Oct. 3, 2009

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MOREHEAD, Ky. -- The University of Dayton football team scored 30 unanswered points to beat Morehead State 30-15 in the Flyers' Pioneer Football League opener on Saturday.

MSU needed just five plays to score on the first drive of the game, but the Eagle offense did not find the end zone again. Morehead starting quarterback Jared Phillips ran 27 yards to put the Eagles up 7-0. It was the third straight game the Flyers found themselves behind 7-0 after their opponents' first series.

Dayton came back on its first possession to get on the board. Ben Welch returned the kickoff 33 yards to put the ball in Eagle territory, and UD needed just seven plays to go 47 yards, with Andrew Zapinski taking the ball in from the one. A missed PAT made it Morehead 7, Dayton 6 less than six minutes in the game.

On the Flyers' next possession, Nate Miller's first career field goal on his first career placekicking opportunity gave UD the lead for good and give UD a 9-7 lead after one quarter.

A pair of TD's on Dayton's first two possessions of the second quarter put the Flyers in control. Steve Valentino threw an eight-yard TD pass for the first score, and Brian Mack scored on a one-yard run to give the Flyers a 23-7 halftime lead.

Dayton got the ball to start the second half and on the second play of the third quarter, Valentino hit Justin Watkins down the left sideline, and 66 yards, a quick move and a great downfield block by JMichael Jonard later, UD had a 30-7 lead.

The rest of the second half belonged to the Dayton defense, who held Morehead State offense to just 38 yards in the final 30 minutes of the game. The Eagles closed the scoring with 1:16 left in the fourth period when defensive back J.D. Cecil returned a fumble 90 yards for a touchdown.

The Dayton defense allowed 83 yards in the first quarter, 38 in the second, 27 in the third and 11 in the fourth for a total of 159. MSU was held to a season-low eight first downs.

James Vercammen led UD in tackles for the fourth straight game. He was credited with nine hits (seven solo) and two in the backfield. Welsh and Kevin Burns each added five hits, with Burns also breaking up a pass. Scott Horcher had two tackles, a fumble forced and recovered the same fumble, and batted down a pass.

Valentino was 13-for-19 with 237 yards. Four of the five players who caught passes pulled in three apiece. Watkins led with 86 yards. Bellman had 54. Nick Collins gained 52 yards and Jonard added 33. Valentino ran for 21 of UD's 38 yards rushing to lead the Flyers in that department.

In addition to going three-for-three in PAT's and kicking his first career field goal, Nate Miller also punted five times for a 40.6 yard average with three of the punts being downed inside the 20.

Dayton stays on the road next Saturday, making a first-ever visit to Campbell in Buies Creek, North Carolina. Campbell joined the PFL in 2008.