MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – The University of Dayton football team returned to action after the bye week by taking on Robert Morris University on the road Saturday in a thrilling 17-14 victory for the Flyers.

Dayton (2-1) earned its second win of the year while the Colonials (1-3) drop their third contest.

GAME RECAP
1^st Quarter – Dayton 0, Robert Morris 7

• Neither team was able to get off to a fast start offensively with punts on the opening few possessions.
• Dayton was able to move the sticks on its second drive including a pair of big catches by Mason Hackett and Michael Mussari, but was unable to get the ball in scoring position.
• Both teams relied on the running attack early so the clock kept running as it ticked under three minutes to play in the first.
• A big pass 31-yard pass play by the Colonials put them in the redzone and over two minutes to work with.
• Unfortunately a couple of costly penalties by the Flyers helped out the Colonials as they scored with a two-yard rush to take a 7-0 lead late in the first. The drive took nine plays, 66 yards, and 6:18.
• Yards were 76-51 in favor of Robert Morris.

2^nd Quarter – Dayton 7, Robert Morris 7

• UD punted the ball away to start the second, but the defense stepped up and forced a turnover on downs inside their own territory.
• The Flyers got the ball back at the 10:20 mark and started things off with a bang as Hackett broke off a 24-yard run to put Dayton on the RMU side of the field.
• Facing a fourth-and-two on the same possession, the other half of the running back duo Luke Hansen converted a tough run to give the Flyers a first down and kept the drive alive.
• UD continued to pound the ball inside and ate up the clock en route to seven-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Schondelmyer to Gavin Lochow. The score made it 7-7 with just under five to go in the half.
• The Colonial quarterback went down at the 2:50 mark and had to go to the back up for the final two-minute drive. The Dayton defense stepped up once again and forced a turnover on downs.

3^rd Quarter – Dayton 7, Robert Morris 14

• Robert Morris got the ball first to start the second half and leaned on its third-string quarterback on the opening drive.
• The hosts drove the ball down the field, mainly by running the quarterback option. It resulted in the second touchdown of the game for the Colonials and a 14-7 lead. The drive took nine plays, 66 yards, and 6:18.
• Dayton did not have much luck on its first drive and was forced to punt on its first possession.
• The Flyers were not able to add to its lead and headed into the fourth down a touchdown.

4^th Quarter – Dayton 17, Robert Morris 14

• The Flyers were on defense to start the fourth and held the Colonials once again.
• Once Dayton got the ball back, the Flyers made quick work and needed just 3:54 and eight plays to go 73 yards and punch it in with a 26 yard reception by Luke Hansen. It tied the game up at 14-14 with 12:35 to go in the quarter.
• UD stayed locked in defensively and forced yet another punt on the following drive.
• Ethan Thulin had a 45-yard reception from Schondelmyer with under seven to go in the game, putting Dayton in great field position. Michael Mussari followed that up with a 24-yard catch to put it at the six-yard line.
• That set up a 21-yard field goal that Robby Smart drove right down the middle to give Dayton its first lead of the game.
• The Dayton defense needed to get a stop to hold off the RMU comeback attempt and clinched the victory with stop on fourth and long.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
4 – Dayton had four penalties in the first half for 38 yards. The Flyers had only had five penalties total through the first two games of the season.
3:28 in 4^th  – Dayton didn't get its first lead of the game until Robby Smart's field goal with 3:28 left in the fourth quarter.  
97 – Mason Hackett led the Flyers with 97 yards on 18 rushing attempts and a 5.4 yards per carry average.
179.5 – Bryce Schondelmyer had a quarterback rating of 179.5 going 13-of-20 with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
9 – Mac Grant III earned his second straight start and led UD with nine tackles.
 
UP NEXT
The Flyers will return home to host Stetson Saturday, Sept. 27 at 12 p.m. It will be Family Weekend at Welcome Stadium as well.
 
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