Monday, September 12, 2005

THE WEEK's OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES
OFFENSE
APSU RB Chris Fletcher: 21 carries, 153 yds, 2 TD
DAV RB Jonathon Hubbard: 19 carries, 108 yds, TD
DRA RB Daniel Marx: 2 rushes, 51 yards, 2 TD
MSU QB Brian Yost: 14-23, 160 yds, 2 TDs completed first 8 passes on way to 28-7 first quarter lead
USD QB Josh Johnson: 21-29, 174 yds, 2 TDs and 6 carries, 33 yards, TD

DEFENSE
BUT LB Dave Inman: 15 tackles (12 solo), 3 TFL
DAY LB John Hoppe: 12 tackles (3 solo), 1.5 TFL
MSU CB Kwesi Williams: 10 tackles (7 solo), TFL, fumble recovery, INT and 2 pass breakups
USD LB Kyson Hawkins: 7 tackles (3 solo), 4 TFL, quarterback sack, pass breakup

SPECIAL TEAMS
BUT P Phil Buchanan: 9 punts, 42.3 ypp, 63-yard long, 2 inside-20
DAV P Kirk Konert: 4 punts, 41.5 ypp, 51-yard long, 2 inside-20
DAY P Derek Hall: 4 punts, 44.2 ypp, 2 inside-20
MSU PK Adam Jones: 5-5 PAT, 6 KORs into end zone, only one returned
VAL K Andrew McCawley: 2-3 FGs (made 46 and 34), scored only VAL points

PFL WEEKLY STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points Scored: 12 by three players
Total Offense: 378 yds by Kevin Hoyng, Dayton
Rushing Yardage: 153 yds by Chris Fletcher, Austin Peay
Passing Yardage: 296 yds by Kevin Hoyng, Dayton
Receiving Yardage: 113 yds by Jack O'Dell, Dayton
All-Purpose Yardage: 192 yds by Chris Fletcher, Austin Peay
Punting Average: 42.3 ypp by Phil Buchanan, Butler
Interceptions: 3 by Patrick Fitzgerald, Davidson
Tackles: 15.0 by Dave Inman, Butler
Sacks: 2.0 by Jordan Richardson, APSU and Eric Bakhtiari, USD
Tackles for Loss: 3.0 by three players

NATIONAL STATISTICAL TOP 10s
APSU K/P Bradley Wilson: 2nd in field goals (2.50 pg)
DAV DB Pat Fitzgerald: 4th in interceptions (1.5 pg)
APSU DB Brandon Meggs: 8th in interceptions (1.0 pg)
DAY WR Jack O'Dell: 10th in kickoff returns (30.0 ypr)
DAY QB Kevin Hoyng: 2nd in passing efficiency (196.41), 2nd in total offense (353.0 ypg)
DAY WR Ryan Wrobleski: 6th in receiving yards per game (132.0 ypg)
VAL RB Jeff Horton: 3rd in rushing yardage (141.5 ypg)
USD DB Chase McBride: 6th in passes defended (2.50 pg)
APSU RB Chris Fletcher: 8th in rushing yardage (130.0 ypg), 8th in scoring (12.0 ppg)
DAYTON Team: 3rd in passing efficiency (195.55), 3rd in total offense (542.0 ypg), 6th in pass defense (67.5 yapg), 8th in rushing offense (255.0 ypg), 8th in scoring defense (11.5 ppg), 8th in total defense (225.0 yapg), 9th in kickoff return yardage (30.5 ypg)
SAN DIEGO Team: 1st in rushing defense (20.0 ypg), 2nd in scoring defense (3.0 ppg), 4th in total defense (185.0 yapg)

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.

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.

DAYTON AND THE SPORTS NETWORK POLL: Dayton is ranked #1 this week in the Sports Network poll. The Flyers have been ranked first in the Sports Network poll at least once in 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 47 of a possible 56 weeks the Sports Network poll has been in existence.

APSU GETS DOUBLE CENTURY EFFORT: For the first time since 2003, Austin Peay had a pair of rushers surpass the 100-yard mark in the same game. Against Cumberland (Tenn.), Chris Fletcher rushed for 153 yards and Quea Williams added 114 yards for APSU's first 100-yard duo since Oct. 25, 2003 at Davidson. It also was the first time since that day APSU rushed for more than 300 yards.

SAN DIEGO VS. IVY: San Diego hosts Yale in its annual Ivy League matchup. The Torreros are 0-5 against Ivy League opponents entering this week's matchup. It is also the third consecutive week USD has helped an opponent open their season, previously helping NAIA foes Azusa Pacific and Southern Oregon.

CONSTRUCTION MADNESS: Two PFL members are playing away from their friendly confines due to renovations at their on-campus facilities and a third just completed renovations to its facility.
Butler opened its 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, and a new press box, weight room and visitors' locker room.

DAYTON EXTENDS STREAK: Dayton avoided a shutout again in its 41-23 victory against Division III Wittenberg extending its streak of games without being shutout to 323. The Flyers were last shut out on 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 freshman Beaux Jones saw his first action at quarterback against Lenoir-Rhyne, Sept. 18, completing 3-of-8 passes for 19 yards. Beaux 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.