Monday, September 19, 2005

THE WEEK'S OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES
OFFENSE
BUT QB Bob Farmer: 18-of-36 passign for 209 yards, 2 TDs
VAL RB Jeff Horton: 15 carries for 88 yards, TD, 3 receipts for 17 yards
DAV RB Ryan Hubbard: 7 carries for 106 yards, fumble recovery
DAY FB Tim Watson: 13 carries, 88 yards, TD
DAY QB Kevin Hoyng: 6-10 passing for 77 yards, 2 TDs and 137 yards total offense
DAY WR Ryan Wrobleski: 4 receipts for 54 yards, TD
MSU RB Jabari McGee: 10 carries for 92 yards, 161 all-purpose yards

DEFENSE
BUT LB Mike Marzotto: 14 tackles (5 solo), TFL
USD DB Philip Bretsch: 8 tackles, INT that set up game-winning TD
DAV SS Ricky Childers: 10 tackles (6 solo), � sack, INT and fumble forced
DAY CB Casey Klaus: 9 tackles (5 solo), 2 PBUs
MSU DB David Hyland: 2 INTs, PBU, 4 tackles (all solo)

SPECIAL TEAMS
BUT P Phil Buchanan: 5 punts, 41.6 ypp, 45-yard long, 1 inside-20
USD K Hutch Parker: 3-for-4 field goals; made 29, 34 and 39-yarders
DAV PK Brad Smith: tied DAV record with 3 field goals (4 attempts); made 21, 27, and 31-yarders
DAY WR Nick Ruhe: 5 punt returns, 15.8 ypr

PFL WEEKLY STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points Scored 18 Michael Bialas, Drake
Total Offense 234 yds Scott Phaydavong, Drake
Rushing Yardage 234 yds Scott Phaydavong, Drake
Passing Yardage 209 yds Bob Farmer, Butler
Receiving Yardage 106 yds Ryan Hubbard, Davidson
All-Purpose Yardage 234 yds Scott Phaydavong, Drake
Punting Average (min. 5 punts) 41.6 ypp Phil Buchanan, Butler
Interceptions 2 David Hyland, Morehead State
Tackles 16.0 Charlie Forte, Austin Peay
Sacks 2.0 Brian Conway, Drake
Tackles for Loss 2.0 John Hoppe, Dayton/Brian Conway, Drake

NATIONAL STATISTICAL TOP 10s
APSU K/P Bradley Wilson: 10th in field goals (1.67 pg)
DAY QB Kevin Hoyng: 2nd in passing efficiency (195.29)
DRA HB Scott Phaydavong: 8th in rushing yardage (119.3 ypg)
MSU DB Pat FitzGerald: 4th in interceptions (1.00 pg)
VAL RB Jeff Horton: 6th in rushing yardage (123.7 ypg)
USD K/P Hutch Parker: 3rd in field goals (2.00 pg)
DAVIDSON Team [1]: 10th in turnover margin (+1.67)
DAYTON Team [11]: 2nd in passing efficiency (192.23); 2nd in total offense (533.7 ypg); 3rd in pass defense (67.0 yapg); 3rd in pass defense (67.0 yapg); 5th in rushing offense (306.7 ypg); 4th in total defense (188.3 yapg); 5th in scoring defense (7.7 ppg); 7th in passing efficiency defense (79.76); 7th in kickoff returns (27.6 ypr); 9th in scoring offense (41.7 ppg)
JACKSONVILLE Team [2]: 1st in rushing defense (0.0 yapg); 3rd in total defense (181.0 yapg)
MOREHEAD STATE Team [1]: 10th in turnover margin (+1.67)
SAN DIEGO Team [4]: 3rd in scoring defense (6.7 ppg); 4th in turnover margin (+2.0); 6th in kickoff returns (28.3 ypr); 6th in rushing defense (56.7 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.

FG TRIFECTA: Kickers are getting a toehold in the PFL this season, with 18-of-27 (.667) field goal attempts being made this season. In fact, three 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
� Bradley Wilson (APSU) vs Cumberland, Sept. 10
� Brad Smith (DAV) vs Lenoir-Rhyne, Sept. 17
� Hutch Parker (USD) vs Yale, Sept. 17

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 48 of a possible 57 weeks the Sports Network poll has been in existence.

SAN DIEGO VS. IVY LEAGUE: San Diego posted the PFL's first-ever victory against an Ivy League opponent, coming from behind to win 17-14 in front of 3,266 at Torrero Stadium. It was the only loss by an Ivy League school last week, the opening weekend of Ivy play. USD now travels cross country to face Princeton, which opens a three-game homestnand. The Torreros take a eight-game win streak into Princeton.

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 shutout Austin Peay, 46-0, Saturday, to extend 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 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.

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.