Dayton rallies in third quarter to beat Robert Morris in opener

Dante Casciola runs for almost 100 yards in first game as starting quarterback
Dayton players pose for a photo during team photo day on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, at the Jerry Von Mohr Practice Field. David Jablonski/Staff

Credit: David Jablonski

Credit: David Jablonski

Dayton players pose for a photo during team photo day on Sunday, Aug. 21, 2022, at the Jerry Von Mohr Practice Field. David Jablonski/Staff

An emotional Rick Chamberlin addressed his Dayton Flyers football team after a 22-20 victory Saturday against Robert Morris at Joe Walton Stadium.

“I’m so proud of you guys,” Chamberlin said. “A lot of teams wouldn’t have come back like that. I’ll never forget this one, guys. This will be with me forever.”

Chamberlin received the game ball after the victory. His 100th victory as Dayton head coach came in the 2022 season opener in Coraopolis, Pa. The Flyers rallied from a 14-6 deficit with 16 straight points in a four-minute stretch in the third quarter.

Sam Webster, who gave Dayton a 6-0 lead with two field goals in the first half, kicked a 42-yard field goal with 4:37 to play. Luke Brenner scored on a 63-yard run with 3:31 remaining.

Then after an interception by linebacker Ben Schmiesing and a 29-yard return to the Robert Morris 2-yard line, quarterback Dante Casciola scored on a 1-yard run on 4th-and-goal with 1:10 left in the quarter.

Robert Morris drove to the Dayton 48-yard line in the final minute, but its drive stalled there with four straight incompletions.

Dayton improved to 20-3 all time against Robert Morris, which finished 4-6 last season.

In his first start, the redshirt sophomore Casciola completed 10 of 19 passes for 87 yards with one interception. He also ran 13 times for 96 yards.

Jake Chisholm gained 75 yards on 22 carries and caught three passes for 13 yards.

Nathan Arthur led the defense with nine tackles and forced a fumble. Mason Henry had the team’s only sack.

Dayton stays on the road in Week 2. It plays at Youngstown State at 2 p.m. Saturday.

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