By Quincy Burns

11/9/2024

Flyers Cannot Overcome Two Red Zone Fumbles In Loss

DAYTON – The University of Dayton football team lost to San Diego, 16-10, Saturday at Welcome Stadium.  Dayton out-gained USD by one yard (270-269) and had 18 first downs to San Diego’s 13, but UD lost the turnover battle 4-1 and fumbled the ball twice in the red zone.

Sophomore running back Luke Hansen led the Flyers in his return to the starting lineup with 121 yards in 23 attempts.

GAME RECAP
1st Quarter – San Diego 10, Dayton 0
•    San Diego drove 60 yards in 11 plays to set up the first score of the game, a 22-yard field goal by Aidan Lehman
•    Dayton moved the ball into USD territory but fumbled, and the Toreros needed six plays to go 56 yards, scoring on a Logan Gingg five-yard run.
•    First downs were 6-2 in favor of San Diego, and total yards were 118-57 USD.
2nd Quarter – San Diego 13, Dayton 0
•    The Flyers got the ball on their own 29 on the last play of the first quarter, and moved to a first-and-goal at the 10.  But a strip sack ended that drive.
•    Three possessions later, San Diego drove 74 yards on eight plays to set up a 34-yard Lehman field goal.
•    UD drove down to another first-and-goal as the half wound down.  Drew VanVleet hit Gavin Lochow on a short pass to the two-yard-line and a second-effort fumble near the goal line resulted in another threat thwarted.
3rd Quarter – San Diego 16, Dayton 3
•    Jack Wardzala recovered a Torero fumble on the first play of the second half, and seven plays later Dayton got on the board thanks to a 22-yard Danny Baker field goal.
•    USD answered five plays later with a 45-yard Lehman boot.
•    The Flyers kept the ball for over seven minutes, but turned it over on downs
4th Quarter – San Diego 16, Dayton 10
•    The Dayton defense forced a three-and-out (-2 yards) to start the quarter, but San Diego got the ball back after an interception.
•    UD got another three-and-out (-4 yards) to set up a 10-play, 77-yard scoring drive.  Van Vleet hit Donovan Weatherly from the five to make it a one-score game.
•    The Toreros got the ball back with 6:44 to go and was able to grind almost three-and-a-half minutes off the clock.
•    Dayton’s last possession began at its own 23 with 3:17 left, and the Flyers ended up turning the ball over on downs.

BY THE NUMBERS
•    Luke Hansen started for the first time in six games, and led UD with 121 yards on 23 carries (5.3 avg.)
•    Drew VanVleet was 15 of 24 passing for 122 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
•    Jake Coleman led the Flyers with five receptions for 53 yards
•    Aiden McKinley led the Dayton defensive effort with eight tackles (four solo), with 0.5 sacks.
•    Gideon Lampron added seven tackles (four solo with a sack, while Logan Miller had six tackles.
•    Ca’ron Coleman’s five solo tackles led the team, and he also had a sack.
•    Mirko Jaksic led the Flyers with a career-highs in sacks (1.5) and TFL (2.5).
•    Freshman Paul Kelly returned one kickoff for 29 yards.

UP NEXT
•    UD is home again next Saturday, Nov. 16 for Senior Day against Valparaiso.  At halftime, the 2024 Lt. Andy Zulli Memorial Award will be presented.
•    Game time is 12 Noon ET.

COURTESY UD MEDIA RELATIONS