Play was then halted, because there was no longer an ambulance on the premises. Butler defensive tackle Jordan Ransone was taken away with a severe knee injury during the Flyer touchdown drive. After about a 15-minute delay, the teams were sent to the locker rooms and the game resumed after a full 20-minute halftime.
Dayton finished out the second quarter with its longest touchdown drive of the day, a 75 yarder capped by Sean Prophit’s first career TD run from 1 yard out. Leading 28-3 the Flyers added to their lead, as Willy Will added a 38-yard field goal. Will extended his UD and PFL career record with 52 field goals.
However, Butler came to life. A 53-yard run by John Hall set up a short touchdown pass from Malcolm Weaver to Danny Cotter. The Bulldogs then added a fourth-quarter TD , but their comeback hopes were dealt a blow when Weaver was knocked out of the game by a string of sacks, and the game ended with Christian Searles intercepting a pass at the 1-yard line as time ran out.
Dayton coach Rick Chamberlin praised his team for keeping its poise and the momentum despite the long delay.
“Getting that first score when we came back out was big,” he said. “Butler started playing better, but I thought we were still in control, especially with those sacks late.”
It was a career day for several Flyers.
True freshmen Ryan Skibinksi and Sean Prophit each scored their first collegiate touchdowns, sophomore safety David Leisring had a career-high 10 tackles and senior wide receiver Jack Euritt set new personal bests with eight catches and 138 yards.
Euritt’s first catch gave Dayton the lead on the first series of the game, a 24-yard pass from Jeske that he had to wrestle away from the defender in a jump ball situation.
“I’m not known for my upper body strength,” said Euritt. “Alex just put the ball where I could make a play.”
Jeske also put up big numbers, throwing for 272 yard and three scores while rushing for 54 yards.
Dayton, 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the PFL, returns home to host Stetson on Saturday at 1:00.
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