Box Score /// Final Stats (PDF)

Des Moines -- Despite six sacks by senior defensive end Pat Dowd, the University of Dayton football team fell at Drake 36-10 in Des Moines on Drake's Senior Day. UD, playing without starting running back Connor Kacsor and starting quarterback Will Bardo, committed six turnovers on the day.

Dayton took the opening kickoff and needed just two plays to score. Gary Hunter hauled in a pass from Luke Johnson and out-ran the Drake defense for a 64-yard TD. After an exchange of punts, Drake scored when quarterback Andy Rice scored on a one-yard plunge. But Bulldog kicker Spencer Lee missed the PAT and Dayton held a 7-6 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, UD upped its lead to 10-6 after a William Will 28-yard field goal. With 6:47 left in the half. Three minutes later, Johnson was sacked and fumbled, giving Drake the ball on the Dayton 16. Six plays later, Rice scored on his second one-yard dive to give Drake its first lead and send the teams to the locker room with the score Drake 13, Dayton 10.

The 'Dogs got the ball to start the second half and increased their lead to 16-10 when Cam Bohnert kicked a 38-yard field goal. Over the next seven minutes, the two defenses combined to allow just 45 yards between them. But then Dayton had a nightmarish final four-and-a-half minutes of the third quarter.

Kyle Pignatiello's punt pinned Drake on its own eight-yard line when the Drake offense came right to the line and quick-snapped the ball. Rice's swing pass to the left flat turned into a 92-yard TD. Dayton got the ball back and moved it into Drake territory. The Flyers tried a fake punt on fourth-and-eight at the Drake 37 but were stopped. Two plays later, Rice capitalized on a short-yardage situation to hit Grahm Butler on a 55-yard play action pass for another score.

Dayton had to punt from deep in its own territory on the next possession. A bad snap forced Pignatiello to run away from the pressure, and as he tried to punt he was tackled and fumbled. Drake's Caz Zyks picked up the ball at the one and walked in for the Bulldogs' third TD of the quarter.

That put Drake ahead 36-10 and ended the scoring for the day.

Robert Washington carried the ball 14 times for 72 yards for UD, but sacks and other lost yardage held the Flyers to a season-low 42 yards net rushing. Johnson was 18 of 37 for 214 yards in his first career start, with one touchdown and two interceptions. Ross Smith led UD with seven catches for 56 yards. Hunter (85 yards), Colin McManamon (26) and Cory Stuart (23) each had three receptions.

Dowd and linebacker Christopher Beaschler led Dayton with nine tackles. Dowd's six sacks were included in a total of eight solo hits.

For Drake, Rice was 19 of 30 for 351 yards. His favorite target was Rosa, who hauled in nine passes for 185 yards. Running back Conley Wilkins gained 107 yards rushing in 18 attempts.

The Flyers, 6-4 and 4-3 in the Pioneer Football League, will finish out the year next week at Valparaiso. Drake, who has now won three straight, is 6-4 and 5-2 in the PFL.