Sept. 17, 2008
Complete Game Notes in PDF Format
The University of Dayton Flyer football team puts its 2-0 mark and nine-game winning streak on the line Saturday when they take on the Robert Morris Colonials. The winning streak is the longest in FCS football, dating back to last year.
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 Dayton holds an 8-2 edge in the series with Robert Morris, and has won the last five meetings. UD won the last meeting, 23-12, at Joe Walton Stadium in the 2006 opener for both teams. The Flyer defense came up with three turnovers and five sacks. The biggest turnover was Scott Horcher's interception that the Dayton 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).
THE COLONIALS ARE... 1-1, with a 27-13 win over Morehead State and a closer-than-close 17-14 loss to Bucknell. RMU had the apparent winning TD called back because of a penalty just before the game-tying field goal was blocked with two seconds left. Senior quarterback Erik Cwalinski has 26 career starts to his credit, including a pair against UD in which he has completed 36 of 64 passes (.563) for 514 yards, three TD's and one interception. He has thrown for at least 200 yards in four straight games dating back to last year. This season he is 31 of 51 (.608) for 490 yards and two scores. Senior wideout Sherrod Evers has grabbed 17 of Cwalinski's 31 passes for 277 yards and both TD's. Sophomore halfback Myles Russ is averaging 112.5 yards a game on the ground. He had 132 yards in the Morehead win. Defensively, sophomore linebacker Alex DiMichele has 29 tackles in the two games, and is third in FCS football in hits per game. Junior DE Mark Szymanski is tied for third in FCS football with 2.50 tackles for a loss.
STREAKING In addition to FCS' longest active winning streak, UD has not been shut out in 355 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.
LEADER OF THE SACKS Dayton defensive end Scott Vossler is tied for first in FCS football in sacks per game (1.75). As a team, UD leads FCS football in sacks (5.0) and is second in tackles in the backfield (11.5).
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.
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 has just one career start to his credit (in which he threw for 411 yards). 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.
LET'S TALK DAYTON D Early in the 2008 season, the Flyers lead FCS football in sacks (5.0), are second in tackles for a loss (11.5), and are fourth in rushing defense (44.0). Dayton leads the PFL in all three categories. Last season, UD led FCS football 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 returns seven starters from last year (and that does not include All-American DT Kalen Hemmelgarn) and eight of its top ten tacklers. In addition, UD returns 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? Dayton leads FCS football in sacks (5.0) through games of September 13. UD had 48 sacks last season, after getting just 13 in all of 2006. 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 leads UD in tackles (19 and solo hits (11, tied with Scott Vossler). 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 the nation's leader in sacks (1.75). He 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). In addition to the sacks, he leads UD in solo hits (11), tackles in the backfield (4.5) and blocked kicks (3). He's even third in the PFL in touchdowns with two TD's in two games.
CAPTAIN ROB Offensive captain Rob Florian returns for his fifth year and steps 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. 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 (54.5 yards a game). He had 65 yards on 12 carries against Central State. 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 66 pass attempts vs. one sack every eight opponent attempts. Senior tackle Zach Whitten was the Offensive Player of the Week in the CSU 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 12 receptions this season (including nine vs. Fordham). Steve Valentino is second with nine catches (and a team-high two touchdowns) and Justin Watkins is third with four grabs. Valentino was UD's Offensive Player of the Week in the Fordham win.
JUSTIN TIME Wideout Justin Watkins is back eight months after suffering a knee injury in the PFL-title-clinching win at Drake. 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, and leads the Flyers in yards per catch again with an average of 18.5.
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.
STICKY FINGERS Sophomore cornerback Joe Castaneda and senior safety 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.
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 16 tackles, and has recovered two of UD's four fumbles forced. He was UD's Defensive Player of the Week in the Fordham win.
D LEADERS Steve McDonald leads the Dayton defense in total tackles (19) and solo hits (11, tied with Scott Vossler). Corey Vossler, Scott's brother, is second on the team in tackles (17) and third in solos (10). He is also team co-leader (Joe Castaneda) with two passes broken up. Joe Ries is third in tackles (16) and the team leader in fumbles recovered (2). Scott Vossler is team king in sacks (3.5), tackles in the backfield (4.5), and blocked kicks (3). Sean Heenan is second in sacks (2.5) and tackles behind the line (3.5). Brandon Wingeier also has 3.5 tackles for a loss, and leads in QB hurries (2).
McGLAVIN Junior Nick Glavin returns at kicker for the Flyers after converting 35 of 37 PAT's in 2007. He was also three-for-five in field goals. In the CSU win, he was four-for-four in PAT's and also split the uprights for a 28-yard field goal. For the year he is seven-for-seven in PAT's and one-for-two in field goals (make of 28, miss of 46).
TOPS IN I-AA NON-SCHOLARSHIP In the 15 years I-AA Non-Scholarship has been an option, UD has the best winning percentage (.798, 138-35) of the 20 schools playing at this level. Duquesne's .725 (116-44) is second, followed by Drake (.686, 109-54-1), San Diego (.627, 94-56) and Robert Morris (.605, 86-56-1)
PFL POWER The Flyers' 55-14 PFL record is the best in the history of the league. UD has won nine league championships in the 15 years the PFL has existed. Including ties, UD has nine titles, the rest of the league has ten.
PFL STATS Dayton leads the Pioneer Football League in rushing defense (14.0) and sacks (5.0). Nick Glavin leads the league in PATs (7-7). Scott Vossler leads in sacks (3.0). Joe Ries is co-leader in fumble recoveries (1.0).
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 45 of its last 54 home games (7-0 last season), 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.
GAME #1 - DAYTON 31, CENTRAL STATE 12 Dayton, OH - 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.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
DEFENSE--Joe Reis, 6-1, 210, Redshirt Sophomore Linebacker
OFFENSE--Steve Valentino, 5-10, 172, Redshirt Sophomore WR
SPECIAL TEAMS--Scott Vossler, 6-2, 237, Senior Defensive End
ST SCOUT--Sean Belanger, 6-2, 205, Freshman Linebacker
O SCOUT--Brian Cugliari, 6-0, 165, Freshman Wide Receiver
D SCOUT--Aaron Pugh, 6-1, 190, Freshman Safety
UP NEXT Dayton leaves Welcome Stadium for the first time in 2008, traveling to Pittsburgh to play Duquesne on Saturday, September 27. Game time is 1:00 p.m. UD is back home October 4 for the Pioneer Football League opener against Campbell.
