It was the first time since 2012 that the Flyers have allowed 50 or more points, and the first time since 2006 that it was done by a Pioneer Football League opponent. That was also against the Toreros out in San Diego.
»RELATED: Saturday’s boxscore
Dayton’s offense put the pressure on early in this one. The Flyers took the opening drive down the field and Jack Cook hit Adam Trautman for a 25-yard touchdown pass that put the home team in front 7-0 three minutes into the game.
Trautman extended his streak to six straight games with a touchdown reception, but the Toreros defense shut out the senior in the second half.
San Diego responded quickly with a three-play, 78-yard drive that ended with an 11-yard touchdown run from Emilio Martinez to start a string of 16 consecutive points.
The Flyers answered with touchdowns on back-to-back drives. Cook hit a wide-open Jake Chisholm on a 49-yard touchdown pass, and after the Flyers quarterback walked in from 1 yard out on the next drive, Dayton had a 20-14 lead.
»RELATED: PFL Scoreboard
Once again, San Diego erased that lead quickly. The Toreros moved 75 yards on only four plays with Reid Sinnett covering the final 43 yards on a scoring strike to Michael Bandy for a 22-20 lead at halftime.
Dayton trailed 36-20 going into the fourth quarter when Cook threw the third of his four touchdown passes, a 25-yard strike to Ryan Skibinski to make it 36-26.
San Diego answered with a pair of touchdown runs from Terrence Smith to build the lead back out to 50-26.
Cook ran for another score and threw a late touchdown pass to Billy Skalitsky in the closing seconds.
Sophomore running back Chisholm rushed for 117 yards in his first career start for the Flyers, but San Diego had a pair of backs run for over 100 yards on the day.
“We knew coming in we would have to play our best defensive game yet,” a disappointed UD head coach Rick Chamberlin said after the game. “We had spurts there but we’re still far away from being a good defensive team.”
The Flyers head back out on the road next week with a bus ride to Kentucky to face Morehead State. Dayton is back home Saturday, Nov. 9, against Marist at 1 p.m.
SATURDAY’S GAME
Dayton at Morhead State, 1 p.m., 1290, 95.7 WHIO Radio
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