St. Louis – Two University of Dayton football players have been honored by the Pioneer Football League for their contributions to the Flyers' 31-14 win over Jacksonville.  Sophomore corner Christian Searles was named Co-Defensive Player of the Week and true freshman punter Sean Smith was named PFL Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season.

 Searles intercepted a pass in the end zone to keep Jacksonville off the board in the first half of Dayton's 31-14 PFL victory against Jacksonville.  It came inside the final minute of the first half and sent the Flyers to the locker room with a 24-0 Dayton halftime lead. It was the Chicago Mt. Carmel High School product's second straight game with an interception.

He led UD with five solo tackles, and was third with seven total hits.  He also returned four punts for a 10.5 yards per return average.  Searles is third on the team in tackles this season (39 total, 28 solo) and passes broken up (4), and is second in interceptions (3).  He is also second in the PFL in punt return average (11.5).

Searles was also College Sports Madness' PFL Defensive Player of the Week.  He shared the league honor with Morehead State linebacker Luke Keller.

Smith averaged 43.8 yards per punt on Saturday. Four of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line, and the fifth was on the 21-yard line.  Smith's two shortest punts (35 and 36 yards) were downed inside the 10-yard line.  Jacksonville's averaging starting position after Smith's punts was its own 16-yard line. .

The Dolphins managed just one yard on punt returns against him while the other four punts were downed.  They came into the game leading the PFL in punt return average.

Smith leads the PFL in yards per punt (42.1).  He also has the most punts inside the 20 (16, versus just three touchbacks).   Nationally, the Avondale, Pa. native is 21st in FCS punting average, and he is number one among true freshmen.

Dayton is 8-0 on the year and alone in first place in the PFL with a 5-0 record.   Two teams are a game back at 4-1 and the Flyers travel to one of them this week.  UD will take on Morehead State Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. (San Diego is the other 4-1 team.)

Dayton is one of three FCS teams who are still undefeated in 2015.