Monday, October 10, 2005

THE WEEK's OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES
OFFENSE
VAL QB Ryan Doerffler: 19-of-36 for 236 yards, 2 TDs
DRA RB Scott Phaydavong: 29 carries for 151 yards, 4th straight 100-yard game
USD QB Josh Johnson: 26-of-32 for 314 yards, 3 TDs in two-plus quarters
MSU QB Brian Yost: 10-of-17 for 139 yards, TD and 19 carries for 117 yards, TD
DAY QB Kevin Hoyng: 16-of-25 for 173 yards, 2 TD and 20 carries for 47 yards

DEFENSE
DAV DE Kyle Kinsell: 6 tackles (3 solo), each solo tackle a TFL, including two sacks
DRA LB James Adams: game-high 10 tackles, including 3 TFL and a sack
USD DB Josh Brisco: 4 tackles (all solo), TFL and 19-yard INT return for TD
MSU LB Brett Massaro: 9 tackles (8 solo), including 2.5 TFL
DAY S Brandon Cramer: 7 tackles (6 solo), 2 fumbles forced, 2 pass breakups
BUT LB Mike Marzotto: game-high 14 tackles (9 solo), forced fumble, TFL, 4th game of 10 or more tackles

SPECIAL TEAMS
VAL DT Doug Howard: 2 blocked PATs
MSU RS Nick Feldman: 5 punt returns for 108 yards (21.6 ypr)

PFL WEEKLY STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points Scored 18 Ryan Hubbard (DAV)
Total Offense 323 yds Josh Johnson (USD)
Rushing Yardage 151 yds Scott Phaydavong (DRA)
Passing Yardage 314 yds Josh Johnson (USD)
Receiving Yardage 172 yds Ryan Hubbard (DAV)
All-Purpose Yardage 192 yds Ryan Hubbard (DAV)
Punting Average (min. 5 punts) 43.2 ypp Ryan Feely (JAX)
Interceptions 1 by several players
Tackles 14.0 Mike Marzotto (BUT)
Sacks 2.0 Kyle Kinsell (DAV)
Tackles for Loss 3.0 Kyle Kinsell (DAV) and James Adams (DRA)

NATIONAL STATISTICAL TOP 10s
DAV K Brad Smith: 5th in field goals (1.80 fgm/pg)
DAY QB Kevin Hoyng: 3rd in passing efficiency (176.78)
DRA RB Scott Phaydavong: 4th in rushing (132.67 ypg)
MSU RS Nick Feldman: 3rd in punt returns (19.31 ypr)

DAYTON TEAM [8]: 2nd pass defense (112.5 yapg); 3rd in pass efficiency (177.31); 3rd in scoring offense (40.17 ppg); 4th in scoring defense (10.67 papg); 4th in kickoff returns (26.09 ypr); 5th in pass efficiency defense (87.07); 7th in total offense (473.33 ypg); 9th in rushing offense (247.67 ypg).
DAVIDSON TEAM [1]: 7th in turnover margin (+1.50 topg).
MOREHEAD STATE TEAM [1]: 10th in rushing offense (245.67 ypg).
SAN DIEGO TEAM [5]: 2nd in scoring defense (7.83 papg); 2nd in total defense (216.67 yapg); 3rd in rushing defense (55.50 yapg); 6th in pass efficiency defense (87.54); 10th in total offense (452.83 ypg).

DAYTON GETS LEG UP IN WEEK ONE, SAN DIEGO STAYS ON COURSE: Dayton got a leg up on the PFL North race with its 25-17 victory at preseason-favorite Drake. This week the Flyers host San Diego, the other team picked to challenge for the PFL North crown. It is the second "leg" of what promises to be a three-game series for the PFL North title, San Diego and Drake hitting the gridiron next weekend in California.

MOREHEAD STATE, DAVIDSON REMAIN IN PFL SOUTH HUNT: Both Morehead State and Davidson kept their hopes of a PFL South title alive with victories, Saturday. Both teams will have to survive upsets this week _ Morehead State hosting Austin Peay and Davidson traveling to Jacksonville _ before a possible championship matchup on Oct. 22.

PFL TO RETURN TO SINGLE-DIVISION FORMAT IN 2006: The Pioneer Football League will return to a single-division, round-robin format in 2006, the conference office announced, Sept. 7. The league voted this summer on the move back to a single-division format, which the league used in its first eight seasons. The change resulted from the league's reduction to eight members for the 2006 campaign _ Austin Peay leaves the conference at the conclusion of the 2005 season. The final round-robin schedule will provide seven league games annually for all teams with alternating seasons of four home/three road and three home/four road.

2005 PFL CHAMPIONSHIP: The 2005 PFL Championship will be hosted by the PFL North champion, Nov. 19. It is the 5th PFL Championship since the beginning of the divisional era in 2000. The PFL North is undefeated in the four previous championships.

PFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME ENDS AFTER 2005: With the 2006 change in regular-season scheduling, the PFL Championship will be discontinued after this season's championship game hosted by the PFL North champion, Nov. 19.

PICK DAVIDSON ON DEFENSE: Davidson's defense picked off another two passes against Austin Peay, Saturday, adding to their I-AA leading total. The Wildcats have picked off 17 passes this season, five more than second-place Eastern Kentucky. Davidson also ranks among the I-AA top ten in turnover margin, with a +1.50 turnover margin per game, seventh best in I-AA.

PFL DEFENSES MAKE STAND: PFL teams combined to force 20 turnovers, Oct. 1, with eight fumbles lost and 12 interceptions in the five games on the league slate. More impressive were the four turnovers returned for touchdowns:
� John Hoppe (DAY) 47-yard interception return vs. Jacksonville
� Randell Odell (APSU) 57-yard interception return vs. Valparaiso
� Philip Bretsch (USD) 28-yard interception return vs. Menlo
� Brian Conway (DRA) 29-yard fumble recovery vs. Davidson

FG TRIFECTA: Kickers are getting a toehold in the PFL this season, with 40-of-64 (.625) field goal attempts being made this season. In fact, four PFL kickers have recorded three field goals in a contest this season and one _ San Diego's Hutch Parker _ has hit three in a game twice this season. The list of three-goal kickers:
� Hutch Parker (USD) vs Azusa Pacific, Sept. 3 (4 attempts)
� Bradley Wilson (APSU) vs Cumberland, Sept. 10 (4 attempts)
� Brad Smith (DAV) vs Lenoir-Rhyne, Sept. 17 (4 attempts)
� Hutch Parker (USD) vs Yale, Sept. 17 (4 attempts)
� Adam Jones (MSU) vs. Butler, Oct. 1 (3 attempts)

BACKUP QB DOES IN SAN DIEGO STREAK: Butler sophomore quarterback T. J. Brown replaced injured starter Bob Farmer in the second quarter at San Diego, and he tossed his first career touchdown pass in the game. Brown's 14-yard touchdown strike was the first second-half touchdown allowed by San Diego this season.

DAYTON AND THE SPORTS NETWORK POLL: Once again, Dayton is ranked #1 this week in the Sports Network MId-Major poll. The Flyers have been ranked first in the Sports Network poll at least once every year since the poll began in 2001. The Flyers have been ranked either first or second in the Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major poll for 51 of a possible 60 weeks the Sports Network poll has been in existence.

DAYTON EXTENDS STREAK: Dayton picked up a key PFL North victory, 25-17 at Drake, Saturday, to extend its streak of games without being shutout to 326. The Flyers were last shut out, Oct. 16, 1976, a 9-0 loss to Marshall.

NFL CONNECTIONS: San Diego head coach Jim Harbaugh isn't the only person with an NFL connection in the PFL. Davidson sophomore Beaux Jones is the son of former NFL quarterback Bert Jones, who played for the Baltimore Colts from 1973-1981.
Also, former Dallas Cowboy's kicker Billy Cundiff is a Drake alumnus. He was cut prior to the start of the 2005 season, but has three years of experience. Cundiff is in the NFL record books, with seven field goals made in a Monday Night overtime victory at the New York Giants last season.
Dayton's contribution to the NFL resides in Tampa Bay where head coach Jon Gruden, a 1986 grauate, became the second Dayton alumnus to coach a Super Bowl winner (XXXVII). He joined 1953 UD graduate and 1993 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Chuck Noll who won four Super Bowls (IX, X, XII. & XIV) as coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

CONSTRUCTION MADNESS: Two PFL members are playing away from their friendly confines due to renovations at their on-campus facilities, a third just completed renovations to its facility and another has plans in the works for stadium improvements.
Butler will play its first game this season at the Butler Bowl when it hosts Morehead State this weekend. The Bulldogs opened their season at the University of Indianapolis' Key Stadium due to renovations at the Butler Bowl _ the first time since 1928 that the Bulldogs have played a home-opener away from the Butler Bowl.
Drake will play its entire 2005 home schedule away from 79-year old Drake Stadium which is getting a complete facelift which should be completed in time for the school's internationally-known Drake Relays. Drake will host its four home games at high school campuses in the Des Moines area.
Davidson dedicated the newest additions to its football venue, Richardson Stadium, during a halftime ceremony, Sept. 10. Among the upgraded amenities are expanded stadium seating, new press box, weight room and visitors' locker room.
Dayton, Dayton Public Schools and the Dayton-Montgomery County Port Authority signed an agreement to work together to renovate Welcome Staium. Thanks to the agreement, the Port Authority was able to acquire $1 million in this fiscal year and potentially another $1 million next year from the State of Ohio. Safety improvements, painting and new seating are scheduled to happen in the program's first phase, with a new FieldTurf playing surface and a new press box to follow.

PRESEASON PROGNOSTICATION: the Pioneer Football League's coaches tabbed Drake and Morehead State to win their respective divisions in the PFL's preseason poll. Drake is picked first for the first time since divisional play began while it is the fourth time in five seasons Morehead State has been chosen as the PFL South winner.

PFL NORTH POLL RESULTS: Drake, the 2004 PFL Champion, received five of the nine possible first-place votes in the PFL North. Dayton and San Diego split the four remaining first-place votes and were picked second and third, respectively. Valparaiso and Butler round out the five-team PFL North, the two teams selected in a fourth-place tie.

PFL SOUTH POLL RESULTS: Morehead State, the three-time PFL North defending champion, received five first-place votes. Second-place Jacksonville picked up three first-place votes while Austin Peay, which was picked third, claimed one first-place vote. Davidson rounds out the four-team PFL South.