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INDIANAPOLIS -- A balanced offensive attack and a defense that allowed just 85 yards in the second half (and 281 yards in the game) were the recipe for the University of Dayton's 21-14 win at the Butler Bowl Saturday in Indianapolis.

Connor Kacsor gained 125 yards on 27 attempts to lead the ground game, while quarterback Will Bardo completed 22 of 37 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns.  Bardo also scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak.  Cory .Stuart and Ross Smith were Bardo's favorite targets.  Both caught seven passes, including a TD.  Stuart had 91 yards receiving, and Smith had 90.  Smith has now caught at least one pass in 30 straight games.

The Dayton defense was led by safety Zach Elias, who had seven tackles, two passes broken up and an interception.  Christopher Beaschler led the Flyers with eight tackles.  He also had 1.5 tackles for a loss, and teamed with Devon Morgan for the sack that essentially ended the game.

UD opened the scoring with Stuart's TD catch, and then Elias' interception set up a short drive that ended with a one-yard QB sneak by Bardo to put the Flyers up 14-0.  Butler scored its two touchdowns (and gained almost half of its yardage for the day) on back-to-back possessions at the end of the first quarter and the end of the second. 

From there, the Dayton defense held the Bulldogs to just five first downs in its remaining 11 series.  The rest of the game, Butler would run two plays – both punts—from Dayton territory.

At the beginning of the second half, UD gained field position while trading punts with Butler, setting up a three-play, 56-yard drive that proved to be the winning score.  Bardo hit Smith in the right corner of the end zone from 28 yards out.

The Flyers will end the season on Senior Day next Saturday, Nov. 22 at home against Campbell.  Game time is 1:00 p.m. ET.