5 things to know about Dayton Flyers spring football game

Alex Jeske finds a hole in the Drake defense during a game last season at Welcome Stadium. MIKE HARTSOCK/Staff

Alex Jeske finds a hole in the Drake defense during a game last season at Welcome Stadium. MIKE HARTSOCK/Staff

The outcome is never really the objective when it comes to the spring football game at the University of Dayton. Coach Rick Chamberlin knows the Flyers are going to win the game and lose it ever year, just like Sunday afternoon when the Red team beat the White 24-7 at Welcome Stadium.

“You’re looking for two things out of a spring game,” Chamberlin said. “One is for the players and fans to have fun, and the other is to see some players who haven’t been in game situations and see how they respond.”

The Flyers had a couple of young guys step up as defense dominated the first half. Freshman safety Tim Simon intercepted two Alex Jeske passes, ending scoring chances for the Red team. On the other side, Andrew Lutgens made a diving interception of a Kyle Kaparos pass as the White team was driving for a score.

Both offenses finally found the end zone in the second half. Freshman running back Sean Prophit scored three times for the Red team, while Kaparos hooked up with freshman receiver Markus Hurd on a 17-yard touchdown pass for the White squad.

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Here are five things we know about the Flyers coming out of spring practice.

1. Alex Jeske, Jack Crain, and Nick Surges were named captains for the 2017 season in a vote of the players. Kick returner and defensive back Christian Searles was named special teams captain.

2. If there is a weakness it is up front on both sides of the ball. The Flyers lost several fifth-year linemen. “We have some young men in there that we think have the talent,” Chamberlin said. “They just don’t have the experience yet and hopefully they took that step today.”

3. One of the best battles coming into summer camp will be at kicker. The Flyers lost William Will to graduation after a four-year career that produced 55 field goals. Redshirt-sophomore Mike Ruffalo booted a 37-yard field goal Sunday. He’s battling a pair of freshmen in Clay Hamby and Joseph Bruni for the job.

4. Despite throwing a pair of interceptions in the spring game, Jeske is the undisputed leader of the Flyers offense and he could be around for two more seasons. The redshirt-junior will be the starting quarterback for the third year in a row.

5. The Flyers will get the next four months off before reporting back to summer camp Aug. 6. Dayton opens the 2017 season on the road at Robert Morris on Labor Day weekend. The home opener is scheduled for the following Saturday against Southeast Missouri.

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