Flyers Face Morehead on Senior Day

Shane Rabacs 
Contributing Writer

The Dayton Flyers take on the Morehead State Eagles Saturday, Nov. 10 at 1:00 pm. The game will be Senior Day, as the Flyers 28 seniors will be recognized at halftime during the game.

Dayton comes into this matchup at 4-5 overall with a 3-3 record in the Pioneer Football league. Morehead State is 3-6 and 2-4, respectively.

A win would ensure the Flyers at least a .500 record in the PFL, and a chance of a winning record overall in 2018, something they fell short of last year.

“Pride for the team and the program, all of those things come into play,” Matt Tunnacliffe, redshirt senior wide receiver and special teams captain said.

Morehead State comes into this game with an explosive offensive, something that the Flyers will have to slow down if they want to send their senior class out with a win.

“We have to control the ball, they’re averaging about 90 plays a game, and they put up a lot of points,” head coach Rick Chamberlin said. “They are a quick, fast offense.”

Dayton is currently coming off a bye week, and their last game was a 38-28 win against Butler on Oct. 27. On the other side of things, Morehead State lost 48-24 against Stetson last week.

At halftime the Lt. Andy Zulli Trophy, a character-driven award, will be presented to one senior.

“We as a coaching staff say it’s our biggest award,” Chamberlin said. “It’s not just the best football player, it’s the best person on this football team. The guy that really lives and dies UD football, both on the field on off the field.”

Tunnacliffe, last years winner, added how much the award means to the winner.

“It was a great honor then, [it was] surprising. I think there was a lot of deserving guys,” Tunnacliffe said. “It will be cool to see who wins it this year, it’s a special day.”

The coaching staff will have a tough time determining a winner according to Chamberlin.

“The problem is, you got so many young men that fits that mold, so it’s a hard choice each and every year,” Chamberlin said.

For Tunnacliffe, he is trying keep his focus on the game, not the fact that it is his last game at Welcome Stadium

“You always have lasts,” Tunnacliffe said. “It’s more important to focus on the week of practice and get a win, and then we can worry about all that stuff after.”