CHARLESTON, Ill. – The University of Dayton football team opened up the 2025 season Saturday with a hard-fought 24-14 loss at Eastern Illinois Thursday night.

Dayton (0-1) had some positive play to build on while Eastern Illinois (1-0) starts off its season with a home victory.

GAME RECAP
1^st Quarter – Dayton 7, Eastern Illinois 0

• The Flyers held the Panthers for a three and out on the first drive.
• Dayton struck first with a 48-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Schondelmyer to Gavin Lochow at the 9:55 mark to take a 7-0 lead. The drive was six plays for 70 yards over 3:02.
• At the 2:22 mark, Luke Mitchell recovered a fumble by the EIU running back.
• On the next play, Schondelmyer hit Lochow once again for a 48-yard gain and putting the Flyers in the red zone.
• Dayton had a chance to add to its lead with a field goal attempt in the final minute, but the kick went wide left.

2^nd Quarter – Dayton 7, Eastern Illinois 3

• The Flyers were forced to punt on their first drive of the second quarter as the Panther defense started to settle into the game.
• Eastern Illinois was looking to put a drive together and was able to pick away a few yards at a time as the clock ticked under 8:00 on the clock.
• A big roughing the passer penalty gave the host Panthers a first down in the red zone, continuing the drive.
• Dayton's defense stepped up though and held EIU to just a field goal.
• Unfortunately, the Flyer offense continued to run into the stout Panther defense with another three and out.
• UD was able to hold off the EIU rally and took the lead into the locker room at the half.

3^rd Quarter – Dayton 7, Eastern Illinois 10

• After winning the toss and deferring to the second half, Dayton got the ball first in the third quarter. The Flyers were unable to take advantage though and punted it away, downing the Panthers inside their own 10 at the seven-yard line.
• Eastern Illinois answered by marching down the field and capping off a 92-yard drive with an 11-yard rushing touchdown, taking a 10-7 lead with just over six minutes to go in the quarter.
• The Panthers looked to add to their lead, but an interception by Tehron Spencer Jr. gave Dayton the ball back at the EIU 43-yard line and 2:22 on the clock. On the next play however, a Flyer fumble gave the ball right back.

4^th Quarter – Dayton 14, Eastern Illinois 24

• Eastern Illinois started the quarter with the ball inside the Dayton territory and a big run put them at the 10-yard line. Once again, the Flyers were able to get the ball back by forcing a fumble.
• The Panthers had the ball two drives later and hit a deep pass to put the ball at the one-yard line with 10:26 on the clock. They punched it in on the next play and took a 17-7 lead.
• The Flyers answered right back on their second play with a 67-yard receiving touchdown by Michael Mussari on the pass from Schondelmyer. It pulled the visitors back within a field goal, 17-4.
• Eastern Illinois proceeded to run the ball in an attempt to eat up the clock as it ticked under four minutes. The Panthers managed to punch it in with 2:15 to go and extended their lead to 10. The scoring drive ate up 7:16 on 13 plays for 75 yards.
• In the end, the Flyers just ran out of time as they suffered their first loss of the season.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
124 - Gavin Lochow had five catches for 120 yards and a touchdown in the first half. He finished with 124 in the contest.
101 – Michael Mussari had a stellar debut with 101 yards on six catches and a touchdown.
299 – Logan Forcum had 299 yards on seven punts for a 42.7 average.
10 – Sam Mitchell led the Flyers with 10 tackles.
17-31-0 – Bryce Schondelmyer made his collegiate debut with 261 yards on 17-of-31 passing and two touchdowns with no interceptions.
206 – EIU quarterback Cole LaCrue set a program record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a game.
 
UP NEXT
The Flyers will return home to host Thomas More Saturday, Sept. 6 at 12 p.m. at Welcome Stadium.

FOLLOW #UDFB ON SOCIAL
Follow Dayton Football on X @DaytonFootball; on Instagram at DaytonFlyers; and Facebook at Dayton Flyers Football.