University of Dayton Athletics

DAYTON – The University of Dayton football team scored early in often en route to a season-opening victory over Fairmont State Saturday afternoon at Welcome Stadium.

The Flyers (1-0) start off on a positive note while the Fighting Falcons (0-1) drop their first game.  

GAME RECAP
1^st Quarter – Dayton 7, Fairmont St. 0

• Dayton got the ball first, but was unable to move the ball down the field into scoring position on the opening drive and was forced to punt it away.
• The Flyer defense answered on its first drive as well and held the Falcons to a punt as well.
• On the following possession, senior quarterback Bryce Schondelmyer found senior Michael Mussari at midfield for a completion to move the Flyers into FSU's side of the field.
• A few players later, Schondelmyer hit senior Donovan Weatherly in the back of the end zone for the opening touchdown of the game.

2^nd Quarter – Dayton 35, Fairmont St. 0

• Early in the second quarter, the Falcons looked to put a drive together themselves before an interception by senior linebacker Joe Kingsbury put the Flyers back in control with 14:11 on the clock in the second.
• Just three plays later, senior running back Luke Hansen caught a screen pass from Schondelmyer for a 33-yard rushing touchdown to put UD up two scores.
• Junior Javawn Brooks picked off another FSU pass on the next possession and took it all the way down to the five before Hansen punched it in from two-yards out for his second score of the game.
• After another Brooks interception, it was senior Mason Hackett's turn to run it in from 27-yards out for the fourth touchdown of the game with 8:43 on the clock.
• Dayton was not done though as Schondelmyer hit Weatherly for his second score of the game, making it 35-0.
• Junior Jace Schaefer was making his impact known defensively, earning the first sack of the season just before the two-minute warning.
• Dayton outgained Fairmont St. 298-97 in the first half.

3^rd Quarter – Dayton 41, Fairmont St. 7

• Fairmont St. came out of the locker room in the second half and scored on the opening possession with a two-play, 66-yard drive to put the visitors on the board.
• Dayton responded by marching all the way down the field on the pursuing drive and set up a 34-yard field goal by Maurer to make it 41-7 just under nine minutes to go in the third.
• With the score as it was at this point in the quarter, the Flyers began to give their second-string offense some quality game reps.
• The Falcons attempted to claw their way back into the contest, but another interception, this time by junior Parker Chaney, put the Flyers back in great field position.

4^th Quarter – Dayton 43, Fairmont St. 20

• UD looked to slow the game down by rushing the ball early in the fourth and eat up the clock.
• Fairmont St. managed to score on a rushing touchdown at the 8:10 mark, but the extra point was blocked by junior Vito Paonessa before being picked up and returned for two points by sophomore Pat McLaughlin. That made the score 43-13.
• The Falcons added a late score to give them 20 points, but it would not be enough as the Flyers held on for the win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
43 points – It was the most points by the Flyers in a season opener since 2018 when Dayton scored 49 points in the opener against Robert Morris.
2 – Luke Hansen rushed for two scores, Donovan Weatherly caught two more, and Javawn Brooks added two interceptions on defense for the Flyers.
10 – Dayton had 10 different rushers in the game while having nine different receivers.
1 and 1 – Joe Kingsbury added an interception of his own and recorded a highlight-reel sack for the UD defense.

UP NEXT
The Flyers will head into an early bye week to start September before returning to action at home again on Saturday, Sept. 12 at noon against Thomas More.   

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