ST. LOUIS - The University of Dayton football team was picked to finish second in the Pioneer Football League for the 2019 season in a preseason vote of the league's coaches.  Dayton has 12 league championships to its credit in the PFL's 26 seasons. 

Dayton, Drake and preseason favorite San Diego were ahead of the rest of the league in the balloting.  USD was picked as the favorite to win the 2019 PFL crown with 79 voting points and seven first-place votes.

UD was next with 65 points, including two first-place votes.  This is the sixth consecutive year that San Diego and Dayton have been picked 1-2 in the preseason poll.  The two teams will meet this year in Dayton on Oct. 26.

Drake was right behind in third with 64 points and the remaining first-place vote.  A tight grouping of Marist (52), Davidson (48) and Stetson (44) trailed the top three.  Butler (37), Jacksonville (30), Morehead State (15) and Valparaiso (15) rounded out the league.

Dayton was 6-5 a year ago, and 5-3 in the Pioneer Football league.  Three of UD's five losses in 2018 were to teams that reached the FCS playoffs.  Dayton returns 13 starters – seven from the offense, and six from the defensive side of the ball.   

Three of those returning starters – offensive guard Michael Niese, Flyer Andrew Lutgens and tight end Adam Trautman – were named Preseason First Team All-PFL on Monday.  Lutgens and Trautman are UD's captains this season.

The Flyers open the season at Indiana State on Saturday, Sept. 7.  Dayton's home opener is Saturday, Sept. 21 against Duquesne.  For ticket information, please visit DaytonFlyers.com.