College Football: Dayton holds off Robert Morris, moves to 2-0

Dayton quarterback Jack Cook against Robert Morris last season at Welcome Stadium. Erik Schelkun/CONTRIBUTED

Dayton quarterback Jack Cook against Robert Morris last season at Welcome Stadium. Erik Schelkun/CONTRIBUTED

Jack Cook threw two touchdown passes and freshman kicker Sam Webster kicked two field goals, including a 53-yarder, as the Dayton Flyers improved to 2-0 with a 34-31 win at Robert Morris.

This was an offensive slug fest, much like last week's win at Indiana State. Robert Morris drove 85 yards on the opening possession, capped by quarterback George Martin's three yard run. Dayton answered with its own long drive. Ryan Skibinski took a jet sweep in from two yards out and after RMU missed a field goal the Flyers took the lead 14-7 on a Cook quarterback sneak.

»RELATED: Dayton TE getting attention from NFL Draft experts

After the Colonials Nick Bisceglia made a short field goal, Dayton took the lead back out to 7 on Webster’s 53-yarder.

“That’s the longest kick I have made in a game,” he said. “I thought I pushed it too far to the left, but the wind brought it back.”

Robert Morris tied the game on a Martin to Matthew Gonzalez TD pass. Dayton regained the lead just before halftime on Webster’s 23-yard field goal.

The Flyers never trailed the rest of the game, despite two fumbles at their own 35 . Both times the defense stiffened and Robert Morris came away empty.

“That was the difference right there,” Dayton coach Rick Chamberlin said.

UD turned a Robert Morris fumble into points as Ryan Skibinski too a pass from Cook and weaved 20 yards through the defense to score.

“ I couldn’t even see Jack as he was scrambling,” Skibinski said. ” I just saw the ball coming at me very slowly. It seemed forever, but once I caught it I made some guys miss and got into the end zone.”

Robert Morris closed to within 3 with 6:33 to play, but Tim Simon intercepted a pass at the Dayton 15, returning it all the way down to the Colonial 20, where the Flyers ran out the clock.

“There was good under coverage on the tight end,” Simon said. ” I just read the quarterback’s eyes.”

Chamberlin says being 2-0 feels fantastic.

“Playing the caliber of opponents we played, and on the road, it tells our guys that we can be pretty good,” Chamberlin said.

Dayton hosts Duquense on Saturday at Welcome Stadium in its in home opener.


SATURDAY’S GAME

Duquense at Dayton, 1 p.m., 1290 and 95.7 WHIO Radio

About the Author