College Football: Flyers look to continue winning ways on the road

Dayton’s Rick Chamberlin talks to reporters on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, at the Frericks Center. David Jablonski/Staff

Dayton’s Rick Chamberlin talks to reporters on Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2019, at the Frericks Center. David Jablonski/Staff
Sports
By Mike Hartsock
Oct 18, 2019
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It’s something you have to do if you want to take the next step as a football program. For the second year in a row, the Dayton Flyers will play more road games than home games.

“Our players always enjoy the challenge of playing higher level teams,” Dayton coach Rick Chamberlin said. “That usually means playing at their place and adding an extra road game.”

For the second time this season Dayton is finishing up back-to-back road trips, this time with a visit to Deland, Fla. to face off against Stetson on Saturday.

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“That’s definitely a big challenge when you’re always away because you know the whole crowd is against you,” junior safety Brandon Easterling said. “We’ve definitely done a good job this year so far staying together, creating our own momentum and our own juice on the sideline and we’re going to keep doing it.”

The Flyers (4-1 overall, 2-0 Pioneer Football League) don’t have any complaints about their road trips. Dayton is 4-0 away from Welcome Stadium this season after losing its first four road games a year ago.

“We’re a veteran group, we have a lot of guys who have traveled before,” senior center Tim Roell said. “Being on the road, we’re a loose team and guys know what’s expected of them. We hit the field and we play well on the road.”

The Flyers will need to step it up against Stetson (4-1, 1-1), a team they’ve never lost to in three meetings, including two wins at Spec Martin Stadium in Deland.

The Hatters are leading the Pioneer Football League in scoring, averaging 45 points per game. That’s a challenge for a Dayton defense giving up 31 points per game.

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“Right now I think our defense is not playing very disciplined,” Chamberlin said. “We’re not being in the spots that we’re supposed to be, that we’re coached to be at, and then there are times that we’re in the spot and we’re not making the play.”

Chamberlin doesn’t have as many concerns on the other side of the ball. The Dayton offense has been a well-oiled machine.

“Our offense has ultimate confidence that they can move the ball and gets points for it,” he said.

While Chamberlin has his guys focusing on the next opponent, it’s hard for Flyer fans to not look ahead to the next home game.

Dayton will host San Diego next week in the annual showdown between the top two teams in the PFL.

SATURDAY’S GAME

Dayton at Stetson, 1 p.m., 1290, 95.7 WHIO

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About the Author

Mike Hartsock