Dayton Flyers

Pat Dowd had 7.5 sacks in 8 PFL games.

Complete PFL Release in PDF Format

Three University of Dayton football players have been named First Team All-Pioneer Football League.  Redshirt sophomore defensive end Pat Dowd, senior linebacker Colin Monnier and center Bill Petraiuolo were all selected in a vote of the league’s coaches.

Dowd, a product of Cleveland St. Ignatius High School, led UD and was third in the PFL in sacks (0.85 per game).  All but one of his 8.5 sacks in 2012 were in PFL action.  Dowd was also second for Dayton in tackles for a loss (10).  He had 22 solo tackles and 36 total tackles on the year, along with two QB hurries, two fumbles forced and a blocked kick. 

Monnier was just named the Flyer football MVP on Sunday.  The only member of the defense to start every game, the Chicago Marist High grad led the team in tackles (92), solo hits (46) and tackles in the backfield (12.0).  He was also tied for second in interceptions (2), batted away another pass and had a quarterback hurry.  He reached double figures in tackles four times in 2012, including 12 against FCS playoff team Illinois State and 10 in the win over PFL co-champion Drake.

A three-year starter, Petraiuolo was the anchor of the offensive line that was the biggest reason the Flyers led the PFL in rushing.  Despite starting three different running backs during the season, UD averaged 198.7 yards a game.  Dayton also averaged 5.0 yards a carry as a team and had six different ball carriers gain at least 100 yards in 2012.

Off the field, the pre-med major was a national semifinalist for the National Football Foundation’s Campbell Trophy, which is sometimes known as the Academic Heisman.  He was the fifth Flyer named a semifinalist in the last six years.  Petraiuolo is from Highland Heights, Ohio and is a graduate of Mayfield High School.

Redshirt senior running back Dan Jacob (Sidney, Ohio) and senior cornerback Kyle Sebetic (Pleasant Prairie, Wisc. were named Second Team All-PFL.  Redshirt senior offensive guard Owen Elger (Springboro, Ohio) was named Honorable Mention All-PFL.

Dayton finished 6-5 overall and 5-3 in the Pioneer Football League this season.  After a slow start, the Flyers won five of their last six to secure their 35th winning season in the last 36 years.