Sept. 1, 2007
Final Stats
All the pre-season attention was focused on the University of Dayton's new-look shotgun offense, but it was special teams and big plays on defense that keyed the Flyers' 23-12 season-opening win at Robert Morris Saturday.
Sophomore Matt Swartz converted all of his kicks (three field goals and two PAT's) while his Robert Morris counterpart missed all three of his (one field goal and two PAT's). Swartz's kicked field goals all came in the second quarter (including a career-long 40-yarder), giving Dayton a ten-point halftime lead. The three missed RMU kicks prevented the Colonials from taking a 17-16 lead early in the fourth quarter. Swartz also punted eight times for 37.9 yards, dropping three inside the 20 and only allowing two to be returned for a 2.5 yards per return average.
The UD defense came up with three turnovers and five sacks in the game. The biggest turnover was Scott Horcher's interception that the sophomore cornerback returned 27 yards for the final score of the game. He also co-led Dayton in tackles (9, shared with linebacker Drew Fumagalli), led in solo hits (6) and led in pass deflections (3). Junior defensive tackle Kalen Hemmelgarn had both fumble recoveries. Redshirt freshman Bobby Burger had two sacks in his first college game. Sean Heenan, Scott Vossler and Jon Andryc also had sacks.
Linebacker Brian Kelly contributed eight tackles, while Vossler and Steve McDonald each added seven. Vossler forced two fumbles and McDonald had two hits in the backfield. Fumagalli also created a fumble.
The Flyers never trailed in the game, scoring first when Kevin Hoyng capped their longest drive of the day (7 plays, 74 yards) with a one-yard plunge. Robert Morris answered with a 62-yard Eric Cwalinski-to-Mario Hines catch-and-run, making the score 7-6 after one quarter. After Swartz's three field goals and a scoreless third quarter, the Colonials made it 16-12 following a 15-play, 88-yard drive with Rion Listhrop running it in from the two.
Robert Morris forced Dayton to punt after having the ball for just five plays, but on the first play of the RMU possession, Horcher stepped in front of a Cwalinski out pass and took it 27 yards back for the game's final score. UD allowed just ten yards in two possessions after that to take home the win.
RMU returned six starters from the #1-ranked defense (total defense) in the FCS sub-division last year, but the Flyers outgained the Colonials 285 to 280. On the ground, UD had 165 net yards, led by quarterback Kevin Hoyng, who gained 73 yards on 15 carries. Fullbacks Matt Marshall and Ben Shappie both gained more yards in a game than they did last year. Marshall had nine carries for 50 yards, and Shappie had nine for 45. Robert Morris was held to 44 yards as a team.
Hoyng completed 14 of 36 passes for 120 yards. J Michael Jonard had a career-high seven receptions for 41 yards, and tight end Matt Champa had five catches for 76 yards.
Dayton will host Urbana at Welcome Stadium on Saturday, September 8 in the Flyers' home opener. Game time is 1:00 p.m. ET.
