Oct. 13, 2007

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DAYTON, Ohio - The University of Dayton football team withstood the Davidson College attack as the Flyers held off the Wildcats 38-28 Saturday in a Pioneer Football League game played at Welcome Stadium. Dayton improves to 6-1 on the season (4-0 at home) and are tied for second place in the PFL. Davidson falls to 3-3 and 1-3 in the league.

Quarterback Kevin Hoyng nearly set one of the few school records he does not have, throwing for 408 yards. Hoyng's total trails only Kevin Johns' 414 against San Diego in 1996, and Rob Florian's 411 last year at Jacksonville. On the day, Hoyng completed 25 of 40 passes, and threw for four touchdowns.

Receiver Nick Ruhe caught nine balls (one off the UD single-game record) for 160 yards and a touchdown, while Jack O'Dell tied a Flyer record for TD catches in a game with three amongst his seven receptions and 84 yards.

Dayton remained unbeaten at Welcome Stadium and improved to 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the Pioneer Football League. The Flyer defense came through when needed recording, three interceptions, three sacks and a forced fumble.

Five different Flyers tallied double-digits in tackles with Corey Vossler leading the way with 13.

After fumbling the opening kickoff, the Flyers Joe Castaneda intercepted a pass at the UD 17 yard line to keep the Wildcats from scoring. On the ensuing drive, Dayton drove down to Davidson territory before fumbling the ball again, this time at the 37-yard line.

On the next Wildcat drive, Davidson missed a 52-yard field goal. That set up a quick three play, 66 yard drive that ended up with O'Dell scoring on a 46-yard pass from Hoyng.

Davidson would answer with a 15-play drive that took up more than six minutes and scored on a five-yard TD pass to tie the game at 7-7.

Both teams would trade unsuccessful drives including an interception by Corey Vossler before Davidson took the lead on a five-yard touchdown run to go up 14-7 with 6:08 remaining in the second quarter.

However, the Flyers would end the first half on a 14-0 run thanks to two six-yard touchdown receptions by O'Dell from Hoyng to go up 21-14 at the half. The second six yard O'Dell touchdown was set up by a Brandon Cramer interception with 1:02 left in the half.

But the Wildcats would tie the game again at 21-21 with a 14-play, 73-yard drive to open the second half. UD answered on the next possession when Ruhe caught a 13-yard strike from Hoyng to put Dayton ahead 28-21.

UD would extend their lead to ten with a 29 yard field goal by sophomore kicker Nick Glavin.

UD held a 31-21 lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter before Davidson scored on a two-yard run to cut the deficit to three. But Frank Kohstall recovered a fumble at the UD 42-yard line with 6:49 left in regulation. That set up a six-yard touchdown run by Matt Marshall to extend the lead to 38-28.

Davidson had one more chance before Castaneda broke up a fourth and 17 pass play to ice the game for the Flyers. The Wildcats drop to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the PFL.

Dayton will go on the road to battle the Valparaiso Crusaders on Saturday, Oct. 20 beginning at 2 p.m. ET.