (8.25), red zone defense (.667, 8-12) and opponent 4th-down conversion (.333, 3-9). UD is third in punt return average (15.08), kick return average (21.9), and red-zone offense (.818, 9-11). Nick Glavin leads the league in kick scoring (6.8), touchbacks (5), FG% (.833, 5-6) and PAT% (tied, 12-12). Scott Vossler and Sean Heenan lead in sacks (1.0). Matt Smyth is tied for first in passes defended (1.75). Heenan is tied for second in tackles for a loss (1.62). Joe Ries is tied for second on fumbles recovered.

WELCOME MAT The UD Flyers moved to Welcome Stadium in 1974. The word "Welcome" implies hospitality, but Dayton has been anything but hospitable to its opponents at home, where its record is 188-37-2 (.833). The "Welcome" in Welcome Stadium is not a greeting, but an honor to the late Percival Welcome, longtime Director of Athletics for the Dayton Public Schools. UD has won its last 10 home games (7-0 last season), and 46 of its last 55 home games and 25 of its last 31 road games.

GREAT GRAD RATES UD's 97 score in the 2007APR (Academic Progress Report) is the second-best in the Pioneer Football League and one of the best in NCAA Division I football. UD was one of 26 teams honored by the NCAA for having an APR in the top 10 percent of all Division I football-playing institutions. The others were Air Force, Brown, Bucknell, Colgate, Holy Cross, William and Mary, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, fellow PFL member Davidson, Duke, Furman, Harvard, Navy, New Hampshire, Penn, Princeton, Rice, Richmond, Rutgers, Stanford, Villanova, Wofford and Yale. GOTTA PLAY SMART The University of Dayton placed a league-best 16 players on the 2007 Academic All-Pioneer Football League team. It was the fifth straight year UD had the most players on the PFL Academic team. Since the league's origin in 1993, over a quarter (154 of 558) of the PFL All-Academic selections have been Flyers. UD also had 64 players on the PFL Academic Honor Roll (3.0 GPA or better). That was 15 better than the next-best school.

HITTING THE BOOKS The Dayton football program has produced 14 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-Americans since the 2000 season. That's most at any level of college football. Safety Brandon Cramer was named the 2007 Division I football Academic All-American of the Year, capping a career that saw him named an Academic All-American for three straight seasons. In the history of the Academic All-America program, UD has had 44 Academic All-Americans. Among schools currently playing Division I football, only Nebraska (95), Notre Dame (51), Penn State (48), Ohio State (47) and Oklahoma (45) have had more. UD has had at least one football player named Academic All-American in 15 of the last 16 years. UD had eight players named to the 2007 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team, twice as many as any other school in the district. At least twelve Flyers were nominated for Academic All-America in each of the last four years (16 last season).

SUPER STAT When Jon Gruden coached the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Super Bowl championship in 2003, he became the second UD grad to coach a Super Bowl winner. Former UD co-captain and 1993 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Chuck Noll won four Super Bowls (IX, X, XII & XIV) as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Noll started at center and linebacker for the Flyers and graduated from the University in 1953. Gruden played quarterback at Dayton and earned his degree in 1986. UD became only the third school to have two alumni coach Super Bowl winners. The others are San Jose State, with grads Bill Walsh (XIV, XIX, XXIII) and Dick Vermeil (XXXIV), and Arkansas with grads Jimmy Johnson (XXVII, XXVIII) and Barry Switzer (XXX). Gruden is the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl, and Noll is the fourth youngest. As a matter of fact, UD has ties to 18 Super Bowl rings. In addition to Noll's four and Gruden's one, five former members of Dayton coaching staffs own a total of 14 Super Bowl rings between them. They are the late Len Fontes (New York Giants, Super Bowl XXI), Jon's father Jim Gruden (San Francisco 49ers, Super Bowls XXII & XXIV), John McVay (49ers, XVI, XIX, XXII, & XXIV), current Indianapolis Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore (Pittsburgh Steelers, XIII & XIV, Indianapolis Colts XLI) and George Perles (Steelers, IX, X, XII & XIV). McVay was the Flyers' head coach from 1965-72, and Fontes, Gruden, Moore and Perles were on his staff.

LOOSE CHANGE BENEFITS CHARITY--UPDATE The Flyer football team calls any turnover they gain "loose change." This year, thanks to National City, any "loose change" UD picks up will benefit Catholic Social Services. For every fumble and interception Dayton comes up with, National City will donate $50 to the fund. So far this year, the total donation is $500.

GAME #1 - DAYTON 31, CENTRAL STATE 12 DAYTON, OHIO - The Rick Chamberlin era in University of Dayton football opened with a 31-12 win over Central State August 31 in CSU's "Dayton Classic IV" at Welcome Stadium. Chamberlin, a former Flyer All-American and 28-year UD assistant, was leading a team as head coach for the first time. Senior captain Scott Vossler was named the Classic MVP after leading a Dayton defensive effort that allowed just 14 yards rushing. Vossler had seven tackles (six solo), three sacks and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Another senior captain, quarterback Rob Florian, threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score to lead the offense. Florian was 17 of 34 passing for 201 yards, and spread his 17 completions amongst seven different receivers. Steve Valentino led the way with four receptions for 63 yards UD's first touchdown. Justin Watkins added three catches for 56 yards and a score. Ben Shappie led the ground attack with 65 yards on 12 carries. Dayton out-gained the Marauders 290 to 195, and averaged 5.1 yards per play compared to 2.9 for CSU. Nine UD defenders had at least five tackles. Linebacker Joe Reis had eight (three solo) in his first career start. Vossler and fellow end Brandon Wingeier (also in his first start) had six, with safety Kevin Burns and cornerbacks Joe Castaneda and Scott Horcher each had five.

GAME #2 - DAYTON 23, FORDHAM 20 DAYTON, OHIO - Thanks to timely plays by the defense the Dayton Flyers held on for a 23-20 victory over the Fordham Rams in their home opener at Welcome Stadium. Senior defensive end Scott Vossler enjoyed one of the most productive days in his UD career with a blocked punt and blocked PAT, one of which he recovered and scored for a touchdown, five tackles and a forced fumble. Senior quarterback Rob Florian went 18 for 32 for 172 yards and a touchdown pass. UD's Justin Millio tallied nine receptions for 58 yards, while Steve Valentino had five receptions, one of which went for a touchdown. Although the Rams outgained the Flyers 357 to 279 on offense, Dayton's defense forced four fumbles and recovered three of them. Late in the fourth quarter, Fordham cut the UD lead to 23-20, and UD suffered a costly turnover late in the fourth quarter when Shappie fumbled the ball at the Fordham 41 with 3:24 remaining. However, UD's defense held strong on third and one stopping a quarterback sneak at the line of scrimmage and forcing an incomplete pass on fourth and one with less than two minutes remaining to preserve the win.

GAME #3 - DAYTON 31, ROBERT MORRIS 14 DAYTON, OHIO - Four interceptions by the Flyer defense, including a 38-yard return for a touchdown by senior Matt Smyth, helped Dayton top the Robert Morris Colonials 31-14. Smyth and senior Kevin Burns each recorded two interceptions apiece as the Flyers extended their FCS-best winning streak to 10 games and improved to 3-0 overall on the season. The Flyer defense, which was one interception away from tying the school record for picks in a game, also had a forced fumble and four sacks. Burns led UD with eight tackles, senior Sean Heenan had three tackles and two sacks and redshirt sophomore Brandon Wingeier forced a fumble and recorded a sack. Redshirt sophomore Steve Valentino had 199 all-purpose yards, 55 of them off of five receptions and one touchdown catch. Senior Rob Florian completed 18 of 35 passes for 186 yards while senior Joe Gulick rushed for 58 yards on seven carries. Robert Morris outgained UD 368 to 300, but the turnovers by the Colonials sealed the Flyer win. Other contributors for the Flyers included redshirt freshman James Ward with four receptions for 54 yards, senior Steve McDonald with six tackles, two for a loss and one sack and Corey Vossler with five tackles.

GAME #4 - DUQUESNE 24, DAYTON 16 PITTSBURGH, PA - Duquesne stopped the Dayton Flyers' 10-game winning streak in Pittsburgh, knocking off UD 24-16. The Dukes beat the Flyers at their own game, winning the turnover battle, limiting penalties and coming up with key special teams plays. The two teams battled to a 10-10 tie through the first half, and the Flyers took a 16-10 lead behind a pair of Nick Glavin field goals. Glavin nailed a career-long 40-yarder in the third quarter, and a 27-yarder with 10:38 left in the fourth quarter. But after Glavin's third field goal of the day, Duquesne responded with its longest drive of the day, going 72 yards in seven plays. Duke quarterback Connor Dixon hit Alex Roberson from 11 yards out to make the score 17-16 with 8:09 left. Dayton moved the ball from its own 17 to just across midfield, but with all three timeouts and just over four minutes to go, the Flyers elected to punt the ball and pin the Dukes deep in their own territory. But Duquesne's Tyler Scruggs broke through the left side of the UD line to block the punt and turn the tables on the Flyers. Duquesne ran the ball six straight times, and after gaining a first-and-goal on the one by a penalty, and more importantly, forcing Dayton to burn all of its timeouts, Dixon was unopposed on a one-yard plunge, and Mark Troyan's PAT made it an eight-point game (24-16) with 1:24 remaining. But that strategy to give UD one last chance to send it into overtime went out the window when Akeem Moore intercepted Rob Florian's long downfield pass. The Dukes then took two knees and the win. The Flyers outgained Duquesne 405 to 353, but committed three turnovers to just one gained. Field position played a huge role in the game. Duquesne started seven of its drives around midfield or better, while Dayton started every drive in its own territory. Ben Shappie led the way offensively for UD, carrying the ball 16 times for 94 yards. Florian was 27 of 54 for 277 yards and a 57-yard TD to Justin Watkins, but also threw two interceptions. Justin Millio led the team in receptions, with seven for 55 yards. Freshman Tyler Hujik added six for 32 in his first career action. Corey Vossler was the game leader in tackles with 14 (seven solo), and Scott Horcher grabbed Dayton's lone interception.

PFL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Week #1--Scott Vossler, Defensive Player of the Week Week#3--Scott Vossler, Special Teams Player of the Week Week #4--Matt Smyth, Defensive Player of the Week

UD PLAYERS OF THE WEEK SPECIAL TEAMS--Nick Glavin, 5-7, 160, Junior DEFENSE--Scott Horcher, 5-11, 181 Junior Cornerback OFFENSE--Ben Shappie, 6-1, 202 Senior Running Back D SCOUT--Shea Brintlinger, 6-2, 190, Freshman Flyer ST SCOUT--Taylor Harris, 5-10, 185, Freshman Running Back O SCOUT--Alex Remsik, 6-2, 175, Freshman Wide Receiver

UD PLAYER OF THE WEEK SCOREBOARD DEFENSE: Joe Reis (1), Matt Smyth (1), Scott Vossler (1), Scott Horcher (1) OFFENSE: Steve Valentino (1), Zack Whitten (1), Patrick McCormick (1), Ben Shappie (1) SPECIAL TEAMS: Scott Vossler (1), Steve Valentino (1), Nick Glavin (1) SCOUT: Sean Belanger (2), Taylor Harris (2), Brian Cugliari (1), Aaron Pugh (1), Zach Weber (1), Brian Mulcahy (1), Marcelo Natale (1), Matt Riddle (1), Shea Brintlinger (1), Alex Remsik (1)

UP NEXT Dayton stays home for the second straight week, hosting Drake. Game time is 1:00 p.m.