DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF) — The University of Dayton football program celebrated Alumni Day in fashion with a roller-coaster 37-32 victory over the University of San Diego Saturday at Welcome Stadium.
Game Recap
1st Quarter- Dayton 7, San Diego 10
Dayton won the coin toss and deferred. San Diego opened the game with a 14-play drive that resulted in a field goal to give the Toreros the early lead.
After a Dayton punt, San Diego marched down the field, going 60 yards in 1:43, scoring a touchdown to push their lead to 10-0. Dayton responded quickly, as junior LeRoy Lewis IV took the ensuing kickoff 97 yards to the endzone.
Dayton’s defense settled in, forcing a three and out. The Flyers started at their own 15, and were moving down the field, ending up at San Diego’s 22-yard line as the first quarter came to an end.
San Diego outgained the Flyers in the opening quarter, generating 149 yards of total offense, compared to just 57 for UD.
2nd Quarter- Dayton 21, San Diego 10
Senior Gavin Lochow hauled in an 18-yard reception on the first play of the second quarter to set up a four yard rushing touchdown for senior Mason Hackett.
San Diego and Dayton traded three and outs, and a Dayton punt set San Diego up on their own 20-yard line. After getting into UD territory, the Toreros were lined up to go for it on fourth and short, but a false start forced them to punt.
The Flyers quickly moved the ball to midfield, before a San Diego sack and two incompletions led to a great punt, which pinned the Torero defense on their own five-yard line with four minutes to play in the first half.
Another defensive stand by the Flyers led to a San Diego punt, which was returned 48 yards by junior Paul Kelly to the San Diego ten yard-line. Senior Bryce Schondelmyer connected with Lochow on the next play for a ten yard touchdown pass.
San Diego then punted again, and the Flyers ran out the clock to end the half.
3rd Quarter- Dayton 31, San Diego 17
San Diego’s kickoff went out of bounds, giving Dayton the ball at the 35 yard-line. The offense came out hot, going 65 yards in only three plays, highlighted by a third down, 56 yard rushing touchdown by Lochow, his second score of the game.
San Diego scored a quick touchdown of their own with a 39 yard pitch and catch, cutting the Flyer lead back down to eleven.
The Flyers moved the ball down to the Torero’s 26, but a strip sack on fourth and four returned the ball to San Diego in their own territory.
After getting the ball back, Dayton put together an impressive 10 play, 66 yard drive that ended with a 34-yard field goal Graduate Student David Maurer to push the Flyer lead to 14.
4th Quarter-
After a scoreless Dayton drive, San Diego marched down the field, scoring on a one yard rushing touchdown to make it a one score game
On the ensuing kickoff, Dayton fumbled, giving the Toreros the ball deep in Flyer territory, threatening to tie the game.
The Dayton defense held San Diego to a field goal attempt, which was blocked by Senior Javawn Brooks, preserving a seven point advantage for the Flyers
Senior punter Ben Lavelle pinned San Diego deep with just under three minutes remaining with his second punt of the day inside the ten yard line.
San Diego marched down the field, punching in a five yard score. They opted to go for two to take the lead and were able to convert on a passing play, giving San Diego a one point edge with 1:32 left to play.
The Flyers marched down the field in just 32 seconds thanks to a 34 yard highlight reel catch by Senior Michael Mussari, which helped set up a Lochow 14-yard reception for the touchdown. The Flyers went for two and failed, giving them a five point edge with under a minute to play.
The defense held and junior Emmanuel Hardrick broke up a Hail Mary attempt, securing the Flyer’s win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
3 – Lochow had three touchdowns
270 – Yards of offense for the Flyers in the second half
12 – Total tackles for Junior Ross Coppock, tying his season high
26, 259, and 2 – Bryce Schondelmyer completed 26 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns, his second most completions and yards in a game this year.
102 – all purpose yards on fifteen touches for Mason Hackett, including one rushing touchdown
UP NEXT
The Flyers will return to action next Saturday, Oct. 31 at Stetson in Florida.