DAYTON - The Kirchdorf Wildcats, a German football team, have signed two Dayton Football players. Defensive End Pat Dowd and Safety Zach Elias have both agreed to play for the Wildcats next year in the German Football League 2.
 
Fifth year senior and co-captain Pat Dowd wrapped up his impressive football career this past fall. Dowd, an accounting major and finance minor, plans to leave on March 27^th to join the team in Germany.
 
Pat, who attended high school at Cleveland St. Ignatius, finished his UD football career with 96 total tackles and 22 sacks in 38 career games. Dowd's career included an FCS record tying performance in 2013 at Drake when he recorded 6 sacks in one game. Pat finished with First Team All Pioneer Football League honors twice as a Flyer. This year Dowd was voted on by his teammates to win the Emil Karas Memorial Award, which is given to the Flyer football player who was the most inspiring leader.
 
Joining Dowd in Kirchdorf is graduating senior safety Zach Elias. Elias, a Loveland, Ohio native, plans to leave for Germany in May after he graduates.
 
This fall Zach was voted in as First Team All Pioneer Football League. Elias, a finance major, finished his Flyer career with 138 tackles and 7 interceptions in 38 total games. This season Elias recovered 2 fumbles, forced 1 fumble, and was voted the Pioneer Football League Player of the Week during October.
 
Dowd and Elias are both very excited to be playing alongside each other in Germany. Zach and Pat have been close friends while at UD, and they were even roommates at one point. Both were happy to have a friendly face with them in Germany.
 
The two will join classmate and graduating senior Ross Smith in Europe who signed with a team in the same league this past year.
 
Zach Elias commented on what it meant to have Pat as a teammate in Kirchdorf.
 
"It was a dream come true for us to get signed by the same team."
 
When reflecting on their time at Dayton both players talked about the UD community and the family that they had with their teammates. Dowd and Elias both specifically mentioned the 2013 night game against San Diego as their most memorable moment with Dayton football.
 
Both players are very excited to play for Kirchdorf, especially due to the Wildcats' recent success.
 
Zach Elias put things in perspective by saying, "It's a once in a lifetime opportunity."
 
Dowd and Elias are very thankful for all the people who helped them get to this point. They both wanted to thank their families, coaches, friends, and anyone who sacrificed so they could reach their goals.
 
While both players wanted to thank their teammates, Pat Dowd explained just how important they are.
 
"They are the reason I love to play this sport and I would be nothing without them."
 
 
Written By Colin Riley '17