Box Score DAYTON ­– The University of Dayton football team beat Kentucky State in the Flyers' home opener. The UD offense exploded in the second half for 36 points.
Jake Chisholm scored three touchdowns on the day to lead Dayton to its second win in three tries this season.

1st Quarter – Dayton 7, Kentucky State 0

• The two teams exchanged punts before Kentucky State began moving the ball, until cornerback Michael Franks intercepted a pass that was deflected by linebacker Nathan Arthur.  Franks returned it 69 yards to the KSU 30.
• Seven plays later, Dante Casciola hit Jake Chisholm from five yards out with 3:26 left in the quarter to give Dayton a lead it would not relinquish.

2nd Quarter – Dayton 10, Kentucky State 3

• Two pass plays and 21 running plays highlighted a fast-moving second quarter.
• KSU took the ball at the end of the first quarter kept it for ten-and-a-half minutes, driving 48 yards in 15 plays.  Mason Molique put the Thorobreds on the board with a 44-yard field goal at the 7:59 mark.
• Dayton answered with a 13-play, 59-yards drive of its own that resulted in a 38-yard field goal by Sam Webster with 1:25 left in the half.

3rd Quarter – Dayton 32, Kentucky State 3

• The two teams exchanged three-and-outs before Dayton scored the next 15 points without Kentucky State running an offensive play.
• The Flyers ran three plays again on their next possession, but the third play this time was a 54-yard TD pass from Casciola to Chisholm.
• On the ensuing kickoff, the KSU returner fumbled the kick, recovered it but was tackled for a safety.
• Dayton took the free kick after the safety and drove 62 yards in 14 plays, with Chisholm scoring on a 10-yard cut-back run. The two-point conversion attempt was not successful.
• The Flyer defense forced another three-and-out, and Dayton went 70 yards on four plays.  Casciola hit H-Back Cade Beam for a 31-yard catch and run.
• UD outgained KSU 174 to 10 in the decisive third quarter, with the Thorobreds only running seven plays to the Flyers' 24.

4th Quarter – Dayton 46, Kentucky State 3

• All 82 yards gained by the Flyers in the fourth quarter came on the ground.
• The UD defense made a big stop on fourth-and one early in the period, setting up a short field.
• Dayton went 33 yards in eight plays with Tyler Stylski scoring on a three-yard run at the 9:02 mark.
• On the next Flyer possession, it took seven plays to go 55 yards for the final score when Logan Davis ran it in from 23 yards out.  
• The only play KSU ran in Dayton territory in the fourth quarter was its last one, a fourth-down incomplete pass from the Dayton 48.

BY THE NUMBERS

• UD scored in its 500th consecutive game.  The last team to shut out the Flyers was Marshall, 9-0, on Oct. 16, 1976.
• Dayton outgained Kentucky State 348 to 134.  Yards per play were 5.6 for the Flyers and 2.9 for the Thorobreds.
• Casciola was 11 of 18 passing for 182 yards and three scores.
• His 11 completions were to seven different receivers.
• Jake Chisholm (59 yards), Sam Bubonics (38 yards), Kyle Hazell (16 yards) and Jake Coleman (12) each caught two passes.
• Both of Chisholm's receptions went for touchdowns.
• With his rushing TD, it was Chisholm's fifth career game with at least three scores.
• The leading ground gainer for UD was the fourth tailback to carry the ball, Logan Davis.  Davis had five attempts for 47 yards, including the 23-yard TD that closed the scoring for Dayton.
• Cole Hildebrand led UD with eight tackles (four solo) in his first career start.  Ben Schmiesing and Ca'ron Coleman each added six.
• Nathan Arthur led UD in solo hits with five.  He also had two tackles in the backfield.
• Michael Franks (also in his first start) had the first-quarter interception and 69-yard return that set up Dayton's first touchdown.
• This was the first game of the season that Dayton did not have a turnover.  
• The Flyers were also 11-for-15 on third down.

UP NEXT

• Dayton has a week off, and then will open Pioneer Football League play on Oct. 1 when Drake visits Welcome Stadium.
• Game time for UD's PFL opener will be 1 p.m. ET.