University of Dayton Athletics

RICHMOND, Ky. – The University of Dayton football went on the road for the first time this season at Eastern Kentucky Saturday night and battled to the very last second as UD earned a 17-14 victory.
 
The Flyers (3-0) remain undefeated on the season while the Colonels (1-3) drop their third contest.
 
GAME RECAP
1^st Quarter – Dayton 0, EKU 0

• After being forced to punt on their opening possession, the Flyers' defense stepped up and forced a fumble from the Colonels, which was recovered by sophomore linebacker David Curl III. That gave Dayton a short field on its second drive of the game.
• A penalty then put the Flyers on the EKU side of the field, but they weren't able to move it any further and were forced to punt once again.
• On their ensuing drive, the Colonels were able to earn a couple of first downs on the ground and moved into the redzone as the clock ticked under six to go in the opening quarter. The drive finished with a missed field goal by EKU as the score held at 0-0.

 
2^nd Quarter – Dayton 7, EKU 0

• Dayton started the second quarter at the EKU 48-yard line. The Flyers marched the ball down for a 43-yard field goal attempt, but it went wide right with neither team able to get on the board.
• Both teams traded punts back and forth over the next eight minutes with neither team able to put a string of positive plays together.
• As the clock ticked under five to go in the half, Dayton went for it at the EKU 18-yard line on a 4^th-and-1 and were stopped just shy of the first down marker.
• Now it was the Colonels turn to push the ball into Flyer territory heading into the 2:00 warning. They also went for it on 4^th-and-1 at their 30-yard line and were stuffed  by the big boys in the middle for Dayton and stopped the hosts from scoring right before half.
• With very little time, the Flyers needed to work fast and a pair of penalties and a 28-yard rush by senior Luke Hansen gave UD an opportunity once again.
• Senior quarterback Bryce Schondelmyer found senior fullback Donovan Weatherly for a 13-yard gain, putting the ball at the six-yard line with :15 in the half.
• Schondelmyer then threw a dart to the front corner of the endzone for senior Michael Mussari to haul in for the touchdown.
• EKU had eight penalties in the first half alone while Dayton had five. Three of UD's 11 first downs came via those penalties as well.

 
3^rd Quarter – Dayton 14, EKU 0

• The Colonels got the ball first to start the second half and took no time moving the ball down the field thanks to the legs of their fourth-string quarterback. EKU was able to get into the redzone for the first time of the game around the 11:00 mark in the quarter.
• Dayton's defense stepped up once again though and held EKU to a field goal attempt, which the Colonels missed and gave possession back to the Flyers.
• UD was held to another punt, the Flyers' first since the second drive of the game with 9:44 to go in the first.
• On the next EKU drive, Dayton had back-to-back sacks from junior defensive linemen Vito Paonessa and Zane Plattner, forcing another punt.
• UD took over with 4:57 to go in the third and Schondelmyer quickly found Mussari streaking down the left sideline for a 36-yard gain, putting the Flyers at the one-yard line.
• It was then senior running back Luke Hansen's turn for a one-yard rushing touchdown to make it 14-0 in favor of the visitors.
• That sparked something in the Colonel offense however as they marched down the field the next drive with a combination of short passes in the middle and quarterback runs. A pair of face mask penalties helped the hosts out even further as the quarter came to a close.

 
4^th Quarter – Dayton 17, EKU 14

• With the ball at the Dayton two-yard line to start the fourth, EKU setup in a wildcat formation and ran it in for the Colonels' first score of the contest. UD still led 14-7.
• The Flyers returned to the ground game to try to eat up as much of the clock as possible on the following drive. That led to another huge run by Hansen for 50 yards down to the EKU seven-yard line, putting Hansen over 100 on the day.
• UD was held to a field goal, but fifth-year David Maurer drilled the kick to make it 17-7 with just over 11:00 left in the game.
• EKU answered right back however with a 40-yard passing touchdown to cut the margin to just a field goal, 17-14.
• The Flyers' stalled to start the next drive, but Schondelmyer hit Mussari for this seventh catch of the day on third and long, and was hit late on the play to move the ball 34 yards down the field.
• UD burned the clock down to under five minutes before the Flyers had to go for it on fourth down and were stopped. That gave EKU 4:52 and the ball at its own 31-yard line.
• This time it was junior safety Parker Chaney that forced a turnover after hitting the EKU quarterback's arm as he threw and Dayton recovered it via junior defensive end Jace Schaefer.
• The Flyers were unable to capitalize though and turned it over on downs giving the Colonels one last shot and 2:32 on the clock.
• EKU moved methodically down the field, but it was UD penalties that kept the Colonels in the game. Eventually, the Colonels set up for the tying field goal with nine seconds left, but they missed it as the Flyers held on for the win.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
110 – Luke Hansen became the first Flyer this season to rush for over 100 yards in the contest, finishing with 110 yards on 14 carries.
5 – Gavin Lochow had five catches in the contest and is now four away from setting the career receptions mark in Dayton history.
7 for 87 – Michael Mussari led the way for UD with seven catches for 87 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. He added 29 yards after the catch as well.
429 to 302 – EKU outgained UD 429 yards of offense to 302 yards, but the Flyers controlled time of possession.
11 for 131 – The Colonels committed 11 penalties for 131 yards and four first downs.
8 – Steven McCalmont had a team-high eight tackles in the game.
 
UP NEXT
The Flyers will head into their second bye week of the season before going back out on the road to take on Drake Saturday, Oct. 3 to kickoff Pioneer Football League play.
 
FOLLOW #UDFB ON SOCIAL
Follow Dayton Football on X @DaytonFootball; on Instagram at DaytonFlyers; and Facebook at Dayton Flyers Football.