Flyers to face stern road test at Morehead State
By: Daniel Massa – Sports Editor
The Dayton Flyers football team will seek to continue its undefeated season in Morehead, Kentucky, taking on the Morehead State Eagles Saturday at 1 p.m.
The Flyers (8-0, 5-0 PFL) are one of three Division I FCS teams still undefeated, along with Harvard and McNeese State.
Head coach Rick Chamberlin’s squad will face what looks to be its toughest road test so far this season.
Since winning their season opener on the road, 27-24 over Robert Morris, the Flyers have won their first two conference road games by a combined score of 71-28 over Stetson and Valparaiso, including a 44-14 decision over Valparaiso.
Morehead State is tied for second in the PFL standings with San Diego at 4-1, and boasts the PFL’s top offense during conference play, posting 32.6 points per game.
“The biggest difference in Morehead this year is—they’re going to put points up as they always have—their defense is playing much better,” Chamberlin told DaytonFlyers.com Wednesday. “That’s allowing them to really compete in each and every game.”
Dayton has led the way in the PFL standings for a majority of the conference season, and a win Saturday would put the Flyers in an envious spot with two conference games remaining.
“At the start of each season we put up our goals, and one of them is to go into the final game of the season with an opportunity to win the PFL,” Chamberlin said. “And we’re inching towards that, we’re in good position right now. But we’ve got a battle ahead of us here with Morehead.”
Redshirt first-year quarterback Alex Jeske has yet to lose a game as a Flyer and is coming off what might be his best performance of the season to date in Dayton’s 31-14 win over Jacksonville last weekend. Jeske completed 20 of 23 passes for 180 yards and added one passing and rushing touchdown each.
“The confidence is building,” Jeske said Wednesday. “The coaches do a great job believing in me and [along with] the other guys on offense, we’re really clicking as a unit.”
One thing the Flyers program has always been able to count on over the last few season has been its defense, and this year is no different.
Dayton’s defense hasn’t given up more than 27 points in a game all season and has given up more than 14 only once in its last five games.
“Each guy on our defense knows their role,” senior safety Danny Leach said. “Ultimately it just comes down to executing your game plan, and that’s what we’re doing out there. We’re consistent, and it shows.”