University of Dayton Athletics

DES MOINES, Iowa – The University of Dayton football team opened up Pioneer Football League play at Drake University Saturday afternoon and dropped their first contest of the season in Iowa.
 
The Flyers (3-1, 0-1 PFL) will look to earn their first league win while the Bulldogs (2-3, 2-0 PFL) already have a pair through two PFL games.
 
GAME RECAP
1^st Quarter – Dayton 0, Drake 7

• Dayton got off to a slow start offensively, but a holding penalty on a big third down and long gave the Flyers life on their opening drive. UD went for it on 4^th-and-4 at the Drake 23-yard line, but an offensive pass interference negated a big conversion.
• Quarterback Bryce Schondelmyer was then forced to pooch punt it inside the 20-yard line for the Bulldogs' first possession.
• The hosts were able to strike first with a 51-yard touchdown pass at the 6:55 mark to make it 7-0. It was the first time Dayton has trailed all season.
• When Drake got the ball back, the Bulldogs converted a big fourth down conversion before a fumble on the exchange the following play was recovered by junior Zane Plattner to give Dayton possession once again and stopping the Drake drive.
• Schondelmyer found a streaking Luke Hansen down the sideline on third down to put the Flyers into the Bulldogs' side of the field with just over a minute to go in the quarter. The two connected again for an 18-yard play to put UD at the three to end the quarter.

 
2^nd Quarter – Dayton 7, Drake 16

• Dayton only needed three yards to score, but were stuffed at the goal line to remain scoreless.
• Drake came alive and quickly marched down the field to add to its lead. The extra point was no good, but the Bulldogs led 13-0 with 9:13 to go in the half.
• The Flyers were forced to punt on the next drive and a career-long 70-yard punt by senior Ben Lavelle pinned the Bulldogs at the three-yard line.
• Sophomore linebacker David Curl III then picked off the next pass and took it to the house for Dayton's first score of the game.
• Drake was held to a 34-yard field goal to extend its lead to 16-7 at the 4:20 mark in the second.
• The Flyers were moving the ball down the field once again on the ensuing drive, going into the Bulldogs' side of the field as we hit the two-minute warning. UD pushed the tempo as time was running out and a costly interception in the red zone ended the Flyers' hopes.

 
3^rd Quarter – Dayton 14, Drake 23

• The Bulldogs got the ball to start the second half, but were not able to capitalize and punted away to the Flyers.
• On the next drive, it was the officials turn to earn their paycheck as the penalties started racking up for both teams, including the Drake sidelines.
• After another defensive stand by Dayton, the Flyers took over at the Drake 41-yard line and 7:29 on the clock. UD continued to move the chains and got inside the red zone once again.
• Gavin Lochow carried it in from two-yards out to give UD its second touchdown before David Maurer's extra point made it a two-point game at the 4:03 mark.
• Then it was Drake's turn to get the offense going as the Bulldogs marched down the field as well for an eight-yard passing touchdown to pull back ahead by more than a field goal.
• On the final play of the third quarter, Schondelmyer hit Lochow down the middle of the field for a 36-yard gain. Not only was it a Flyer first down, it was the 178^th reception in Lochow's career, tying Adam Trautman for the most in a career in program history.

 
4^th Quarter – Dayton 22, Drake 30

• Just a few plays later and Lochow caught his fourth pass of the game to set the new school record at 179 receptions.
• Dayton then threw a costly interception in the redzone to give Drake back the ball with a nine-point lead and 13:18 to play.
• The Bulldogs were able to score quickly, making it a 30-14 contest in their favor.
• Dayton looked for some big plays to try and fight its way back into the contest while Drake hoped to eat up the remaining clock.
• Schondelmyer hit senior Michael Mussari in the corner of the end zone with 2:40 on the clock to cut into the margin.
• In the end, the Flyers just ran out of time despite making the comeback.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
188+ - The Flyers played over 188 minutes into the season before they trailed an opponent.
70 – Ben Lavelle not only entered the game as the nation's leading punter, but he set a new career long with a 70-yarder in the second quarter.
179 – Gavin Lochow became Dayton's all-time receptions leader in the game with five catches for 57 yards.
13 for 121 – Drake committed 13 penalties for 121 yards.
8 for 70 – Michael Mussari led the Flyers with 70 yards and eight catches on 14 targets.
47 – Bryce Schondelmyer threw a career-high 47 passing attempts.
 
UP NEXT
The Flyers will return home to host Morehead State next Saturday, Oct. 10 at 12 p.m. at Welcome Stadium.
 
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