Football Preview: Flyers Ready To Bounce-Back After Recent Losses
Atticus Hughes
Contributing Writer
The Dayton Flyers are looking to bounce-back this week after a heartbreaking two-point loss to Pioneer Football League opponent San Diego by a score of 36-34, bringing them to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in PFL play.
The Flyers matchup this week against another PFL opponent in the Drake Bulldogs who sit at (3-2) overall and (2-1) in the PFL.
After last week’s stellar offensive performance by redshirt freshman Jack Cook, which earned him STATS FCS Freshman of the Week honors, the Flyers will be looking to him for production as they face the PFL’s best defense in the Drake Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs come into this matchup allowing only 19 points and 278 yards of offense per game, both of which are league bests.
The Flyer offense is no slouch though, they come into this week’s averaging 448 yards of offense, and 34 points per contest, both of which are among league leaders, and with a back field consisting of Jack Cook, Tucker Yinger, and Richie Warfield, stopping them is easier said than done.
The focal point for the Flyers defense this week will be attempting to slow down the Bulldogs passing game, which is responsible for an average of 293 yards per game.
Senior linebacker Matt Rightnour looks forward to this defensive challenge saying “We need to be prepared for an all-around good offense, we’ve got to really be on our keys, and able to read everything this week.”
With the Flyers sitting at (2-2) in the PFL, preseason hopes of a conference championship seem to be fleeting. However, Head Coach Rick Chamberlain has an optimistic outlook, “Every week you have to be ready” Chamberlain said, “You never know what’s going to transpire over the next three weeks in the PFL, so you have to stay ready and keep fighting.”
The Flyers look forward to keeping the fight alive, and a win over the Drake Bulldogs will help facilitate just that.
Be sure to head down to Welcome Stadium this Saturday at 1 PM to support your Dayton Flyers as they look to keep the fight alive against the Drake Bulldogs.
Photo courtesy of Griffin Quinn.