DAYTON - The University of Dayton football team will return to action this Saturday, Oct. 3 on the road at Drake University. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. ET at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

Dayton enters the week as one of 11 unbeaten teams in FCS, sitting at 3-0 on the year. The Flyers will look to keep that streak going, coming off their second bye week of the season last weekend. UD is 1-0 on the road as well.

As a team, the Flyers lead the nation in blocked kicks allowed, fumbles lost, net punting, and ranks second in red zone defense. Dayton is also top 10 in scoring defense, first downs defense, and third down defense. Overall, UD is scoring 30.0 points per game and holding opponents to just 13.7 points each outing. The Flyers are getting 204.0 yards on the ground and 181.0 yards per game through the air. 

Dayton returns most of its starters on offense including senior quarterback Bryce Schondelmyer, senior running backs Luke Hansen and Mason Hackett, and senior receivers Michael Mussari and Gavin Lochow. 

The defense has seen a healthy rotation of players and the depth has shown as UD is limiting opposing squads to under two scores a game. Transfer Ross Coppock, first-year starter David Curl III, and junior Steven McCalmont are all tied for the team lead with 16 tackles each. Curl has a team-high four tackles for loss as well. 

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
Drake is hoping to make it three Pioneer Football League titles in a row this season under a new staff. Off to an unsure start, the Bulldogs are looking to secure another win in their current 1-3 season, just recently breaking their three-game losing skid with a victory over Davidson last Saturday. 

Head coach Matt Walker is in his first season coaching at Drake, hired just last February. Walker is coming off of a Division III national championship in 2025, leading the University of Wisconsin River-Falls to a winning season of 14-1 for his 15th and final year with the Falcons. 

Through four games, the Bulldogs are giving up 43 points per game and scoring 28 points per game, on average. Drake boasts the No. 1 passing offense in the country at 368.8 yards per game. 

Also previously from the University of Wisconsin River-Falls, standout quarterback Riley Warzynski was recently named PFL Offensive Player of the Week. Warzynski had three touchdowns versus Davidson, helping Drake to its first victory of the season last week. 

SERIES HISTORY
Dayton and Drake are meeting for the 20th time in program history, with the Flyers leading the series 11-8. Even with a hard-fought touchdown in the final quarter, the Flyers lost the 2025 matchup 14-6 in Welcome Stadium. 

NEXT UP
Dayton will return home to host Morehead State on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 12 p.m. at Welcome Stadium. It will be the Mental Health Awareness Game and Hilinski's Hope.

LAST OUTING
• Dayton had its second bye-week of the season after an on-the-road win versus Eastern Kentucky 17-14 on Sept. 19. 
• Drake is coming off of an away victory on Sept. 26 versus Davidson. 

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