Monday, September 26, 2005

THE WEEK's OTHER TOP PERFORMANCES
OFFENSE
BUT RB Billy Nardini: 18 carries for 140 yards, 2 receipts for 21 yards, 161 all-purpose yards
DAY QB Kevin Hoyng: 12-of-16 for 108 yds, TD; 13 carries for 76 yards, 2 TDs
DRA QB Connor Jostes: 16-of-17 for 265 yards, 3 TDs, completed first 15 passes
JAX RB Eldin Ferguson: 4 carries for 100 yards, school-record 3 TDs
USD RB Adam Hannula: 7 carries for 117 yards, TD
VAL QB Ryan Doerffler: 16-of-32 for 240 yards, 2 TDs

DEFENSE
BUT LB Mike Marzotto: 12 tackles (10 solo)
DAY CB Casey Klaus: 2 INTs, 3 tackles (2 solo)
MSU S Jordan Shafer: 9 tackles (6 solo), TFL
USD LB Kyson Hawkins: 10 tackles (5 solo), TFL
VAL DB Andrew Akinpelu: 12 tackles

SPECIAL TEAMS
DAV PK Brad Smith: 4-4 PATs, 2-2 FGs (21, 41)
DAY WR Jack O'Dell: 54-yard KOR, 4 receipts for 37 yards
MSU P Mason Webb: 4 punts for 175 yards (43.8 ypp), 1 inside-20
USD P George Villa: 7 punts for 267 yards (38.1 ypp), 46-yard long punt, 1 inside-20
VAL P Joe Blahowicz: 6 punts for 274 yards (45.7 ypp), 2 inside-20, 4 carries for 88 yards, TD

PFL WEEKLY STATISTICAL LEADERS
Points Scored 18 Eldin Ferguson, Jacksonville
Total Offense 336 yds Ryan Alexander, Davidson
Rushing Yardage 140 yds Billy Nardini, Butler
Passing Yardage 343 yds Ryan Alexander, Davidson
Receiving Yardage 165 yds Ryan Hubbard, Davidson
All-Purpose Yardage 165 yds Ryan Hubbard, Davidson
Punting Average (min. 5 punts) 45.7 ypp Joe Blahowicz, Valparaiso
Interceptions 2 Casey Klaus, Dayton
Tackles 12.0 by three players
Sacks 1.0 by several players
Tackles for Loss 2.5 Doug Howard, Valparaiso

NATIONAL STATISTICAL TOP 10s
DAV K Brad Smith: 3rd in field goals (2.00 fgm/pg)
USD K Hutch Parker: 7th in field goals (1.75 fgm/pg)
DAY QB Kevin Hoyng: 2nd in passing efficiency (194.58)
DRA QB Connor Jostes: 8th in passing efficiency (161.14)
JAX RB Jerry Brant: 3rd in rushing (139.50 ypg)
DRA RB Scott Phaydavong: 10th in rushing (117.00 ypg)
DAVIDSON TEAM [1]: 3rd in turnover margin (+2.25)
DAYTON TEAM [9]: 1st in pass defense (82.25 yapg), 2nd in kickoff returns (32.00 ypg), 2nd in passing efficiency (192.81), 2nd in scoring defense (7.50 papg), 2nd in total defense (207.25 yapg), 3rd in total offense (515.50 ypg), 4th in rushing offense (286.50 ypg), 5th in pass efficiency defense (85.38), 7th in scoring offense (41.75 ppg),
JACKSONVILLE TEAM [1]: 6th in rushing offense (276.00 ypg)
SAN DIEGO TEAM [3]: 3rd in scoring defense (10.00 papg), 7th in rushing defense (63.50 yapg), 7th in total defense (226.75 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 27-of-44 (.614) 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 49 of a possible 58 weeks the Sports Network poll has been in existence.

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 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, and a new press box, weight room and visitors' locker room.

DAYTON EXTENDS STREAK: Dayton knocked off PFL North foe Morehead State, 42-7, Saturday, to extend its streak of games without being shutout to 324. 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.