DAYTON, Ohio – The Drake football team displayed physicality but fell short in a 27-14 loss at Dayton in Pioneer Football League action at Welcome Stadium on Saturday (Oct. 1). The Flyers (3-1, 1-0 in PFL play) regained momentum in the third quarter and did not look back against the Bulldogs (0-5, 0-2).

"I'm frustrated on a lot of levels," head coach Todd Stepsis said. "We're not as consistent in all three phases of the game that I know we can be. More importantly, I'm frustrated for our players. They work so hard and put everything into our program. We'll do a good job bouncing back and we'll look at ourselves in the mirror to figure out how each one of us (coaches and players) can improve."
 
The Bulldog defense buckled down early on when Dayton went for it on fourth down at mid-field. Tom Shefte and Ander Johnson teamed up for the fourth down stop on the rush up the middle with 11:53 to play in the opening quarter. Dayton's next possession was a methodical nine play, 90 yard drive capped off by a Jake Chisholm nine-yard touchdown run to the left corner of the end zone.
 
Jackson Williams fumbled the punt at the Drake 29-yard line to begin the second quarter. The Bulldog defense only surrendered eight yards on the ensuing drive as the Flyers settled for a 39-yard field goal from Sam Webster for a 10-0 lead with 12:38 to go in the first half.
 
Starting at their own 25-yard line, the Bulldogs utilized a steady diet of Dorian Boyland on the ground to end up at the Dayton 10-yard line. On fourth down, Luke Williams jogged onto the field for a 27-yard field goal but the kick attempt missed wide right at the 6:20 mark of the second quarter.
 
Drake gained valuable momentum in the final moments of the opening half. On third and goal from the four-yard line, Dayton quarterback Dante Casciola was intercepted in the back of the end zone by Tony Graham II.
 
The Bulldogs took advantage of the turnover with a fast-paced 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Senior quarterback Ian Corwin got Drake on the board by lacing a 16-yard dart over the middle to Trey Radocha with only two seconds remaining before halftime.  
 
The newfound momentum carried the visitors into the second half. Finn Claypool tripped up Casciola in the backfield to force a punt at the 9:20 mark of the third quarter.
 
With the ball next, Dayton promptly moved the ball just outside of the red zone when Casciola slung a pass to Ty Stylski, who dove into the end zone propelling the Flyers to a 17-7 advantage with 5:06 left in the third.
 
Dayton found paydirt again before the end of the third quarter on a 17-yard touchdown run up the middle by Chisholm. The Flyers controlled a 24-7 lead entering the fourth quarter.
 
With urgency on its mind, the Drake offense got back to work at its own 28-yard line at the 12:47 mark of the fourth quarter. Corwin's pass towards the middle was picked off by Elijah Smith.
 
The Flyers maintained possession for a majority of the fourth quarter, now ahead 27-7.
 
Corwin led a march down the field starting with 3:40 left to play in regulation. A pass interference penalty aided the Bulldogs and Austin Flax took a hard hit to hold onto a 10-yard touchdown pass. Drake trailed 27-14 with 2:28 remaining as Dayton recovered the onside kick to clinch the contest.
 
Drake football will return home to Drake Stadium for Family Weekend against San Diego at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8.
 
NOTES

• Trey Radocha's touchdown reception was his second of the season. He has caught a touchdown pass in back-to-back games.
• Tony Graham II has made interceptions in back-to-back games.  
• Finn Claypool recorded his team-best third sack of the season.
• Austin Flax also caught his second touchdown of the season.
• The duration of the game was 2:33, Drake's fastest played game of the season (no media timeouts).
• Dayton leads the all-time series, 29-9 including a 15-5 record at Welcome Stadium.