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DAYTON - The University of Dayton football team dropped a heartbreaker to the Drake Bulldogs 34-30 on Saturday afternoon at Welcome Stadium. The Flyers led for 57 minutes and 38 seconds in the game, but Drake answered with the final score on a 13-yard pass from quarterback Andy Rice to Michael Hudson. Dayton drops to 6-3 on the season and 4-2 in the Pioneer Football League. Drake improves to 6-4 overall with a 5-2 mark in the Pioneer Football League.

Connor Kacsor led the Flyers with 167 rushing yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns. It was the fifth time this season Kacsor eclipsed the 100 yard rushing mark in a single game. Quarterback Will Bardo, in his school-record 40th career start, garnered 227 all-purpose yards. Bardo completed 17-of-28 passes for 174 yards with one touchdown and one interception and added 53 rushing yards. Ross Smith led the Dayton receiving corps with five catches for 69 yards and one touchdown.

Dayton got off to a fast start after a 24-yard touchdown run by Bardo with 12:56 remaining in the first quarter. UD went up 14-0 after a 28- yard run by Kacsor with 14:51 left in the second quarter. However, on the very next play Rice found Andrew Yarwood for an 84 yard touchdown reception to cut the Flyers lead to 14-7.

Drake was knocking on the door of tying the contest with 7:00 minutes left in the half after a one-yard touchdown run by Conley Wilkins. On the attempted PAT, Dayton blocked the kick and it was returned 98 yards by Cameron Stubbs to put the Flyers up 16-13.
 
Kacsor ran for another touchdown as he received the sweep toss from Bardo and went in for the five yard score with 2:03 left in the half with Dayton leading 23-13. After a Kacsor fumble, Drake recovered with great field position on the Dayton 14 yard line with 1:09 left in the half. Drake capitalized on the UD miscue with a 10 yard touchdown pass from Rice to Hudson with 44 seconds remaining in the half as both teams would enter the locker room with Dayton leading 23-20.

Bardo found Smith for a 20 yard completion for a touchdown with 11:32 left in the third quarter as UD took a 30-20 advantage. Drake never let the game get out of reach as another Wilkins rushing touchdown from eight yards out pulled the Bulldogs within three, 30-27.

Drake had a golden opportunity to take the lead in the fourth quarter with 11:23 remaining as they were driving deep into UD territory. On a fourth-and-two on the Dayton two yard line trailing 30-27, Drake elected to go for it. However, Dayton came up with the huge defensive stop.

Dayton missed an opportunity to give themselves some breathing room with 3:03 remaining but Flyers' kicker, William Will, missed a field goal wide right setting up the Bulldogs' game-winning drive.

The Flyers will be back in action on the road next Saturday Nov. 15 as they take on the Butler Bulldogs. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET.