Story by
Dayton Daily News, Ohio
Dayton football: Flyers 3-0 for the first time in 11 years
- Story byDayton Daily News, Ohio
- Dayton football: Flyers 3-0 for the first time in 11 years
Eastern Kentucky missed a 22-yard field goal as time expired, allowing the Dayton Flyers to hang on for a 17-14 victory on Saturday, Sept. 19, in Richmond, Ky.
Dayton won its first road game after opening the season with victories at Welcome Stadium against Division II opponents, Fairmont State and Thomas More.
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Dayton improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2015 when it started 10-0 before losing its final two. That was the last season it won the Pioneer Football League championship.
Eastern Kentucky fell to 1-3. This was the first meeting between the programs since 1978.
Dayton took a 7-0 lead in the second quarter on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Bryce Schondelmyer to Michael Mussari. Schondelmyer completed 18 of 30 passes for 146 yards. Mussari caught seven passes for 87 yards.
With 3 minutes, 5 seconds left in the third quarter, Luke Hansen scored on a 1-yard run to give Dayton a 14-0 lead. Hansen led the Flyers with 110 yards on 14 carries.
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Eastern Kentucky scored a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, but Dayton answered on its next drive with a 23-yard field goal by David Maurer, extending the lead to 17-7. A 50-yard run by Hansen set up the field goal.
With 8:18 to play, Jordyn Potts threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to Caeleb Schlachter, trimming Dayton's lead to 17-14.
In the final minutes, Dayton twice turned the ball over on downs. Eastern Kentucky stopped Dayton on 4th-and-1 from the Eastern Kentucky 30-yard line with 4:52 to play and then on 4th-and-2 at the Eastern Kentucky 23 with 2:32 to play.
In between those stops, Eastern Kentucky lost a fumble. Dayton's Parker Chaney sacked Potts, whose fumble was recovered by Jace Schaefer.
On its final drive, Eastern Kentucky had a first down at the Dayton 5. Potts threw three incomplete passes before the missed field goal by Buzz Flabiano.
